J. Riley finds that the trial court properly held defendant in contempt and ordered her to serve 90 days in jail for lying three times in court about the existence and death of a child who did not exist, as the lies made it impossible for child services to determine if the child was real. Affirmed.
Court: Indiana Court Of Appeals, Judge: Riley, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23A-JM-2671, Categories: Contempt, Family Law
J. Segal finds that the trial court should have granted an employer's motion to vacate a renewal of judgment for interest on an attorney fee award. Following a reversal that added to a previous attorney fee award in favor of an employee, the employee's attorneys sought interest from the time of the original trial court denial of fees. But because the appellate decision was not a modification, the interest on the fee award began to accrue when the appeals court reversed. Reversed.
Court: California Courts Of Appeal, Judge: Segal, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: B327821, Categories: Civil Procedure, Employment, Attorney Fees
J. Suttell finds that the trial court properly dismissed claims in which developers allege substantive due process and RICO violations, tortious interference with a contract and prospective business advantages, and civil liability for crimes, because the claims were barred by the three-year statute of limitations. Affirmed.
Court: Rhode Island Supreme Court, Judge: Suttell, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-67, Categories: Due Process, Business Expectancy, Racketeering
J. Jones denies the father's petition seeking the return of his child to Mexico under the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Although the family "see-sawed" between Mexico and the United States since the child's birth, the majority of the child’s school and medical connections are in Washington, and the father looked at various houses to purchase in the United States. Because the child's habitual residence is the United States, the father's petition is denied.
Court: USDC Western District of Washington, Judge: Jones, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 2:23cv1655, NOS: Other Statutory Actions - Other Suits, Categories: Family Law, International Law
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J. Morris denies in part summary judgment in an employment dispute between a former warehouse manager and an employer who fired him. The employer says he was fired for violating a policy against retaliation regarding a conversation with another coworker, but the former manager says he was fired for his challenges with mental health. At this stage, there remains a dispute over which version of events holds the most truth.
Court: USDC Montana, Judge: Morris, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 4:22cv111, NOS: Other Labor Litigation - Labor, Categories: Employment
J. Anderson affirms the district court's dismissal of a postconviction relief petition for murder and attempted murder convictions, finding that the petitioner has not satisfied the newly-discovered-evidence or interests-of-judgment exceptions to the time limit for such petitions. Newly-discovered DNA evidence does not meet that threshold because the petitioner has not met the clear-and-convincing standard to show that it is exculpatory, and he has not otherwise shown that the interests of justice require a new trial. Affirmed.
Court: Minnesota Supreme Court, Judge: Anderson, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: A23-0851, Categories: Dna, Evidence, Murder
J. St. Eve finds that the lower court properly sentenced defendant to 96 months in prison for stealing 25 firearms, of which police only recovered eight. The court's speculation that the missing firearms were "likely in the hands of other felons" does not amount to impermissible speculation requiring the court to vacate his sentence. Affirmed.
Court: 7th Circuit, Judge: St. Eve, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-1564, Categories: Firearms, Sentencing
J. Hamilton finds that the lower court properly revoked defendant's probation, finding that he possessed a firearm in violation of the terms of his supervised release. While the trial judge should not have allowed defendant's probation officer to narrate a police surveillance video showing defendant with the gun without permitting defendant to cross-examine the officer, the error was harmless. Affirmed.
Court: 7th Circuit, Judge: Hamilton, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 22-3282, Categories: Firearms, Probation, Witnesses
J. Zenoff finds that the lower court properly granted the state's petition to detain defendant before trial on charges of murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. Defendant is charged with multiple offenses, and the trial court did not err in finding the presumption great that he committed the charged offenses. Affirmed.
Court: Illinois Appellate Court, Judge: Zenoff, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 240187, Categories: Murder, Bail
J. Lampkin finds that the lower court properly dismissed an attorney's First Amendment challenge to a village ordinance requiring public comments of special village board meetings to be germane to agenda items. This relevancy restriction on council meetings is reasonable, even though it is content based, in light of the purpose of board meetings to effectively conduct business of specified matters and ensure citizens have the time to present their views. Affirmed.
Court: Illinois Appellate Court, Judge: Lampkin, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 230139, Categories: Municipal Law, First Amendment
J. Kobick grants a restaurant management software company’s motion to stay a patent infringement and breach of contract action brought against it by a paydata management software company pending review of the relevant patent by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The board recently began the review of that patent.
Court: USDC Massachusetts, Judge: Kobick, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 1:22cv11539, NOS: Patent - Property Rights, Categories: Patent, Contract
J. Park finds that the district court properly denied defendant pretrial release from detainment for allegedly making interstate threats against Jewish students at Cornell University following the October 2023 Hamas attack against Israel because defendants may be detained pending trial on charges constituting crimes of violence. Affirmed.
Court: 2nd Circuit, Judge: Park, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-8081, Categories: Threats
Vice Chancellor Zurn declines to dismiss certain claims associated with $344 million paid to the founders of a partnership and other insiders for the loss of tax benefits in the partnership's conversion to a corporation because safe harbors in the partnership agreement are available, and the shareholder successfully pleads that defendants lacked leverage to extract payment for such.
