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
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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. Harrison finds the circuit court properly entered the divorce decree and custody and support order, finding the ex-wife to be in contempt. The court correctly denied the mother's request to relocate, finding it in the child's best interest to remain where his support system is located. There is ample evidence the mother's failure to control her emotions caused the child's anxiety during visitation exchanges. At one exchange, the mother was crying so loudly she could not hear the visitation supervisor speaking. The child's counselor also testified that certain of the mother's actions could be considered intentional sabotage and that it is damaging for the child to be purposefully kept from his father. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Harrison , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-23-240, Categories: Evidence, Family Law, Guardianship
J. Mooney finds the trial court erred by failing to dismiss two counts against defendant. “The state violated defendant’s constitutional right to counsel when the lead detective intentionally listened to several recorded phone conversations between defendant and his attorney, which included privileged communications between them about trial strategy.” Reversed.
Court: Oregon Court of Appeals, Judge: Mooney, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: A177025, Categories: Constitution
J. Jacquot finds the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss his theft charge pursuant to a civil compromise. The “letter acknowledged more than that defendant had paid the penalties that he owed…and, therefore, is not precluded from being offered as evidence of a civil compromise.” Reversed.
Court: Oregon Court of Appeals, Judge: Jacquot, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: A178836, Categories: Theft
J. Pagan finds the trial court erred by giving a jury instruction on defense of premises regarding the alleged victim’s actions when defendant was claiming self-defense against someone who used force against him. “The parties disputed the facts that would have made defendant’s self-defense claim viable, and a jury instruction that highlighted the alleged victim’s state of mind” detracted from the jury’s consideration of defendant’s state of mind. Reversed.
Court: Oregon Court of Appeals, Judge: Pagan, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: A177313, Categories: Burglary, Assault, Jury Instructions
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. Murphy finds the circuit court properly upheld the denial of the firefighter's claim for duty disability retirement based on substantial evidence. The firefighter sought treatment and therapy for PTSD, and was placed on medical leave before pursuing retirement benefits. A doctor reported the available information did not support total and permanent disability. The firefighter provides no convincing support for his claim the board of trustees disregarded facts. Affirmed.
Court: Arkansas Court Of Appeals, Judge: Murphy , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: CV-22-650, Categories: Employment, Health Care, Workers' Compensation
J. Edison finds, upon remand, that one group of investors in a divided class can move forward with class certification in a case regarding a failure to disclose information prior to a merger. The court initially ruled that applicants for a class action must be separated because the class included stockholders of both companies involved in the merger creating a conflict. On remand, one group of investors holding stock in one of the companies involved in the merger can certify as a class at this juncture with the recommendation that investors holding stock in the other company be permitted to apply for class certification separately.
Court: USDC Southern District of Texas, Judge: Edison, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 4:18cv4330, NOS: Securities/Commodities/Exchange - Other Suits, Categories: Securities, Class Action
J. Horan finds that the testimony of an expert witness for the defendant energy services company, who testified as to whether suing energy company took reasonable steps to protect its trade secrets, shall not be removed from the record. The witness’s testimony does not invade the territory of the trier of fact, but rather provides information as to the steps that the sued company could have or did take to protect its trade secrets. Plaintiff’s motion to strike the expert witness’s testimony is denied.
Court: USDC Northern District of Texas , Judge: Horan, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 3:22cv1981, NOS: Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016 (DTSA) - Property Rights, Categories: Trade Secrets, Experts
J. O’Connor finds that an attorney who claims that she was not promoted because she is female did not show that her employer’s reason for not promoting her is pretextual. The attorney’s claims that the qualifications of person hired for the position were exaggerated do not meet the requirement for pretext to a discriminatory decision that any reasonable employer would find the protected class member’s qualifications are superior. However, the attorney’s claims for failure to promote based on her age can proceed. The employer’s motion to dismiss claims of discrimination based on sex are granted but the motion to dismiss based on age is denied.
Court: USDC Northern District of Texas , Judge: O’Connor, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 4:23cv566, NOS: Employment - Civil Rights, Categories: Civil Rights, Employment Discrimination
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. Gibbons finds the district court improperly denied the "gig" worker's petition for review of his liability for overpayment of pandemic assistance benefits. The appeals referee made no findings demonstrating that he considered the nuances of the gig economy or whether a diminution of usual services occurred due to the pandemic. The referee improperly relied on the worker's testimony that he had no job offers retracted due to the pandemic to conclude that he was an unreliable witness. Reversed.
Court: Nevada Court of Appeals, Judge: Gibbons , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 85942-COA, Categories: Employment, Evidence, Covid-19
J. Toth finds the Board of Veterans Appeals properly issued its decision. The Army Vietnam veteran asked the board to delay issuing a decision regarding his disagreement with the effective date of compensation for cardiovascular disease. He sought delay until after his representative received a copy of his claims file, in order to submit evidence. The veteran then filed a formal appeal for direct review, which allows for a more immediate decision, and the board issued its opinion before evidence was submitted. Because other procedural options exist, the fair process doctrine does not entitle the veteran to a delay in the context of his request for expedited review. Affirmed.
Court: Court Of Appeals For Veterans Claims, Judge: Toth, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 22-3957, Categories: Health Care, Veterans, Due Process
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. 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. Lange denies a Department of the Interior motion to dismiss an amended complaint involving self-determination contracts under the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 under which the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe received federal funds to operate tribal schools that otherwise would have been operated by the federal government. The government collected a deficit of funds that the school would have otherwise received after the Tribe used some of the money to fund tribal government operations other than schools. The Tribe also claimed that the government collected more than the total unearned-revenue balance. The alleged overcollection claim in the amended complaint remains but all the claims from the original complaint remain foreclosed.
Court: USDC South Dakota, Judge: Lange, Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 3:21cv3018, NOS: Administrative Procedure Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision - Other Suits, Categories: Administrative Law, Education, Native Americans
J. Molaison finds that defendant was properly convicted of armed robbery and the misdemeanor battery of a police officer. The record shows that defendant was properly advised of the ramifications of his guilty pleas, and there are no non-frivolous issues regarding defendant's convictions. Further, on his Boykin form and during sentencing, defendant acknowledged that his sentence for armed robbery “is without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.” Affirmed in part.
Court: Louisiana Court Of Appeal, Judge: Molaison , Filed On: April 24, 2024, Case #: 23-KA-401, Categories: Robbery, Battery, Plea