LandAmerica shutting down headquarters

LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. filed noticed with the state that all jobs at its corporate headquarters in western Henrico County would be phased out by Dec. 31.

The first wave of layoffs -- 42 workers -- will come April 1. The biggest wave will happen two weeks later on April 16 when 139 people -- from accountants to technical support specialists -- will be let go.

LandAmerica and a subsidiary filed for federal bankruptcy protection Nov. 26 and announced plans to sell its primary title insurance businesses. The deal to purchase Lawyers Title Insurance Corp. and Commonwealth Title Insurance Co. closed Dec. 22. Less than a month later, Chairman and Chief Executive Theodore L. Chandler Jr. left the company.

The company still plans to sell off its remaining businesses, spokeswoman Carol Gentry said today.