Court: Delaware Chancery Court, Judge: Zurn, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 2022-0664-MTZ, Categories: Corporations, Tax, Partnerships
J. Brailsford denies in part an insurance company's motion for summary judgment regarding an insurance coverage dispute following a plane crash. While the pilot walked away unharmed, the plane, which crashed shortly after takeoff, sustained extensive damage. The plane owner alleges that the insurer has not paid for certain repairs in violation of the insurance policy. A genuine dispute of material fact remains as to whether the insurer paid the amount required under the insurance policy. Because the insurance company has waived its right to compel arbitration, its motion for summary judgment on the contract claim is denied.
Court: USDC Idaho, Judge: Brailsford, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 1:22cv176, NOS: Insurance - Contract, Categories: Arbitration, Insurance, Contract
J. Salter finds that the circuit court improperly granted summary judgment and remanded for further proceedings a matter concerning a dispute of ownership of a semi truck. However, the lower court correctly determined that “drafting errors” alleged by the semi owner would not, themselves, preclude obtaining the title to the property. Affirmed in part.
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court, Judge: Salter , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 2024SD24, Categories: Vehicle, Contract
J. Winmill grants an insurance company's motion for expenses regarding an improperly terminated disposition. The disposition regarding a car collision was terminated by counsel when the passenger in the car, who suffered severe memory loss, was being asked about insurance claims documents and was about to be shown those documents. The attorney alleges that the insurer failed to lay the proper foundation for refreshing a witness' recollection with a document. The attorney has not shown that the insurer's counsel's questioning rose to the level of bad faith or oppressiveness. The "unilateral termination of the...disposition was therefore unjustified and warrants sanctions."
Court: USDC Idaho, Judge: Winmill, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 1:21cv498, NOS: Other Contract - Contract, Categories: Insurance, Sanctions, Contract
J. Iannacci finds that the lower court properly found that the Education Law's notice of claim requirements do not apply to charter schools. A mother sued the charter school for a bullying incident where her special needs daughter was pushed to the floor, injuring her elbow. The mother was not required to serve a notice of claim on the school before filing this tort action. "Neither the public character nor the purpose of charter schools renders them equivalent to a school district for purposes of invoking the protections of notice of claim statutes." Affirmed.
Court: New York Appellate Divisions, Judge: Iannacci, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 02205, Categories: Civil Procedure, Education, Tort
J. Molaison finds that the trial court properly found for a supply company on a worker's negligence claim that a shifting pipe fell on his foot during a
hydro pressure test at the pump station. The worker alleged that the supply company was responsible for ordering necessary “Star Pipe connections” but did not allege a product defect, only that the construction used incorrect parts. The supply company's undisputed role consisted of identifying parts for the project at issue from the project designer and did not supervise or install the pipe. Affirmed.
Court: Louisiana Court Of Appeal, Judge: Molaison, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-CA-424, Categories: Construction, Negligence, Contract
J. Johnson finds that defendant was properly sentenced to 30 years imprisonment on his conviction for possession of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. In this case, defendant was found in possession of over 800 photographs of children. Further, the sentence was not the maximum allowed, defendant did not show remorse for his actions, and he had a previous conviction of a sexual offense toward his daughter. Affirmed.
Court: Louisiana Court Of Appeal, Judge: Johnson, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-KA-427, Categories: Sentencing, Sex Offender
J. Schlegel finds that the trial court properly found for a medical provider on a patient's medical malpractice claim. In this case, the patient did not present expert testimony on the issue of causation on his allegation that nursing staff failed to provide prompt treatment for an infection in his
left leg, resulting in the amputation of his left leg above his knee. The patient has a complicated medical history, including years of drug addiction, and expert testimony would have to be required to show that the medical provider's deviation from the standard of care led to his amputation. Affirmed.
Court: Louisiana Court Of Appeal, Judge: Schlegel, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-CA-452, Categories: Experts, Medical Malpractice
J. Pechman grants the petition of Julie Su, Acting Secretary of Labor of U.S. Department of Labor, to enforce an administrative subpoena seeking information about the amounts paid to various Amazon officers, managers and supervisors in 2021 to 2022 to go to Staten Island, New York to convince Amazon employees not to unionize. The information about the names and job positions are relevant to the investigation, because that will help determine if these individuals acted outside their normal job duties or if they acted in their individual capacities.
Court: USDC Western District of Washington, Judge: Pechman, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 2:24cv270, NOS: Other Statutory Actions - Other Suits, Categories: Discovery, Labor / Unions
J. Kelly finds that the trial court improperly ruled against the owner of an oil and gas company in a leasing case brought by a holdings firm. The trial court found that the lease had been terminated due to lack of production. The trial court's decision was in error because fact issues remain on whether production had totally ceased on the tract of land. Reversed.
Court: Texas Courts of Appeals, Judge: Kelly, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 03-22-00478-CV, Categories: Property