Mark D. Loftis

Mark is a trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience handling personal injury, wrongful death, and commercial cases for utility companies and other clients. He has tried numerous cases to verdict as lead counsel in both State and Federal Court. In addition to his litigation practice, Mark assists housing authorities and other public entities with contract, procurement and FOIA issues.

Mark served as president of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, the leading statewide bar organization for attorneys dedicated to the defense of civil actions. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America and is a three-time Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Roanoke, Virginia. Chambers & Partners recognizes him as one of Virginia’s leading commercial litigators, including being named to Chambers’ Leaders in Their Field list. Mark also holds a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review rating.

After 18 years as head of the Litigation Section at Woods Rogers, Mark stepped down to devote additional time to his work as the firm's General Counsel.

• Electrical Utility Defense: Defense of subrogation action by insurance company alleging that fire loss was caused be defect in electrical distribution system. Nautilus Ins. Co. v. Appalachian Power Co., 2021 WL 1321319 (W.D. Va., April 8, 2021). Dismissed based on insurer's spoliation of evidence.
• Railroad Crossing Dispute: Defense of railroad in action by landowner seeking to compel railroad to re-install removed grade crossing to provide access to property. Shifflett v. Norfolk Southern Ry. Co., Case No, CL16-2730 (Rockingham Co. Cir. Ct., Letter Opinion dated November 25, 2019; Final Order dated January 21, 2020). After bench trial, Court denied relief sought by landowner and entered judgment for railroad.
• Wrongful Death: Defense of lift truck manufacturer in wrongful death action allegedly caused by defect in braking system. Evans v. Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc., 295 Va. 235, 810 S.E.2d 462 (2018). Trial Court set aside verdict for plaintiff; Supreme Court affirmed, ruling that plaintiff's evidence failed to establish defendant was negligent.
• Insurance Coverage: Represented insured in declaratory judgment action where insurer sought to withdraw defense of personal injury action. Copp v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co., 279 Va. 675, 692 S.E.2d 220 (2010). Appeals Court ruled that insurer had duty to defend under self-defense exception to policy exclusion.

Recognition

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D.

Georgetown University, A.B., cum laude

Admissions

Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia

• American Bar Association
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• American Board of Trial Advocates, Virginia Chapter
• Defense Research Institute
  • DRI Exceptional Performance Citation (2006)
  • Products Liability Committee

Co-author. Virginia Law and Practice: A Handbook for Attorneys (2020).