349 results for 'court:"Arkansas Court Of Appeals"'.
J. Barrett finds the circuit court properly involuntarily admitted the patient for drug-addiction treatment. The patient's mother filed a petition to have him involuntarily admitted for a fentanyl addiction and testified her son had overdosed 20 times that year, including having been found lying in the street. She also says he hears voices and she is afraid for her life. Though no evidence was presented showing the patient was homicidal, the state proved he was disabled and suicidal due to his drug use. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Barrett , Filed On: April 3, 2024, Case #: CV-22-293, Categories: Evidence, Health Care, Commitment
J. Gladwin finds the county improperly adopted an ordinance denying the miner's request for a conditional use permit for surface mining. The more than 7,000-page record, including non-bookmarked exhibits, is unclear as to what pleading or other portion of the record the exhibits are related. The case is remanded to correct the record.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CV-21-282, Categories: Energy, Licensing, Municipal Law
J. Virden finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for multiple counts of being an accomplice to rape and kidnapping. Evidence shows defendant and the victim engaged in discussion of their sexual fetishes on a particular website, later meeting and engaging in non-sexual "pup play," where the victim pretended to be a dog. Evidence shows the victim was drugged and overpowered by defendant and forced to engage in sexual acts. The court has broad discretion on evidentiary rulings according to the rape-shield statute. Certain statements were properly allowed, and no abuse of discretion is found. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Virden , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CR-23-174, Categories: Evidence, Sex Offender
J. Abramson finds the county court improperly denied the home builder's motion to dismiss. The home purchaser filed suit, claiming the builder defaulted on the parties' contract to purchase land and build a home. The court failed to make a finding as to whether a valid arbitration agreement existed. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Abramson , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CV-23-230, Categories: Arbitration, Construction, Contract
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J. Wood finds the county court improperly found for a healthcare company on a doctor's contract claims. The emergency room physician was terminated from the independent contractor agreement after complaints led to findings of his use of nonstandard diagnostics, a lack of candor and having unprofessional interpersonal skills. The court improperly included hearsay statements made by another doctor regarding the physician's not being placed on the work schedule. There is no other admissible evidence in the record that a particular hospital would not allow the physician to work at its locations. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Wood , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CV-22-745, Categories: Health Care, Medical Malpractice, Contract
J. Murphy finds the county court improperly declined the mother's request to modify custody. Since the entry of the order, the father was arrested for domestic battery, was under investigation for child abuse and had slapped the child in the face when he would have been six years old or younger. The court improperly found no material change had occurred warranting modification. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CV-23-259, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, Guardianship
J. Virden finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for meth possession with the purpose to deliver based on sufficient evidence. An officer staking out a known drug house saw defendant pull up in his vehicle, stopped him, and found baggies with meth on his person. Furthermore, a search of his vehicle yielded various amounts of meth, as well as baggies. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Virden , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CR-23-337, Categories: Drug Offender, Evidence, Search
J. Brown finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for raping his girlfriend's daughter. The victim said she was 10 years old when she first made accusations against him, but she later recanted and was returned home after defendant pressured her. Her aunt then read diary entries detailing events of rape, as well as defendant's having bought her a sex toy. Contrary to defendant's argument, the state is not required to prove specifically when and where each act occurred. Furthermore, certain testimony detailing events that occurred outside Arkansas were properly admitted under the pedophile exception. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Brown , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CR-23-387, Categories: Evidence, Sex Offender, Child Victims
J. Klappenbach finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for negligent homicide. The victim motorcyclist was killed when he entered the turn lane and defendant, who was travelling in the opposite direction, veered his truck into the lane, striking the victim. Witness accounts and the condition of the defendant's and the victim's vehicles are sufficient to support the conviction. Defendant's above-limit blood-alcohol level test result was properly admitted. Use of an isopropyl alcohol pad on defendant's arm before his blood was drawn would not invalidate the test. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Klappenbach , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CR-23-489, Categories: Evidence, Vehicle, Negligent Homicide
J. Gladwin finds the county court properly found the parties had a valid and enforceable marriage. After the husband's hospitalization for Covid-19, he returned home to find money in a bank account he had entrusted to his wife was gone. He filed for divorce and the wife denied the parties had been married. Evidence shows the parties held themselves out to the community at large as a married couple. The presumption of a lawful marriage exists when a couple who have lived together for a considerable time and hold each other out to the public as husband and wife. The property division is based on sufficient evidence. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: March 27, 2024, Case #: CV-23-127, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, Contract
