349 results for 'court:"Arkansas Court Of Appeals"'.
J. Gladwin dismisses the farm’s appeal of the circuit court’s denial of its petition to discharge the excavator’s lien. The excavator filed the lien for $671,000 for nonpayment after the farm sold its property during a construction project it contracted for with the excavator. The excavator gave proper notice and the court correctly denied discharge of the lien, retaining jurisdiction. The farm filed a notice of interlocutory appeal and a motion to reconsider on the same day. The circuit court did not issue a ruling on the motion to reconsider. The appeals court has no jurisdiction for lack of a final order.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-22-608, Categories: Construction, Jurisdiction, Contract
J. Gladwin finds the circuit court improperly denied the assignee of the vehicle purchase contract's motion to compel arbitration. The purchaser defaulted on payment and the assignee repossessed the vehicle. The purchaser sought class certification for deceptive trade practices claims arising from the assignee's requiring her to pay repossession report fees to law enforcement agencies. The arbitration agreement is valid and enforceable under the Automotive Dealer's Anti-Coercion Act, satisfying the mutuality-of-obligations element of a binding contract. The assignee did not waive its right to demand arbitration in the purported class action by filing a separate action for a deficiency judgment. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-22-756, Categories: Arbitration, Debt Collection, Contract
J. Klappenbach finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for boating while intoxicated. A wildlife officer stopped defendant's boat after he observed his aggressive operation related to cutting off a jet ski. The unsafe speed and closeness of the vessels provided probable cause for the stop. Sobriety tests were administered after the officer smelled alcohol, with defendant failing them all. Sufficient evidence supports the court's ruling. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Klappenbach , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CR-23-573, Categories: Evidence, Dui
J. Murphy finds the circuit court properly denied the stepfather's petition to adopt his 13-year-old stepdaughter. The stepfather sought adoption after the child's biological father petitioned to establish paternity and visitation. Though the healthy, academically achieving daughter considers her stepfather her father, having no interest in visitations with her biological father, the record demonstrates the mother hindered the biological father/daughter relationship by not telling him about her for the first two years of her life. The mother also told the daughter she was conceived by rape. The biological father has regularly paid child support, also carrying insurance on the daughter. Adoption is in derogation of the natural parent's rights and the biological father has contested the adoption. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-23-311, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, Guardianship
J. Murphy finds the circuit court properly granted the prescriptive easement with limitations. Though the grantee says the court improperly limited use of the road subject to the easement, the limitations properly address only the historical use of dominant tenements. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-22-774, Categories: Evidence, Property
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J. Gladwin finds the circuit court properly revoked defendant's probation, sentencing her to 120 months in prison. Defendant previously pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and theft of property, receiving 10 years of probation. Later, defendant, thinking her boyfriend was cheating on her, confronted him in the front yard of the other woman's home, attacking him with a knife. Detective interview video shows defendant admitting to having a knife, which supports the revocation. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CR-23-652, Categories: Probation, Assault, Weapons
J. Virden finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for sexual assault and rape committed against his minor grandchildren based on sufficient evidence. The children testified the abuse, including vaginal and oral penetration, seemed like normal life. Defendant told one of the children that if she told anyone she would be committed to a mental institution, also threatening to hurt her pets. Witness credibility was properly considered, and the court properly elected to run the sentences consecutively. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Virden , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CR-23-581, Categories: Sentencing, Sex Offender, Child Victims
J. Hixson finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for sexual assault and introducing benzodiazepine into the victim's body. Defendant's ex-wife testified that defendant was watching their children at her home while she worked. She returned home to find her 16-year-old niece, who was not expected to be there, asleep. She said defendant was acting erratically, and that she discovered a plastic bag containing drugs. After defendant left, the niece disclosed the assault, later testing positive for the drug. Substantial evidence supports the conviction. An exception cited by defendant is not applicable to prosecutorial errors involving closing discussion of evidence not presented at trial. No ineffective assistance or court error is found. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CR-23-684, Categories: Drug Offender, Evidence, Sex Offender
J. Barrett finds the circuit court properly granted the hospital's motion to dismiss the medical malpractice suit. The patient argues her attorneys did not engage in unauthorized practice of law, saying the Michigan attorneys (not licensed in Arkansas) tolled the limitations period when they served the notice of intention to file. The notice was correctly found to be a nullity because the attorneys were engaged in unauthorized practice of law. The notice was also correctly found to be deficient. Furthermore, the action was filed beyond the two-year medical malpractice limitations period. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Barrett , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-23-143, Categories: Licensing, Due Process, Medical Malpractice
