Verdict . News

•Judge David Miller suspended with pay from Wolcott Village Court effective December 18, 2025

NY Court of Appeals Suspends Wayne County Village Court Judge

The New York Court of Appeals suspended Honorable David M. Miller, a Justice of the Wolcott Village Court in Wayne County, with pay effective immediately on December 18, 2025. The state's highest court ordered the suspension on its own motion under constitutional and statutory authority.

•NY Court of Appeals acted on its own motion under constitutional and statutory authority

•Court of Appeals upheld HPD's denial of succession rights to Mitchell-Lama apartment

NY Court of Appeals Denies Succession Rights to Mitchell-Lama Apartment

The New York Court of Appeals ruled against Kermit Mantilla in his challenge to the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development's denial of succession rights to his deceased brother's Mitchell-Lama apartment. The court found a rational basis for the agency's determination that Mantilla failed to prove the apartment was his primary residence for the required one-year period.

•Mantilla could not establish primary residence requirement for one-year period before brother's death

•New York Court of Appeals ruled memorandum of understanding violated term limits doctrine

New York Court of Appeals Upholds Term Limits Doctrine in Fishkill Zoning Case

The New York Court of Appeals ruled that a memorandum of understanding governing a municipal zoning review violated the term limits doctrine, affirming dismissal of Hudson View Park Company's lawsuit against the Town of Fishkill. The December 18, 2025 decision addresses limits on municipal officials' ability to bind future administrations through development agreements.

•Hudson View Park Company's lawsuit against Town of Fishkill was properly dismissed

•Court of Appeals affirmed Appellate Division ruling with costs against plaintiff Gurbanova

NY Court of Appeals Upholds Municipal Notice Law in Parking Lot Case

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling in Gurbanova v. City of Ithaca, upholding municipal notice requirements under General Municipal Law § 50-e(4) for negligence claims involving parking lot accidents.

•Municipal parking lots fall under General Municipal Law § 50-e highway definition requiring prior written notice

•Florida Supreme Court affirmed denial of motions to vacate $5 billion PACE bond validation

Florida Supreme Court Affirms Denial of Motions Against PACE Bond Validation

The Florida Supreme Court upheld circuit court orders denying governmental entities' attempts to vacate a $5 billion bond validation for PACE qualifying improvements. The court ruled that Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540 does not apply in bond validation proceedings.

•Court ruled Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540 does not apply to bond validation proceedings

•Michael James Jackson was convicted of murdering James and Carol Sumner by burying them alive in 2005

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence After Jury Law Changes

The Florida Supreme Court ruled on the case of Michael James Jackson, who was convicted of murdering an elderly couple in 2005. Jackson's death sentences were vacated in 2017 due to jury unanimity requirements but were later reimposed under revised state laws allowing non-unanimous jury recommendations.

•His death sentences were vacated in 2017 due to Hurst v. State requiring unanimous jury recommendations

•Florida Supreme Court amended Rule 2.140 governing judicial rule modification procedures

Florida Supreme Court Amends Judicial Rules Process, Sets 2026 Date

The Supreme Court of Florida amended Rule 2.140 governing how judicial administrative rules are modified, acting on its own motion without prior public comment. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2026, with a 75-day comment period now available for interested parties.

•Court acted on its own motion without prior public comment period

•Florida Supreme Court amended Rules 2.120, 2.140, and 2.215 to clarify confusion between local rules and administrative orders

Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Local Rules vs Administrative Orders

The Florida Supreme Court has amended three key rules governing general practice and judicial administration to clarify the long-standing confusion between local rules and administrative orders in trial courts. The amendments to Rules 2.120, 2.140, and 2.215 stem from a comprehensive review initiated in 2021.

•Four-year review process began in 2021 with Chief Justice Canady's administrative order establishing a workgroup

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed denial of Baptist Health's petition for writ of prohibition against discovery orders

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Discovery Orders Against Baptist Health

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' decision denying Baptist Healthcare System's petition for a writ of prohibition against discovery orders in a negligence lawsuit filed by patient Marietta Gelanie Jones.

•Case involves patient fall incident at Baptist Health Paducah resulting in hip fracture and subsequent negligence lawsuit