"Happiness Is The Truth"

Charlottesville, Virginia has been named the happiest city in the United States.  It also will be home to the newest (unofficial) office of Womble Carlyle.  Coincidence?  Yes, probably.

A recent study from a Harvard professor ranked Charlottesville as the happiest city in the US.  Just down the road, Richmond was rated the "most contented" metropolitan area with over one million people.  Norfolk/Virginia Beach, hometown of the "Happy" songwriter Pharrell, came in second.  There must be something about Virginia!

The study suggested that people are willing to sacrifice happiness if the price is right. "Indeed, the residents of unhappier metropolitan areas today do receive higher real wages -- presumably as compensation for their misery."  Which explains Northern Virginia.  Just kidding!

In unrelated news, I'm happy to announce that Womble Caryle will soon be opening a new office space in Charlottesville to serve as a staging area for Virginia-based litigation outside of the Washington beltway.  Charlottesville is one of the headquarters of the Western District of Virginia.  Additionally, from this central location, an attorney can travel to just about any courthouse in the Commonwealth in under two hours.  The location and opening date for the "Charlottesville office" have not been finalized.  I will announce more after the details are worked out.

Banks to Settle Lawsuit Challenging Merger

As previously noted on this blog, certain shareholders of Charlottesville-based Stellar One bank had filed a federal lawsuit in the Western District of Virginia challenging the merger between Stellar One and Union First Bankshares of Richmond.  The Richmond Times Dispatch reports today that the banks plan to settle the lawsuit, although the amount and terms of the settlement are unclear.  The merger, which is valued at $445.1 million, is expected to close on January 1 and has received all regulatory approvals.  The surviving entity, Union First Market, would be one of the largest community banks in Virginia with $7.1 billion in assets.  Part of those assets (a very small part) is Stellar One's lien on my house.  Looks like I will have to change the payee on my mortgage payments next year.