Verdict . News

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

9th Circuit Reviews SWAT Team Excessive Force Claims by Grandmother

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a case where grandmother Norma Eisenmann sued police officers after a SWAT team allegedly used excessive force while apprehending a fugitive from her vehicle. The federal appeals court issued a memorandum decision affirming some claims while reversing others.

•Ninth Circuit partly reversed district court's summary judgment on grandmother's excessive force claims against SWAT officers

•Original case involved allegations SWAT team used overzealous tactics while apprehending fugitive from grandmother's vehicle

•Delaware Supreme Court dismissed interlocutory appeal in 50-50 LLC ownership dispute between Hans J. Mende and Fritz R. Kundrun

State Court

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Dismisses Appeal in LLC Partner Dispute

The Delaware Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Hans J. Mende and AMCI Group, LLC in a business dispute with Fritz R. Kundrun over attorney selection and potential conflicts of interest. The case centers on a 50-50 ownership deadlock in AMCI Group, LLC.

•Dispute centers on attorney selection for AMCI Group, LLC with Kundrun claiming Mende violated unanimous consent requirements

•FTC settles with GM over unauthorized collection and sale of precise geolocation and driving behavior data from millions of vehicles

FTC Finalizes Settlement With GM Over Unauthorized Driver Data Sales

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a settlement order against General Motors and OnStar for collecting and selling millions of consumers' precise location and driving behavior data without proper consent. The order imposes a five-year ban on sharing such data with consumer reporting agencies and requires 20 years of enhanced consumer protections.

•Settlement imposes five-year ban on sharing consumer data with reporting agencies and 20-year compliance requirements

•HSR filing threshold increases from $126.4 million to $133.9 million for 2026

FTC Raises HSR Filing Thresholds to $133.9 Million for 2026 Merger Reviews

The Federal Trade Commission has approved increased jurisdictional thresholds and revised filing fees under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act for 2026. The size-of-transaction threshold for mandatory merger and acquisition filings will rise from $126.4 million to $133.9 million, reflecting annual adjustments based on economic indicators.

•Annual adjustments are required by law based on gross national product changes

•FTC approved new 2026 thresholds of $54,402,000 for Section 8(a)(1) and $5,440,200 for Section 8(a)(2)(A)

FTC Sets New $54.4M Threshold for Interlocking Directorate Prohibitions

The Federal Trade Commission approved revised jurisdictional thresholds for Section 8 of the Clayton Act, raising the limits that trigger prohibitions on interlocking directorates to $54.4 million and $5.4 million respectively. The updated thresholds will take effect upon publication in the Federal Register.

•Section 8 of Clayton Act prohibits certain interlocking memberships on corporate boards of directors

•Company expanded recall from single Mint Leaf flavor to multiple chocolate bar varieties

Jan 14, 2026•3 min read

Spring & Mulberry Expands Chocolate Bar Recall Over Salmonella Risk

Spring & Mulberry has expanded its voluntary recall of chocolate bars beyond the initial Mint Leaf flavor to include additional varieties due to possible Salmonella contamination. The North Carolina-based company updated its January 12 recall notice on January 14, 2026.

•Initial recall issued January 12, 2026, with expansion announced January 14, 2026

Federal Circuit

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Remands Harris Drug Case Over Supervised Release Terms

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit remanded a federal drug and firearms case to the district court with instructions to vacate multiple supervised release conditions. The court ruled in United States v. Harris that 13 standard conditions and three special conditions must be removed from defendant Daniel Harris's supervised release terms.

•Second Circuit ordered district court to vacate 13 standard supervised release conditions and three special conditions

•Harris was convicted of drug trafficking and firearms offenses in 2019 and sentenced to 120 months in prison plus five years supervised release

Federal Circuit

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Immigration Conviction in Zavala-Garcia Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled on an appeal by Joel Zavala-Garcia, who challenged his conviction and sentence for illegal reentry into the United States after deportation. The defendant argued that statutory sentencing enhancements under federal immigration law are unconstitutional.

•Joel Zavala-Garcia challenged his illegal reentry conviction and sentencing enhancement under 8 U.S.C. § 1326

•The Fifth Circuit panel acknowledged the challenge is foreclosed by Almendarez-Torres v. United States precedent

State Court

•Baby removed after umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine

Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination in Drug Case

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the termination of a father's parental rights after his newborn's umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine and he was subsequently incarcerated for drug possession while on probation.

•Father incarcerated for drug possession while on felony probation