J. Thyer finds the trial court properly ordered child support, alimony and division of marital debt in its divorce decree. All evidence supports the ex-husband, a fireman with multiple sources of income, including rental properties, was properly ordered to pay child support and alimony to his disabled wife. The wife lives in a mobile home purchased by her brother on her father's property. Her income consists of disability checks and family help. Certain credit card debt incurred by the wife was for essentials for the children, and the husband provides no evidence supporting his claim that she is a compulsive spender. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Thyer , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CV-23-94, Categories: Debt Collection, Family Law, Property
J. Murphy finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for four counts of first-degree sexual assault, amended from the original charge of rape. Defendant's ex-wife's minor daughter asserted he raped her multiple times between the ages of 14 and 17. Sufficient evidence supports the conviction. Though defendant moved to strike the amended information or for a continuance, saying the information was filed giving him inadequate notice, the amendment was made after defendant divorced the mother and moved out of the residence, changing the nature of the relationship. This was known to the defense since the pendency of the case, and the court properly denied the motion. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CR-23-131, Categories: Sex Offender, Due Process, Child Victims
J. Gladwin finds the circuit court properly entered summary judgment in favor of the property owner who removed a boundary fence. The owner removed a fence that existed before the involved owners had purchased their properties, and a survey revealed the property boundary was beyond the fence. The other property owner filed a petition for ejectment, injunction and to quiet title after the fence was moved. This owner has shown no admissible evidence creating a material fact in question regarding both owners' mutual recognition of the original fence as a boundary. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CV-22-557, Categories: Evidence, Property, Injunction
J. Gruber finds the circuit court properly revoked defendant's suspended imposition of sentence. After defendant's convictions for use or possession of paraphernalia to manufacture meth or cocaine, drug possession and providing prohibited articles, she was found with fentanyl and drug paraphernalia when stopped for driving left of center. The search of defendant's vehicle was properly made, as the officer knew she was on parole. All sentencing factors were properly considered. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gruber , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CR-23-565, Categories: Drug Offender, Search, Sentencing
J. Barrett finds the circuit court improperly divided the marital debts in its divorce decree. Because no reason was given after remand for an unequal distribution of a lawn care business ordered to be subject to a reverse auction, the law requires the property be divided equally. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Barrett , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CV-22-488, Categories: Family Law, Property, Contract
J. Brown finds the circuit court improperly terminated the Cherokee Nation member's parental rights to his minor son. The son was removed from his mother after she threatened to kill herself and him. paternity test revealed the identity of the incarcerated father, and the Cherokee Nation was informed of its right to intervene. Though both parents have not shown progress with their case plans, the evidence shows there were relatives willing to take custody upon approval of home study. The court also erroneously changed the case’s goal to only adoption following termination in contravention of mandates of the Indian Child Welfare act. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Brown , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CV-23-642, Categories: Evidence, Native Americans, Guardianship
J. Gruber finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for battery and possession of a weapon by an incarcerated person. The homemade weapon used to stab a corrections officer was found in defendant's prison cell. Though defendant seeks discharge on speedy trial grounds, the trial clock had not lapsed, as some of the excluded days were due to Covid-19 delays. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gruber , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CR-23-430, Categories: Weapons, Battery, Speedy Trial
J. Virden finds the workers compensation commission properly awarded the prison mental health advisor a permanent anatomical impairment rating. The rating of 10% impairment was awarded for both the advisor's wrists for her compensable injury of carpel tunnel syndrome. Though the department argues there were no objective physical findings after surgery, there is still no requirement that medical testimony be based solely on objective findings. The record contains all necessary supporting findings. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Virden , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CV-23-30 , Categories: Evidence, Health Care, Workers' Compensation
J. Brown finds the circuit court properly granted the final decree for stepparent adoption. The biological father was convicted on mail fraud charges after the parents divorced. The mother then moved out-of-state with the couple's child and remarried. The biological father's consent to adoption by the stepfather was not required because he had failed without justifiable cause to communicate with the child for a one-year period. The adoption is correctly found to be in the child's best interest. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Brown , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CV-23-172, Categories: Family Law, Guardianship
J. Harrison finds the trial court properly convicted defendant by conditional guilty plea for charges related to drug and drug paraphernalia possession, and firearm possession. Defendant reserved the right to challenge the denial of his motion to suppress evidence recovered in a warrantless search of his pickup truck prompted by a drug dog alert. The dog died from cancer soon after the search, and its success record was lost due to a computer crash. The dog's alert was not the only fact contributing to probable cause. The officer also saw defendant's vehicle moving erratically and smelled marijuana inside. This alone can provide probable cause for a vehicle search. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CR-23-35, Categories: Drug Offender, Evidence, Search
