Verdict . News

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fourth Circuit Vacates Drug Conviction in United States v. Taylor

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded a drug possession conviction from the Eastern District of North Carolina in the case of United States v. John James Taylor. The unpublished per curiam opinion, filed January 7, 2026, overturns a lower court decision involving Taylor's guilty plea for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

•Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated and remanded Taylor's drug and firearms conviction for the second time

•Taylor pleaded guilty to cocaine and heroin possession with intent to distribute, plus felon in possession of firearm

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Affirms Felon-in-Possession Conviction for Jomari Tonge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the conviction of Jomari Tonge on January 7, 2026, for possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The three-judge panel upheld the district court's judgment following Tonge's guilty plea to violating federal firearms law.

•Second Circuit affirmed Jomari Tonge's conviction for illegal firearm possession by a felon

•Court issued summary order with no precedential effect following Tonge's guilty plea

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in Corporate Veil Piercing Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's summary judgment ruling that protected Higher Connection LLC managers from personal liability. The court remanded the case involving breach of contract claims between Ignite International Limited and the company's executives.

•Ninth Circuit reversed district court's summary judgment protecting Higher Connection LLC managers from personal liability

•Case involves corporate veil piercing claims where plaintiff won against LLC but not individual managers

State Court

•Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed lower court's decision to change permanency plan from reunification to adoption

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Upholds Child Adoption Plan Over Reunification

The Wyoming Supreme Court rejected a father's appeal challenging a juvenile court's decision to change his child's permanency plan from family reunification to adoption. The court affirmed the lower court's ruling after the child had been in state custody for over 18 months.

•Father's primary argument that incarceration was the only barrier to reunification was rejected by the court

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

TitleMax Companies Lose Federal Appeal Against Pennsylvania Banking Enforcement

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of lawsuits filed by TitleMax subsidiaries challenging Pennsylvania's enforcement of usury laws. The federal appeals court upheld the lower court's decision requiring abstention under the Younger doctrine.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of TitleMax federal lawsuits challenging Pennsylvania banking enforcement

•District court applied Younger abstention doctrine requiring deference to ongoing state proceedings

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms City of Clarksburg's Firing of Employee After Medical Leave

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling upholding the City of Clarksburg's termination of employee Dominique Spatafore, who was fired three months after returning from medical leave for violating conduct policies.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed City of Clarksburg's termination of employee who violated conduct policies after medical leave

•Employee sent complaints to Mayor's wife and City Council instead of supervisors, also posted workplace complaints on Facebook

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Vacates Maryland Drug Conviction Over Evidence Disclosure

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Robert Gary Moore's drug possession conviction after finding the state introduced undisclosed evidence during trial. The split 2-1 decision raises questions about prosecutorial disclosure obligations in criminal cases.

•Fourth Circuit vacated Maryland drug conviction in 2-1 split decision over late evidence disclosure

•State introduced undisclosed chain of custody report on second day of three-day trial

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Upholds Police Use of Force in League City Tackle Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's dismissal of an excessive force lawsuit filed by Yoni Orli Perdomo against League City police officers. Perdomo suffered serious head injuries when officers tackled him to the ground after he allegedly repeatedly struck an officer during a May 2022 confrontation.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of excessive force lawsuit against League City police officers

•Yoni Perdomo suffered serious head injuries when tackled to concrete after allegedly striking officer

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Rejects Insurance Companies' Arbitration Push in Louisiana

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an attempt by eight major insurance companies to compel arbitration in a coverage dispute with One Lakeside Plaza, L.L.C., citing Louisiana law that prohibits arbitration clauses in property insurance contracts. The court affirmed a district court ruling based on recent precedent from a similar case.

•Eight major insurance companies failed in their bid to compel arbitration in a Louisiana property coverage dispute

•The Fifth Circuit cited Louisiana law that expressly prohibits arbitration clauses in property insurance contracts