Justice and $26 Million in Damages for Victims of Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally

Victims of coordinated violence by white supremacists during the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va. won a historic victory in federal court against 17 individuals and organizations who helped plan the rally. Ben Rottenborn, a Woods Rogers litigation attorney, joined the plaintiff’s legal team in 2017 and worked with attorneys from Kaplan, Hecker & Fink; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; and Cooley LLP. Rottenborn acted as local Virginia counsel on many legal issues, including assistance with hearings, depositions, expert reports, and trial preparation. His and other Woods Rogers attorneys’ contributions to the case on behalf of Woods Rogers were on a pro bono basis.

Announced on November 23, 2021, the jury for Sines v. Kessler found the defendants conspired to commit violence in the days around the August 2017 rally. The nine plaintiffs were awarded $26 million in damages.

Rottenborn commented, “Our firm is not shy about being part of difficult and challenging court proceedings. It was an honor to be part of a legal team that always believed justice would prevail for these plaintiffs.”

Woods Rogers’ Chairman, Victor Cardwell, said, “The jury’s decision reinforces the significance of the Rule of Law and the importance of civil rights. It continues to broadcast the message that there is no place for violence and hate anywhere in this country.”