Verdict . News

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Child Torture Sentence After Rejected Plea Deal

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on an appeal by Trina Mae Johnson, who pleaded guilty to multiple child abuse charges including torture, neglect, endangerment, and assault with a dangerous weapon after rejecting a government plea agreement offering a 120-month mandatory minimum sentence.

•Defendant rejected 120-month mandatory minimum plea deal before pleading guilty without agreement

•Johnson faced charges for child torture, neglect, endangerment, and assault with dangerous weapon

State Court

•Georgia Supreme Court affirmed trial court's denial of Murray's motion to withdraw his guilty plea for 2021 murder

Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Supreme Court Denies Murder Defendant's Plea Withdrawal Appeal

The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed a trial court's denial of Cornelius Murray's motion to withdraw his guilty plea for the 2021 murder of Willie Jacox. Murray had argued his plea was not knowing and voluntary and that his counsel was deficient.

•Murray argued his plea was not knowing and voluntary and that his counsel was ineffective

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed denial of compassionate release for Ponzi scheme defendant serving 151-month sentence

11th Circuit Denies Compassionate Release for Ponzi Scheme Defendant

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the denial of a compassionate release motion for Karamchand Doobay, who is serving a 151-month sentence for defrauding investors of more than $8 million through a Ponzi scheme. The court held that his family circumstances do not constitute the extraordinary and compelling reasons required for early release.

•Karamchand Doobay defrauded 84 investors of over $8 million through fraudulent investment scheme in Florida

•Eleventh Circuit denied Colombian national's asylum petition in case involving FARC persecution

11th Circuit Denies Colombian Asylum Seeker's Immigration Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit denied Ginna Alejandra Gutierrez-Mikan's petition for review of an immigration judge's decision rejecting her asylum application. The Colombian national and her son had sought protection from persecution by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia after refusing to pay extortion money.

•Gutierrez-Mikan and her son sought protection after refusing to pay extortion to guerrilla forces

•Eleventh Circuit reversed district court's denial of qualified immunity motion as 'premature'

11th Circuit Reverses District Court in Qualified Immunity Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed a district court's denial of a qualified immunity motion, ruling the lower court erred by calling the motion 'premature' before discovery was complete.

•Court held that qualified immunity claims must be ruled on promptly, not deferred until after discovery

•Three defendants convicted of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery had their convictions affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit

11th Circuit Upholds Hobbs Act Robbery Conspiracy Convictions

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the convictions of three defendants on charges of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. The defendants challenged multiple aspects of their trial but lost on all grounds after a comprehensive review.

•Court rejected challenges to photo lineup identification evidence and Rule 404(b) evidence admission

•Eleventh Circuit rules force must occur before or during property taking for Hobbs Act robbery conviction

11th Circuit Sets New Hobbs Act Standard for Federal Robbery Cases

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a published opinion in United States v. Jy'Quale Grable, establishing that force must occur before or during property taking to constitute robbery under the Hobbs Act. The court reversed Grable's conviction, ruling that force applied only after theft was complete does not meet federal robbery standards.

•Court reverses Jy'Quale Grable's federal robbery conviction because force was used only after theft was complete

State Court

•Hawaii Supreme Court consolidated four tax appeal cases involving research companies challenging state tax assessments

Supreme Court of Hawaii

Hawaii Supreme Court Consolidates Tax Appeals from Research Companies

The Hawaii Supreme Court has consolidated multiple tax appeal cases involving research companies challenging state tax assessments. The consolidated proceedings include appeals from PM & AM Research, Inc., Big Island Science Center, LLC, and Whale Watchers, LLC against the State of Hawaii.

•Appeals include PM & AM Research, Inc., Big Island Science Center, LLC, and Whale Watchers, LLC as petitioners against the State of Hawaii

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Construction Firm Win in Pension Withdrawal Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling favoring Walker Specialty Construction, Inc. in a dispute over withdrawal liability under federal pension law. The appeals court held that the company's asbestos abatement work qualified it for an exemption from pension plan withdrawal liability.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed Walker Specialty Construction's exemption from pension withdrawal liability

•Court ruled asbestos abatement work qualifies for building and construction industry exemption under MPPAA