J. Brown finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for delivery of a controlled substance and maintaining a drug premises. Several controlled buys of drugs from defendant were made by detectives using a confidential informant. Ample evidence supports the convictions, as well as defendant's more than 100-year sentence as a habitual offender. The informant identified defendant as the seller, and defendant's claim the exchange of money not being recorded on a device shows that evidence is lacking is unpersuasive. The informant's testimony does not require corroboration. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Brown , Filed On: March 13, 2024, Case #: CR-23-347, Categories: Drug Offender, Evidence
J. Gladwin finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for murder, kidnapping and firearm possession. After defendant and an accomplice were released on bond pending trial for drug charges, defendant was caught on surveillance video trading firearms with another party. Witnesses testified that defendant was involved in a heated discussion with the accomplice about who possessed the drugs and what would be testified to at trial. Defendant assaulted the accomplice after another party exacerbated the situation by accusing the accomplice of rape. The accomplice was then forced to get into the trunk of defendant's car before being taken to a remote location. He was later discovered in the burned-out vehicle, having been shot 4 times with a weapon defendant was known to possess. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Gladwin , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CR-23-407, Categories: Firearms, Murder, Kidnapping
J. Wood finds the trial court properly denied defendant's motion to dismiss a charge for domestic battery of her 17-year-old son. Though defendant was originally charged and convicted for multiple acts, a jury deadlocked on the domestic battering charge, resulting in a mistrial. The state retried her on the battery charge, and though she had been found guilty on the other charges, double jeopardy does not bar a retrial of the domestic battering charge. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Wood , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CR-23-418, Categories: Double Jeopardy, Battery
J. Harrison finds the circuit court properly entered judgment in favor of the sellers of the country market. The sellers entered into an agreement to sell the market to the daughter of the original owners. The agreement included that the daughter would assume all debts upon purchase. The daughter closed the store after purchasing it and refused to pay the debts, leaving vendors to seek payment from the sellers. Though the daughter argued the jury’s damages award was based on a list of unpaid debts, requiring the jury to speculate, the amounts were certain and not based on speculation. The jury is allowed to assess witness credibility and substantial evidence supports the award of damages. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CV-23-248, Categories: Debt Collection, Property, Contract
J. Abramson finds the trial court properly convicted defendant for cocaine trafficking and paraphernalia possession. After defendant was arrested following a traffic stop and search yielding the drugs, she made certain statements recorded by the police cruiser's cameras prior to Miranda warning. The statements were properly admitted, being the officer did not question defendant, but merely responded to her questions regarding narcotics found in the vehicle. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Abramson , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CR-23-452, Categories: Drug Offender, Evidence, Miranda
J. Brown finds the trial court improperly sentenced defendant for felony domestic battery. The victim, defendant's girlfriend, testified that he, in a drunken rage, assaulted her after she told him that she was not "in the mood." She also testified to other instances of abuse, including defendant's punching her in front of her daughter. Photos taken by police showed the victim had been choked and that her arms were scratched. Though ample evidence supports the conviction, defendant had not yet been tried and convicted for a previous incident, which was improperly used as a sentencing enhancement. Reversed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Brown , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CR-23-184, Categories: Evidence, Sentencing, Battery
J. Barrett finds the trial court properly entered summary judgment in favor of the mining company. A partner in the crystal mine brought this lawsuit seeking damages for an alleged breach of a nondisparaging agreement in a previous settlement providing for liquidated damages of $250,000 if the settlement was breached. The record shows no evidence the partner made reasonable efforts to secure another partner's deposition, and a resulting affidavit testifying to certain statements regarding alleged thievery, in breach of the nondisparaging agreement, is hearsay. The residual-hearsay exception is not applicable being that no compelling reason for attaching more than average credibility to the hearsay has been shown. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Barrett , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CV-23-211, Categories: Evidence, Damages, Contract
J. Hixson finds the circuit court properly entered certain child support and visitation orders in favor of the ex-husband. After a divorce, the wife remarried and changed states of residence multiple times pursuant to her new husband's transfers with the Navy. The ex-husband's orders for support and visitation were amended with each move. The mother's request to change venue was properly denied because the Arkansas court has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the child custody determination. The record does not reflect that the mother's filing the motion in Rhode Island violated any order by the Arkansas court, and the contempt finding against is her reversed. Affirmed in part.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Hixson , Filed On: March 6, 2024, Case #: CV-22-432, Categories: Family Law, Jurisdiction, Guardianship