J. Abramson finds the circuit court properly found in favor of the homeowner, who claims the insurer wrongfully denied her fire-damage claim for her not residing in the house at the time of the fire. The applicability of the policy's residency requirement to the “residence premises” definition is ambiguous. Without applying the requirement, the policy covers the claim. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Abramson , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-22-579, Categories: Insurance, Property
J. Thyer finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for trafficking fentanyl, theft, and other drug and firearms charges. Following a traffic stop, dashcam video shows defendant was acting nervously when asked about potential illegal items that might be in the vehicle. Sufficient evidence shows that though defendant was not seen in actual or constructive possession of drugs found in her daughter’s shorts, she admitted to constructive possession. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Thyer , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CR-23-562, Categories: Drug Offender, Firearms, Search
J. Murphy finds the circuit court properly dismissed the ex-husband's motion for modification of support and alimony. Though the husband's income decreased, and he says there is no longer a need for the obligation since the wife's income has increased, he is still capable of meeting the obligation. The court correctly found, and the record supports, the wife still has a need for support “to maintain the...lifestyle for [her]...children." Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-23-315, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, Contract
J. Klappenbach finds the trial court improperly convicted defendant for two counts of criminal mischief. Although evidence shows defendant stole a truck from a repair shop and then hit two other vehicles, a vehicle owner's testimony about the cost of the damage and the document pertaining to the insurance payout to the body shop were inadmissible hearsay. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Klappenbach , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CR-23-529, Categories: Robbery, Due Process, Vandalism
J. Harrison finds the circuit court properly dismissed the father's appeal of the order terminating his parental rights. The Department of Human Services exercised custody of two of the children after their infant sibling died and the crime lab discovered drugs in the body. The children have achieved permanent placement, and all evidence supports termination. The court lacked authority to reopen the case once the children achieved permanency. The dependency-neglect case is closed, and there is no jurisdiction to reopen. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-23-737, Categories: Family Law, Jurisdiction, Guardianship
J. Harrison finds the circuit court properly denied the attorney's claim for legal fees. The attorney sought fees from the estate of his deceased brother's deceased wife for long-term legal work he claims to have provided "on loose payment terms." The deceased brother lost the contract suit he brought against his wife alleging her failure to pay him for property sales. There is substantial evidence the attorney was paid. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: April 17, 2024, Case #: CV-23-212, Categories: Property, Attorney Fees, Contract
J. Wood finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for the first-degree battery of his 6-month-old daughter based on sufficient evidence. The hospital discovered 12 to 15 fractures throughout the child's body, a black eye and skin abrasions after defendant took her in for medical care when he found her arm was swollen. Forensic investigators said the injuries were consistent with abuse. Defendant also admitted no other adult was alone with the child. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Wood , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CR-23-539, Categories: Evidence, Battery, Child Victims
J. Gruber finds the circuit court properly adjudicated the children dependent-neglected. The department removed the children after finding evidence the parents were making up symptoms requiring medical treatment. Treating physicians testified no records support any need for the children's treatment for congenital disease. Though the parents objected to a question asked by the prosecution regarding discussions a witness had with a treating doctor, the prosecution was asked to rephrase the question. The parents have not shown prejudice. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gruber , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CV-23-598, Categories: Family Law, Health Care, Guardianship
J. Klappenbach finds the circuit court properly denied defendant's petition for postconviction relief. Convicted for kidnapping, battery, firearm possession, aggravated assault and terroristic threatening, defendant was tried within one year of being charged. He was not denied his right to speedy trial, and no argument or record evidence show he is entitled to relief. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Klappenbach , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CR-22-748, Categories: Firearms, Battery, Kidnapping
J. Virden finds the Workers' Compensation Commission properly affirmed the administrative law judge's determination the poultry processing worker sustained a compensable injury in the form of an occupational disease. The worker, who hung live chickens by their feet as they scratched and pecked him, developed a rash and nausea. He was later diagnosed with cardiopulmonary arrest, acute renal failure and other ailments after he was found unresponsive and taken for medical treatment. The processing facility does not specifically argue sufficiency of the evidence until its reply brief. The appeals court will not consider arguments first raised in a reply brief, being the worker would have no opportunity for rebuttal. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Virden , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CV-23-133, Categories: Tort, Due Process, Workers' Compensation
J. Harrison finds the circuit court improperly dismissed the hunting lease caretaking service's complaint seeking nearly $8,000 in payment for an unpaid invoice. The caretaker terminated a verbal contract with a hunter after performing extra services that were added to the ongoing invoice, asking for payment in full. The circuit court entered an order finding that, in the absence of a written contract, the statute of limitations applies. Though the hunter offers several definitions for the agreement, which would govern the accrual date, this determination, as well as the question of timeliness, is for a jury to decide. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CV-22-528, Categories: Debt Collection, Environment, Contract
