Julie S. Palmer

Partner   |   Richmond »

Julie Palmer
Assistant: Kelly Allen   |   804.622.1114 Paralegal: Jennifer Bailey   |   804.622.1119

Julie S. Palmer

Partner   |   Richmond »

Julie focuses her practice on defending professionals in malpractice cases and disciplinary complaints.  She also represents individuals and businesses in a wide variety of tort and contract claims in state and federal courts throughout Virginia in the areas of transportation, premises liability, products liability, catastrophic injury and wrongful death, and commercial disputes. Julie is a member of Harman Claytor’s Appellate Practice Group and has significant experience handling appeals in the Court of Appeals of Virginia and Supreme Court of Virginia.

  • Henrico County Bar Association
    • Past President (2017 – 2018)
    • President (2016 – 2017)
    • President-Elect (2015 – 2016)
    • Secretary (2014 – 2015)
    • Board of Directors (2013 – 2014)
  • Richmond Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association, Richmond Chapter
    • Board (2013 – 2015)
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
    • Immediate Past President (2023 – present)
    • President (2022 – 2023)
    • President-Elect (2021 – 2022)
    • Treasurer (2020 – 2021)
    • Secretary (2019 – 2020 )
    • Board of Directors (2015 – 2019)
    • Chair, Appellate Advocacy Section (2014 – 2015)
    • Vice-Chair, Appellate Advocacy Section (2013 – 2014)
    • Board of Editors of Journal of Civil Litigation (2012 – present)
    • Chair, Professional Liability Section (2009)
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Fortune Magazine, Women Leaders in the Law (2015)
  • Virginia Super Lawyers – Rising Stars (2009 – 2018)
    • Civil Litigation: Defense
  • Virginia Super Lawyers (2020 – 2024)
    • Civil Litigation: Defense
  • Virginia Business Legal Elite (2010, 2014, 2016 – 2023)
    • Civil Litigation
    • Young Lawyer/Under 40
  • Best Lawyers in America (2024 & 2025)
    • Appellate Practice
  • Virginia Lawyers Weekly
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Rated 
  • Augusta Mutual Insurance Co. v. Mason, 274 Va. 199, 645 S.E.2d 290 (2007)
  • Ford Motor Co. v. Boomer, 736 S.E.2d 724 (Va. 2013) (Counsel for Amicus Curiae, Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys)
  • Eubank v. Thomas, 861 S.E.2d 397 (Va. 2021)
  • Patterson v. City of Danville, 875 S.E.2d 5 (Va. 2022)
  • Ashland, LLC v. Virginia-American Water Company, 878 S.E.2d 378, (Va. 2022)
  • Newman v. General Services Corp., 2012 WL 1882903 (E.D. Va. 2012), aff’d, 478 Fed. Appx 763, 2012 WL 4017441 (4th Cir. 2012)
  • Williams v. Anderson, 2012 WL 5928644 (E.D. Va. 2012)
  • Saza, Inc. v. Zota, 2012 WL 527370 (E.D. Va. 2012)
  • Koegler v. Green, 78 Va. Cir. 478, 2009 WL 7339901 (Hanover)
  • Reynolds v. Crown Equip. Corp., 2008 WL 2465032 (W.D. Va. 2008)

Professional Liability:

