Verdict . News

•Kentucky Supreme Court issues first interpretation of federal Religious Land Use Act

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Zoning Denial for Catholic Shrine

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling denying a Catholic organization's request to build a religious shrine, finding no violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. The Dec. 18, 2025 decision marks the first time Kentucky's highest court has interpreted RLUIPA in the context of zoning restrictions.

•Catholic organization denied permit to build outdoor shrine to Virgin Mary

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Paducah's right to maintain residency requirements for firefighters hired after 1998

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Paducah Residency Rule for Firefighters

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's summary judgment favoring the City of Paducah in a challenge to firefighter residency requirements. Firefighter Nathan Torian and Local 168 argued that state law prohibiting residency requirements for emergency medical service providers should override the city's ordinance requiring firefighters to live within McCracken County.

•Firefighters argued they qualified as emergency medical service providers exempt from residency rules under state law

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Attorney Suspended for Child Support Arrears After Court No-Show

The Supreme Court of Maryland has immediately suspended attorney Gregory Wayne Jones from practicing law after he failed to respond to a court order regarding his delinquent child support obligations. The suspension, effective December 18, 2025, follows the Attorney Grievance Commission's petition alleging Jones was in arrears on his support payments.

•Attorney Gregory Wayne Jones suspended immediately from Maryland law practice for child support arrears

•Jones failed to respond to court's show cause order despite being properly served with petition and order

•Randall Waltrip's first-degree rape conviction was affirmed by the Kentucky Supreme Court on December 18, 2025

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Rape Conviction in Waltrip Case

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the first-degree rape conviction of Randall Waltrip on December 18, 2025, following his Alford plea in Hancock Circuit Court. Waltrip was sentenced to 20 years in prison after reaching a plea agreement that dismissed multiple other charges.

•Waltrip entered an Alford plea, allowing him to plead guilty while maintaining innocence, and received a 20-year prison sentence

Regulatory

•Primavera Nueva Inc. voluntarily recalled select 4-count tamales due to potential Listeria contamination

California Company Recalls Tamales Over Deadly Listeria Risk

Primavera Nueva Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of select 4-count tamales due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous bacteria that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in vulnerable populations.

•Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and fatal infections in children, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals

Regulatory

•OSHA established safety partnership with Harvey Construction Corp. for Mark Stebbins Community Center project

OSHA Partners with Harvey Construction on Community Center Safety Initiative

The U.S. Department of Labor has established a safety partnership with Harvey Construction Corp. to promote enhanced workplace safety standards during construction of the Mark Stebbins Community Center. The collaboration represents a proactive regulatory approach to construction site safety compliance.

•Agreement promotes enhanced workplace safety standards beyond minimum regulatory requirements

Regulatory

•Boss Dairy Farms voluntarily recalled Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese due to potential Listeria contamination

Boss Dairy Farms Recalls Cheddar Cheese Over Listeria Contamination Risk

Boss Dairy Farms has voluntarily recalled one retail lot of Charlevoix Cheese Company 8oz Mild Cheddar Cheese due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA announced the recall on Dec. 17, 2025, citing serious health risks from the dangerous bacterium.

•Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious infections, particularly dangerous for pregnant women, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals

•Indiana Supreme Court reversed Taylor's conviction 3-2, finding Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause violation

Indiana Supreme Court

Indiana Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Over Confrontation Clause Violation

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that a criminal defendant's Sixth Amendment right to cross-examine witnesses was violated when a trial court admitted a drug dealer's statement without allowing confrontation. The decision reverses a conviction in a case involving fatal drug overdose.

•Trial court improperly admitted drug dealer's statement identifying Taylor without allowing cross-examination

•Athlete Taliyah Brooks sued USA Track & Field after heat-related injuries prevented Olympic team qualification

Indiana Supreme Court

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Olympic Trials Heat Injury Case

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled December 17 in a case involving athlete Taliyah Brooks, who suffered heat-related injuries during the 2020 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. The court's decision clarifies application of the final judgment rule in civil litigation.

•Indiana Supreme Court ruled on final judgment rule application after Brooks' motion to amend complaint was denied