Verdict . News

•Arkansas Supreme Court reversed circuit court denial of parents' intervention motion

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Allows Parents to Defend School Choice Program

The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and granted three parents the right to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the LEARNS Act's Education Freedom Account program. The court ruled that parents who benefit from the school choice program have sufficient interest to defend it in court.

•Three mothers successfully argued they have sufficient interest as program beneficiaries

•Oregon Supreme Court denied petition for review filed by defendant Michael Daniel Farnham through the Oregon Public Defense Commission

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Denies Review in State v. Farnham Criminal Case

The Oregon Supreme Court denied a petition for review in State v. Farnham on December 11, 2025, effectively upholding a Court of Appeals decision in a criminal case involving driver's license penalties for fleeing or attempting to elude police.

•Justice DeHoog wrote a concurring opinion criticizing the Court of Appeals' interpretation of driver's license penalty statutes

•Wisconsin Supreme Court issued public reprimand to Attorney Daniel O. Barham following Tennessee discipline

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Wisconsin Supreme Court Publicly Reprimands Attorney in Reciprocal Discipline Case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a public reprimand to Attorney Daniel O. Barham in a reciprocal disciplinary action following discipline imposed by Tennessee's Board of Professional Responsibility. The court also dismissed a charge for allegedly failing to timely notify Wisconsin regulators of his Tennessee censure.

•Court dismissed separate charge for failing to timely notify Wisconsin regulators of Tennessee censure

Supreme Court of New Jersey

NJ Supreme Court Affirms Teachers' COVID-19 Workers' Comp Rights

The New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed that teachers qualify as essential employees entitled to a rebuttable presumption that their COVID-19 infections were work-related for workers' compensation purposes. The December 2025 decision upholds lower court rulings establishing teachers' rights to compensation benefits during the pandemic.

•New Jersey Supreme Court affirmed teachers' status as essential employees for COVID-19 workers' compensation claims

•Decision establishes rebuttable presumption that teachers' COVID-19 infections were work-related

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Ruling Against Rappahannock County

The Supreme Court of Virginia unanimously affirmed a Court of Appeals decision in favor of Karen A. Williams against the Board of Supervisors of Rappahannock County. The Dec. 11, 2025 order found no reversible error in the lower court's judgment.

•Virginia Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Court of Appeals decision against Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors

•Court found no reversible error in lower court ruling favoring Karen A. Williams and other appellees

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Splits on Sovereign Immunity for City Trash Driver

The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that while the City of Chesapeake maintains sovereign immunity protection in a traffic accident case, its trash truck driver does not receive the same protection. The decision clarifies when municipal employees can claim governmental immunity while operating vehicles.

•City of Chesapeake retains sovereign immunity protection but employee does not

•Trash truck driver ran stop sign while performing normal job duties, causing collision

•Washington Supreme Court addressed reimbursement rights for individuals whose convictions were invalidated

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Rules on Reimbursement for Overturned Convictions

The Washington State Supreme Court ruled December 11 on whether individuals whose criminal convictions are later invalidated have the right to be reimbursed for court-imposed financial obligations, including compensation for community service work performed. The consolidated case involves two petitioners who had satisfied portions of their financial obligations before their convictions were overturned.

•Case involves two petitioners who performed community service before their drug possession convictions were overturned

•Nevada Supreme Court granted writ of mandamus petition by Renown Regional Medical Center and nurse Emilie Hyland

Nevada Supreme Court

Nevada Supreme Court Grants Writ in Renown Medical Malpractice Case

The Nevada Supreme Court granted a writ of mandamus petition filed by Renown Regional Medical Center and a nurse, overturning a district court's decision to allow professional negligence claims to proceed in a lawsuit involving the estate of Scott Freeman.

•District court had denied motions to dismiss professional negligence claims in lawsuit by Scott Freeman's estate

•Oregon Supreme Court decided wrongful death case against multiple healthcare providers including St. Charles Health Systems and Walgreen Co.

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Hears Medical Malpractice Case Against Major Healthcare Network

The Oregon Supreme Court issued a decision in Stone v. Witt, a wrongful death case involving multiple healthcare providers including St. Charles Health Systems and Walgreen Co. The case was brought by the estate of Marika Jeanne Stone and involves questions of medical malpractice liability across integrated healthcare networks.

•Case involves complex questions of liability across integrated healthcare networks with multiple defendant entities