Melissa Hogue Katz

Principal
3920 University Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 385-1000 Telephone
(703) 385-1555 Facsimile
mkatz@vadctriallaw.com

Areas of Practice

Civil litigation and trial practice in Federal and State Courts throughout Virginia and the District of Columbia, including:

• Appellate practice
• Personal injury/Auto accident claims
• Premises liability
• Products liability
• Nursing Home Malpractice

Education

• Undergraduate: University of Virginia, B.A. 1987
• Graduate: University of Richmond,
  The T.C. Williams School of Law, J.D. 1990
• Cambridge University
  Summer Study Abroad Law Program
  Cambridge, England 1988

Employment

• Principal
  Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, P.C.
  (1999-Present)
• Associate
  Trichilo, Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath & Judkins, P.C.
  (1991-1998)
• Law Clerk to Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell
  (Now Chief Justice Hassell)
  Supreme Court of Virginia (1990-1991)

Bar Memberships

• Virginia (1990)
• District of Columbia (2002)

Martindale-Hubbell Rating

• AV

Court Admissions

• U. S. Court of Appeals (Fourth Circuit)
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
• Virginia Supreme Court
• District of Columbia
• United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Professional Associations

• Virginia State Bar
• Fairfax Bar Association
• Member, CLE Committee, 2009-2010; 2008-2009
• Member, CLE Committee, 2007-2008, Moderator of Appellate Practice CLE, December 2007,
• Member CLE Committee, 2008-2009, Moderator of Evidentiary Objections During Expert Witness Testimony, October 2008
• Member, Circuit Court Committee, 2005-2006
• Member, CLE Committee, Moderator of Appellate Practice CLE, December 2003
• Member, General District Court Committee
• Defense Research Institute
• Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys:  Chair, Auto & Transportation Section, 2010-2011, Vice-Chair, Auto & Transportation Section, 2009-2010; Fall Convention Committee, 2008-2009; Judicial Awards and Endorsement Committee, 2005-2007.
• Virginia Women’s Attorneys Association
• Board of Directors, 2004 to 2006 and 2008 to 2010
• Virginia Women’s Attorneys Association, The Northern Chapter
  • Board of Directors, Leadership, 2006 to 2007
  • Board of Directors, Membership & Past
  • President, 2005 -2006
  • President, 2004 to 2005
  • Secretary, 2003 to 2004
  • Director, 2002 to 2003

Honors and Awards

• Law Review
• Moot Court Board
• Order of the Barrister
• Editor-in-Chief, Juris Publici

Reported or Published Cases

• Sunrise Continuing Care, LLC v. Wright,  ___ Va. ____ (January 16, 2009).
• Div. Access Control, Inc. v. Landrum, No. 3:06cv414, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 31133 (April 27, 2007).
• Gibson v. BSA, No. 05-1363, 163 Fed. Appx. 206, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 761 (January 12, 2006) (On brief).
• O'Neill v. Windshire-Copeland Assocs., L.P., No. 02-1271, 372 F.3d 281, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 11781 (June 16, 2004) (On brief).
• Clean Sweep Prof'l Parking Lot Maint., Inc. v. Talley, No. 030058, 267 Va. 210, 591 S.E.2d 79, 2004 Va. LEXIS 17 (January 16, 2004) (On brief).
• O'Neill v. Windshire-Copeland Assoc., L.P., 372 F.3d 281 (4th Cir. 2004) (On brief).
• Clean Sweep Professional Parking Lot Maintenance, Inc. v. Talley, 267 Va. 210, 591 S.E.2d 79 (2004) (On brief).
• Honsinger v. Eagan, 266 Va. 269, 585 S.E.2d 597 (2003) (On brief).
• Williams v. Condit, 265 Va. 49, 574 S.E.2d 241 (2003).
• Lombard v Rohrbaugh, 262 Va 484, 551 S.E. 2d 349 (2001).
• Pappas v. Potomac Party Cruises, Inc., No. 98-2212, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 12443 (4th Cir. March 2, 2000).
• Konkel v. Bob Evans Farms, 165 F.3d 275 (4th Cir. 1999).
• Roe v. Spotsylvania Mall Co., No. 96-2403, 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 7806 (4th Cir. January 27, 1998).
• Reardon Commercial Interiors v. Adden Furniture, No. 97-1363, 1998 U.S. app. LEXIS 2966 (4th Cir. December 3, 1997).
• Copenhaver v. Rent-A-Crane, No. 92-2439, 1994 U.S. App. 19476 (4th Cir. June 28, 1994).
• Recalde v. ITT Hartford, 254 Va. 501, 492 S.E.2d 435 (1997).
• Payne v. Carroll, 250 Va. 336, 461 S.E.2d 837 (1995).
• Robertson v. Metropolitan Wash. Airport Auth., 249 Va. 72, 452 S.E.2d 845 (1995).
• Leggett v. Caudill, 247 Va. 130, 439 S.E.2d 350 (1994).

