Virginia GOP could face $330,000 in damages
AP reports: [Virginia] Democratic legislators suing over Republican eavesdropping on two of their conference calls could recover more than $330,000 from the state GOP alone, according to a federal judge's clarified order.
U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer's clarification filed late Tuesday eliminates what [Virginia] Republicans hoped would be an opportunity to put the lingering scandal behind them and focus on next year's governor's race. Had Spencer ruled that total damages would be $10,000, the GOP would have faced a relatively small judgment if found liable.
The one-page order makes clear that Spencer's June 18 ruling limiting plaintiffs to $10,000 means that each of the lawsuit's 33 Democratic plaintiffs could be entitled to as much as $10,000 from the Republican Party of Virginia.
The June order "should not be read as limiting Plaintiffs collectively to a single $10,000 recovery ...," Spencer wrote. It also states that the Democrats could recover other relief, including punitive damages--a distinction that could make a judgment much larger. -- Judge's clarification could subject GOP to $300,000-plus judgment (AP via Hampton Roads Daily Press)