Verdict . News

State Court

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

PA Supreme Court Rules on FirstEnergy Utility Pole Regulation Dispute

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a decision in a complex regulatory dispute between FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company and the state's Public Utility Commission concerning utility pole regulation and operations in the state's highly regulated utility environment.

•Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided regulatory dispute between FirstEnergy and state utility commission on Jan. 8, 2026

•Case involved dual appeals and cross-appeal by Verizon companies, indicating broad industry implications

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Rejects Financial Professional's Jury Trial Challenge to FINRA

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of D. Allen Blankenship's attempt to block FINRA disciplinary proceedings. Blankenship argued the Seventh Amendment entitled him to a federal jury trial rather than FINRA's administrative process.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of Blankenship's constitutional challenge to FINRA disciplinary proceedings

•Blankenship argued Seventh Amendment entitled him to federal jury trial rather than FINRA administrative process

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Denies Compassionate Release for Life-Term Federal Inmate

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has denied William Baskerville's appeal seeking compassionate release from federal prison under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). The non-precedential decision, filed January 8, 2026, upheld a lower court's denial of Baskerville's motion for sentence reduction in a case dating back to 2003.

•Third Circuit affirmed denial of compassionate release motion under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i)

•Baskerville was sentenced to nine concurrent life terms for witness intimidation and drug trafficking

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit: No Hotel Privacy Rights Five Hours After Checkout

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in a hotel room searched five hours after checkout time. The precedential decision in United States v. Ryan Mendoza affirms a district court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence.

•Third Circuit ruled hotel guests have no reasonable privacy expectation five hours after checkout

•Court affirmed district court's denial of motion to suppress evidence from post-checkout room search

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Felon Firearm Conviction Despite Second Amendment Challenge

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Daniel Earl Logan for illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, rejecting his constitutional challenge based on the Supreme Court's Bruen decision. The court issued an unpublished per curiam opinion on January 8, 2026.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed felon-in-possession conviction despite Second Amendment challenge

•Logan unsuccessfully argued 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) violates Second Amendment under Bruen standard

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Conviction in Immigration Visa Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Oluwatoyin Aborisade for visa fraud and aggravated identity theft in a 2-1 decision. The case involved fraudulent preparation of immigration visa self-petitions under the Violence Against Women Act.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed conviction for visa fraud and aggravated identity theft in 2-1 decision

•Case involved fraudulent VAWA immigration visa self-petitions with 57-month prison sentence

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Expert Testimony Exclusion in RV Fire Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to exclude expert testimony and grant summary judgment for RV manufacturers in a product liability case involving a campfire device that allegedly caused severe burns to plaintiff Erick Jensen.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's exclusion of expert testimony in product liability case against RV manufacturers

•Plaintiff suffered severe burns from allegedly defective Camco Little Red Campfire device sold by Camping World

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Hyundai-Kia Settlement Over Vehicle Theft Defects

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's approval of a class action settlement between consumers and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation over allegations that certain vehicles were defectively designed and vulnerable to theft. The court rejected an appeal by objector Donald K. Birner in a memorandum opinion filed Jan. 8, 2026.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court approval of class action settlement over alleged vehicle theft vulnerabilities

•Objector Donald K. Birner's appeal was rejected by three-judge panel in memorandum opinion

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Withdraws Opinion, Affirms in Berryman Prison Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted rehearing in *Berryman v. Huffman*, withdrew its 2025 opinion, and issued a brief substituted ruling that affirmed the lower court's decision. Circuit Judge Dana Douglas dissented, highlighting concerns about a 1,233-day delay before trial.

•Fifth Circuit withdrew 2025 opinion and granted panel rehearing in prison-related case

•Court issued brief substituted opinion affirming lower court without detailed explanation