The Utah Supreme Court has ruled in a high-profile case involving Kain Blackwing, a man accused of orchestrating an attempted murder plot from jail. The court’s decision allows prosecutors to present evidence of Blackwing’s alleged sexual assault of a minor and his controlling relationship with the women he lived with.…
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Arizona Supreme Court Upholds Traffic Stop, Clarifies Video Evidence Review
The Arizona Supreme Court has weighed in on a case involving a traffic stop that led to the discovery of marijuana, affirming the trial court’s decision and clarifying how appellate courts should review video evidence. The case, *State v. Asalia Guadalupe Alvarez-Soto*, addresses whether a police officer had reasonable suspicion…
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Court Rules Social Security Administration Can Charge Fees for FOIA Requests, Even if Late
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the Social Security Administration (SSA) in a case involving a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The court ruled that the SSA can charge fees for processing requests, even if the agency doesn’t meet the FOIA’s deadlines, as long as the…
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Court Reverses Decision in Suicide Case, Citing Potential Lack of Training for Jail Staff
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has partially reversed a lower court’s decision in a case brought by the estate of Kongchi Justin Thao, who died by suicide while detained in the Grady County Law Enforcement Center in Oklahoma. The court upheld the lower court’s decision on the excessive force…
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Medical Malpractice Appeals Dismissed Due to Lack of Final Orders
The Ohio First District Court of Appeals has dismissed three medical malpractice appeals, ruling that the trial court’s decisions were not “final, appealable orders.” The case involved appeals from Dr. Abubakar Atiq Durrani and the Center for Advanced Spine Technologies (CAST) regarding the denial of their motions for judgment on…
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Court Says No to Forum Shopping for Non-Signatories
The Arizona Supreme Court has sided with a consumer, Robert Sullivan, in a case involving a contract dispute and a forum selection clause. The court decided that Andrew J. Henderson, the founder of Nomad Capitalist USA, LLC (Nomad), could not enforce the contract’s forum selection clause against Sullivan because Henderson…
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State Department Agent’s Actions Lead to Dismissal of Former Diplomat’s Lawsuit
A recent ruling by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia has led to the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Paul Guertin, a former State Department Foreign Service Officer. Guertin’s suit, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), alleged various wrongdoings by Special Agent Robin…
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Homer Resident Loses Zoning Fight, Faces Attorney Fees
The Alaska Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s decision in a case involving a Homer resident, Frank Griswold, and the City of Homer. The case centered on a zoning ordinance amendment and the legal challenges Griswold brought against it. The Supreme Court found in favor of the City on…
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Court Upholds Restraining Order, But Raises Concerns About AI and Legal Ethics
A California appeals court has affirmed a workplace violence restraining order (WVRO) against Neill Francis Niblett, a former senior mechanic at the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The order, which protects Assistant Chief Samuel S. from Niblett, stemmed from a statement Niblett made that the court deemed a credible threat…
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Correctional Officer Loses Appeal in Wrongful Termination Case
Charles Bozzo, a former correctional officer with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), has lost his appeal in a case alleging wrongful termination and violations of his constitutional rights. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision, dismissing Bozzo’s claims due to the statute of limitations and…