Lectures and Seminars

• Speaker, Fairfax Bar Association CLE, Personal Injury, Presentation re: Opposing Motions for Rule 4:10 Medical Examinations, September 2010
• Speaker, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (VADA), Spring Series, May 13, 2010, Traumatic Brain Injury:  Opposing Motions to Exclude Neuropsychological Testimony on findings of Malingering
• Coach,  Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (VADA), Annual Trial Tactics Workshop 2010 in case involving alleged arson and denial of coverage.
• Speaker, Fairfax Bar Association CLE, Personal Injury, Presentation re: Motions in Limine, November 17, 2009.
• Moderator, Fairfax Bar Association CLE, Evidentiary Objections during Expert Witness Testimony, October 2008.
• Moderator, Fairfax Bar Association CLE, Appellate Practice, December 2007
• Guest Speaker, Trial Advocacy Class, The George Mason School of Law, Voir Dire conducted from the defense perspective, October 2007.
• Guest Speaker, Trial Advocacy Class, The George Mason School of Law, Voir Dire conducted from the defense perspective , March 2007.
• Speaker, American University Law School, January 2006, Business Etiquette on the Job; Certificate of Achievement Awarded to the Womens’ Attorneys Association of the Northern Chapter for this Program, 2006.
• Speaker, George Mason School of Law, February 2006, Corporate Etiquette - the Do’s and Don’ts after getting the job. Certificate of Achievement Awarded to the Womens’ Attorneys Association of the Northern Chapter for this Program, 2006.
• Moderator, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys (“VADA”), Judicial Panel for Right Start Program, December 2005
• Speaker, VADA Annual Convention, Remembering the Golden Rule & 10 Other Common Grounds for Mistrial, October 2005
• Judge, National Trial Competition for Law Students February 2004
• Guest Speaker, Trial Advocacy Classes, The George Mason School of Law, Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses & Voir Dire, 2002-2003
• Moderator, Fairfax Bar Association CLE, Appellate Practice Seminar, April 2003
• Speaker, VADA, Spring Series, 2002, Auto & Premises Liability, Discovery Regarding Expert Witness and Disclosure of Financial Information

Publications

• Editor-in-Chief, Firm Quarterly Newsletter, 2003 to 2009

Events

• Member, Fall Conference Convention Committee, VADA, October 28-30, 2009, Westfield's Marriott.
• Chair of the 2009 Virginia Womens Attorneys' Association Second Webweavers Event, September 25-27, 2009, "Tweet, Linked In, Show Your Face:  Attracting New Clients and Expanding Your Business Through Social Networking and On-Line Media,"  Lansdowne Resort, Lansdowne, Virginia. 
• Speaker, “Fine-tuning the Social Aspects of Networking”, Virginia Womens Attorneys’ Association Webweavers Event, September 28, 2007, Lansdowne Resort, Lansdowne, Virginia.

Interests and Other Activities

•    CROSSFIT, certified instructor 11/09.
•    Hammer Down Crossfit, Chantilly, Virginia 
•    Board of Directors, Dartmoor Homeowners Association, 2009-2010 

Bancroft, McGavin, Horvath, & Judkins, P.C., handle  civil and business litigation defense, insurance law and defense, government and municipal law, workers' compensation, and DUI/traffic defense  cases throughout the  Commonwealth of Virginia and in the District of Columbia. Call (703) 385-1000 today for a free consultation or fill out our free case review form.