Verdict . News

•Vermont Supreme Court reversed family court ruling that declined to consider breach claims related to premarital agreement

Dec 26, 2025•4 min read

Supreme Court of Vermont

Vermont Supreme Court Reverses Family Court on Prenup Enforcement

The Vermont Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling in Christopher Gade v. Erin Gade, holding that family courts have jurisdiction to consider breach claims related to premarital agreements during divorce proceedings. The case involved disputes over asset division and home damage compensation under the couple's prenuptial agreement.

•Court held that family divisions have jurisdiction over all aspects of prenuptial agreements during divorce proceedings

Regulatory

•Voluntary recall covers Country Vet Biscuits Original Meaty Flavor and Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits Meaty Flavor with Chicken in 4-pound bags

FDA: Iowa Pet Food Company Recalls Dog Biscuits Over Salmonella Risk

Consumers Supply Distributing, LLC of Sioux City, Iowa has issued a voluntary recall of two varieties of dog biscuits due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall affects 4-pound bags of Country Vet Biscuits and Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits, posing health risks to both pets and their owners.

•Salmonella contamination poses health risks to both pets and humans who handle contaminated products

•Oregon Supreme Court found Hernandez's imprisonment at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to be illegal and ordered immediate release

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release from 'Illegal Imprisonment'

The Oregon Supreme Court issued an extraordinary order on December 24, 2025, directing the immediate release of Natalia Joanne Hernandez from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, declaring her imprisonment illegal. The unanimous en banc decision came through an original habeas corpus proceeding, with the court expediting the appellate judgment process to secure her immediate freedom.

•The decision came through a rare original habeas corpus proceeding heard en banc by the full court

Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court Upholds Unemployment Fraud Penalties

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that penalties imposed under state law for fraudulently obtaining unemployment benefits do not violate the Excessive Fines Clauses of either the U.S. or Minnesota Constitutions. The decision in *Christopher Thigpen v. Best Home Care LLC* affirms lower court rulings and provides clarity on the constitutionality of Minnesota's unemployment fraud enforcement mechanisms.

•Minnesota Supreme Court affirmed constitutionality of unemployment fraud penalties under Minn. Stat. § 268.18, subd. 2

•Court rejected Excessive Fines Clause challenges under both federal and state constitutions

•Oregon Supreme Court ordered immediate discharge from 'illegal imprisonment' in rare habeas corpus victory

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release in Habeas Corpus Case

The Oregon Supreme Court issued an extraordinary order on December 24, 2025, directing the immediate release of Thomas Golden Allen from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, declaring his imprisonment illegal. The en banc decision represents a rare habeas corpus victory involving credit for time served calculations.

•Case involved Thomas Golden Allen, resentenced in 2019 for sex crimes including first-degree rape

Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court Bars Good-Faith Exception in Pre-Torgerson Marijuana Searches

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the good-faith exception to the exclusionary rule does not apply to warrantless vehicle searches conducted solely based on marijuana odor before the landmark *Torgerson* decision. The December 24, 2025 ruling in *State v. Douglas* strengthens Fourth Amendment protections and limits law enforcement's search authority.

•Good-faith exception does not apply to pre-Torgerson marijuana odor searches

•Court reversed conviction and remanded case for further proceedings

•Oregon Supreme Court found Jose Rafael Arellano-Sanchez's imprisonment illegal after DOC re-arrested him following conflicting sentence calculations

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Release of Wrongfully Re-Imprisoned Inmate

The Oregon Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Jose Rafael Arellano-Sanchez from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility on December 24, 2025, finding his imprisonment illegal after the state re-arrested him following a calculation error regarding his sentence completion date.

•The court exercised rare original jurisdiction to hear the habeas corpus petition directly, indicating extraordinary circumstances

•Gregory's Foods recalled 2-pound 8.5-ounce packages of White Chocolate Macadamia Nut frozen cookie dough due to undeclared peanuts

Regulatory

Dec 23, 2025•4 min read

Gregory's Foods Recalls Cookie Dough Over Undeclared Peanut Risk

Gregory's Foods, Inc. of Eagan, Minnesota has voluntarily recalled 2-pound 8.5-ounce packages of "Bag Full of Cookies" White Chocolate Macadamia Nut frozen cookie dough due to potential undeclared peanut allergens. The recall was prompted by packaging errors where Monster Cookie Dough containing peanuts may have been placed in bags labeled for the macadamia nut variety.

•Packaging error resulted in Monster Cookie Dough containing peanuts being placed in bags labeled for peanut-free macadamia nut variety

•Newway Import Inc. recalls "Preserved Mustard in Soybean Oil" for undeclared wheat allergen

Regulatory

Dec 23, 2025•4 min read

FDA Issues Allergy Alert for Mustard Product with Undeclared Wheat

Newway Import Inc. of La Puente, California has issued a voluntary recall of its "Preserved Mustard in Soybean Oil" product under the Cai Hua Xiang brand due to the presence of undeclared wheat. The recall poses a serious health risk to individuals with wheat allergies or celiac disease.

•Product sold under Cai Hua Xiang brand poses serious risk to consumers with wheat allergies