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•Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to four attorney discipline rules with modifications to Bar's original proposals

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Approves Amendments to Attorney Discipline Rules

The Florida Supreme Court adopted amendments to Chapter 3 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar on Dec. 18, 2025, modifying attorney discipline procedures including emergency suspension protocols and grievance committee voting requirements.

•Changes include adding 'interim' terminology to emergency suspension rules and reorganizing general discipline procedures

•Kentucky attorney J. Todd P'Pool received a 181-day probated suspension for violating professional conduct rules

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Attorney Gets 181-Day Probated Suspension After DUI Charges

The Supreme Court of Kentucky granted attorney J. Todd P'Pool's motion for a 181-day probated suspension following multiple criminal charges including DUI and assault on police officers. The suspension stems from violations of professional conduct rules after arrests in Boyd and Shelby counties.

•The charges stemmed from DUI arrests in Boyd and Shelby counties, including alleged assault on police officers

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Louisiana Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Klein After 57-Year Career

The Louisiana Supreme Court imposed a suspension on attorney Henry L. Klein on December 18, marking the latest disciplinary action against the lawyer who has practiced since 1968. Two justices dissented from the majority decision, with one calling for a lesser sanction and another deeming the punishment too harsh.

•Louisiana Supreme Court suspended attorney Henry L. Klein on December 18, 2025

•Klein has extensive disciplinary history since 1968 including previous suspensions in 1987 and 1989

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Gregory Heightchew's murder, arson, attempted murder, and evidence tampering convictions

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Murder Convictions in Heightchew Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the murder, arson, and attempted murder convictions of Gregory Mason Heightchew in a case involving the killing and burning of Elijah Creekmore. The court upheld a life sentence without parole for 25 years in the Henry County case.

•Heightchew received life sentence without parole for 25 years for killing and burning Elijah Creekmore

•Kentucky Supreme Court reversed lower court dismissal of wrongful death lawsuit against Mayfield Health and Rehabilitation nursing home

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Revives Nursing Home Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The Kentucky Supreme Court reversed a lower court's dismissal of a wrongful death lawsuit against Mayfield Health and Rehabilitation nursing home, rejecting the facility's claim of COVID-19 statutory immunity. The December 18, 2025 ruling allows Hollie Jackson to proceed with claims that the nursing home's negligence led to his mother Emma Hayes' death.

•Court rejected nursing home's claim of immunity under KRS 39A.275, Kentucky's COVID immunity statute

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Rules Doctor's Whistleblower Claim Time-Barred

The Virginia Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in favor of emergency medicine staffing companies, ruling that Dr. Michele Hollis's whistleblower retaliation claim was filed too late under the Virginia Whistleblower Protection Act's one-year statute of limitations.

•Virginia Supreme Court reversed lower courts, finding Dr. Hollis's whistleblower claim was filed after the one-year statute of limitations expired

•Case involved allegations of fraudulent upcharging practices at emergency medicine staffing companies

•Oregon Supreme Court issued rare en banc decision reversing both lower courts in legal malpractice case

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Reverses Legal Malpractice Summary Judgment

The Oregon Supreme Court issued an en banc decision December 18, 2025, reversing lower court rulings in a legal malpractice case where a plaintiff alleged her criminal defense attorney's negligence led to murder charges and pretrial incarceration.

•Multiple legal organizations filed amicus briefs, indicating broad professional liability implications

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Louisiana Supreme Court Clarifies Workers' Comp Filing Deadlines

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled December 18 in Johnson v. AECOM Amentum Government Services, clarifying when the one-year prescription period begins for workers' compensation claims when employers accommodate injured workers with continued full-time employment and salary.

•Louisiana law requires workers' compensation claims within one year of accident, even when employers maintain injured workers' full salary

•Employers who begin compensation payments after the prescription period waive their right to assert late filing defenses

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Supreme Court Dismisses Property Registry Appeal for Procedural Failure

The Puerto Rico Supreme Court dismissed an administrative appeal on December 18, 2025, in *Mabel Reina Cubero v. Hon. Gildren S. Caro Pérez*, after the petitioner failed to file a required recalification document. The court clarified procedural requirements for challenging property registration decisions.

•Supreme Court dismissed appeal for failure to file required recalification document

•Court emphasized strict procedural compliance in property registration cases