J. Hixson finds the circuit court properly revoked defendant's suspended imposition of sentence. Defendant was convicted for failure to support after not making $20,000 in child support payments. He pleaded no contest to charges of nonsupport and fleeing. All evidence supports the conviction. He also did not raise the issue the court failed to provide him with the written terms of his probation. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CR-23-272, Categories: Probation, Due Process
J. Thyer finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for battery, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct based on substantial evidence. The court properly excluded witness testimony after defendant failed to timely disclose the witnesses and counsel failed to cite a specific rule allowing for late disclosure. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Thyer , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CR-23-467, Categories: Resisting Arrest, Battery
J. Abramson finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for felony video-voyeurism. Defendant, the former executive director for an Alzheimer's assisted-living facility, was discovered by his wife to have placed a camera in a position to record video up the victim's skirt when she entered his office, responding to his request for help. Though defendant's office had windows exposing part of the office to public view, the area behind the desk was not in public view and not open to recording. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Abramson , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CR-23-472, Categories: Evidence, Sex Offender
J. Barrett finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for murder. After receiving an anonymous tip, officers discovered the victim's decomposing body inside a vacant building. Witness' interviews implicated defendant and an accomplice. The accomplice agreed to testify in exchange for a plea agreement, saying defendant told him he was going to kill the victim for being a snitch. Multiple witnesses saw defendant with a handgun on the day of the murder, saying he was seeking ammunition, while the accomplice said defendant shot the victim in the chest and twice in the face. The accomplice's testimony was sufficiently corroborated. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Barrett , Filed On: April 10, 2024, Case #: CR-23-661, Categories: Evidence, Murder, Witnesses
J. Murphy finds the trial court improperly denied the refrigeration installer's request for a preliminary injunction. The installer alleges a noncompete agreement was violated by the other refrigeration equipment installer. The circuit court erroneously failed to consider Arkansas Code's covenant-not-to-compete statute as it relates to what constitutes irreparable harm. Reversed in part.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-23-158, Categories: Due Process, Contract, Injunction
J. Hixson finds the circuit court properly denied the mother's motion to modify child support. The mother alleges the father had not visited their older children, and that she fully supports them without his help. She says that even though the court granted joint custody, the father had not abided by the order, and should not have the benefit of an offset for his support. The order did not require the father have visitation with the older children, and the mother has not argued there has been any material change in circumstances as required for modification. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-23-192, Categories: Family Law, Guardianship
J. Thyer finds the circuit court properly denied the cable service provider's motion to compel arbitration, granting the city's motion for class certification. The provider's predecessor agreed to pay the city an annual franchise fee to establish a system, including the right to erect and use equipment in the city's public rights-of-way. The city filed the action alleging the provider failed to pay the fee, and also did not maintain minimum standards of conduct for its customers. The franchise agreement with the city and the residential services agreement with customers are separate agreements. No valid arbitration agreement exists. Exhibits showing commonality were properly admitted. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Thyer , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-22-808, Categories: Arbitration, Communications, Municipal Law
J. Murphy finds the circuit court improperly found for the hospital and its billing agent. Patients filed this class action after the hospital declined to bill their insurer, Blue Cross, for treatment for injuries from an auto accident, seeking the full amount from the patients and the at-fault party. The court improperly refused to allow the patients to conduct discovery to fully respond to the hospital's motions for summary judgment and to dismiss. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-22-211, Categories: Debt Collection, Health Care, Discovery
J. Thyer finds the trial court properly found for a surgeon on a spinal fusion patient's action, filed after she experienced complications that resulted in the surgeon removing a screw that had been pressing on a nerve. An expert testified within a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the surgeon's actions had not fallen below the standard of care and were not the proximate cause of the patient's complications. The patient has not shown a genuine issue of material fact. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Thyer , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-22-396, Categories: Negligence, Medical Malpractice
J. Gruber finds the circuit court properly found for the homeowners on an invitee's allegations the lack of a railing on the home's second floor balcony caused him to fall from the balcony, sustaining injuries. The invitee knew of the dangerous condition that caused his injury, and no evidence shown brings into question any material fact. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gruber, Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-22-202, Categories: Evidence, Tort, Negligence