  • Obtained judgment for the defendant in a three-day trial of legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of the standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying divorce litigation.
  • Obtained defense verdict in seven-day jury trial of legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of the standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying premises liability suit.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of defendant attorney in case asserting claims of RICO, conversion, detinue, and civil conspiracy.
  • Obtained dismissal of medical malpractice case against physician employed by City-owned adult detention center; dismissal upheld on appeal.
  • Obtained dismissal of legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying loan closing.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of defendant in legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying personal injury case.  Case involved allegations of poor settlement evaluation.
  • Successfully defended legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling and trial of underlying commercial litigation.  During course of case, succeeded in getting plaintiff’s expert excluded and in obtaining partial judgment in favor of client.
  • Successfully defended legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying corporate matters, including exchange of stock of several closely held entities.
  • Successfully defended legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling and trial of underlying divorce case.
  • Successfully defended legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying domestic matter.  Case involved allegations of undue influence and fraud in connection with settlement of underlying case.
  • Successfully defended legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling of underlying personal injury matter.  Case involved allegations of missed deadlines and fraud.
  • Successfully defended legal malpractice case involving allegations of various breaches of standard of care in defendant’s handling and trial of underlying medical malpractice case.
  • Obtained dismissal of case against settlement agent for alleged civil conspiracy.
  • Obtained dismissal of case against insurance agent for alleged negligence and breach of contract in placing insurance; dismissal upheld on appeal.
  • Successfully defended daycare provider in personal injury action involved claimed physical abuse of child.
  • Successfully defended in-home daycare provider in wrongful death action arising from death of infant.

Liability for Criminal Acts of a Third Party and Wrongful Death:

  • Obtained dismissal of case against owner of shopping center brought by woman alleging sexual assaulted by an employee of a tenant of the center.
  • Obtained dismissal of case against university for wrongful death of student by alleged hazing.
  • Successfully defended owners and managers of apartment complex in wrongful death case arising out of murder of a tenant.
  • Successfully defended moving company in wrongful death/negligent hiring case filed by Personal Representative of customer who was allegedly killed by company’s employee after a move.
  • Successfully defended owners and managers of apartment complex in negligent hiring case filed by tenant who was attacked and sexually assaulted by temporary maintenance employee.
  • Successfully defended paving company in wrongful death action brought after fatal motorcycle accident.
  • Successfully defended railroad company in wrongful death case arising out of crossing accident.
  • Successfully defended carpentry contractor in wrongful death case arising out of trip-and-fall on allegedly defective steps at resort.

Products Liability:

  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of service/maintenance provider for forklift owned by plaintiff’s employer.  Plaintiff sustained serious injuries when cab of forklift went into free fall from forty feet.
  • Successfully defended seller of vehicle in products liability case filed by paraplegic plaintiff who was rear passenger in vehicle and who alleged that seller failed to adequately inspect allegedly defective seatbelt.
  • Successfully defended manufacturer/designer of stacker crane in traumatic brain injury case involving alleged deficiencies with design of crane.
  • Successfully defended manufacturer of polyester round slings used in installation of overhead bridge crane. 25,000-pound steel girder fell on manlifts occupied by plaintiffs, who alleged slings were defectively designed.
  • Successfully defended designer/manufacturer of custom-built motorcycle frame in motorcycle accident case involving significant injuries.
  • Successfully defended tool distributor in products liability case arising after drill bit was ejected from milling machine, striking plaintiff between eyes and causing blindness, traumatic brain injury and other catastrophic injuries.

Landlord/Tenant:

  • Obtained dismissal of multi-count Complaint against owner and property manager of apartment complex in case of claimed carbon monoxide exposure allegedly caused by defective stove and furnace in leased premises.
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of property manager of apartment complex in case filed by injured tenant who fell when porch railing detached.
  • Obtained dismissal of property manager of apartment building in case filed by injured tenant who fell down elevator shaft.
  • Obtained dismissal of landlord in case filed by injured tenant who sustained serious burns from boiling water, which fell on him when sink separated from wall.
  • Successfully defended landlord in personal injury action arising out of dog bite incident.
  • Successfully defended landlord and property manager in personal injury action arising out of alleged chemical exposure incident and resulting injuries to tenant.

The cases referenced above do not represent the lawyer’s entire record.  Each case must be evaluated on its own facts.  The outcome of a particular case cannot be based on past results.

  • Mary Washington College, B.A., magna cum laude (2000)
  • Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D., cum laude (2003)
  • Virginia State Bar
  • United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit