Verdict . News

•Arkansas Supreme Court ruled cities cannot create exclusive waste management monopolies that bar private competition

Dec 4, 2025•4 min read

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Strikes Down Holiday Island Waste Monopoly

The Arkansas Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling and found that the City of Holiday Island cannot exclude private waste management companies from providing supplemental services within city limits. The December 4, 2025 decision represents a victory for competition in municipal services.

•Holiday Island's ordinance prohibiting alternative waste providers violated state constitutional principles

•New Mexico Supreme Court remanded sex offender parole case to district court for reconsideration

Dec 4, 2025•4 min read

New Mexico Supreme Court

NM Supreme Court Remands Sex Offender Parole Case After Aragon Ruling

The New Mexico Supreme Court has remanded a case involving a sex offender seeking release from parole after the state failed to conduct a timely duration review hearing. The court's action follows its recent decision in Aragon v. Martinez, which affects remedies for delayed parole review hearings.

•Remand follows court's July 2025 decision in Aragon v. Martinez affecting remedies for delayed parole hearings

•Washington Supreme Court unanimously rejected Commission on Judicial Conduct's recommendation to remove Judge Tracy S. Flood

Dec 4, 2025•4 min read

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Reduces Judge Flood Sanction to 30-Day Suspension

The Washington Supreme Court unanimously rejected a judicial commission's recommendation to remove Bremerton Municipal Court Judge Tracy S. Flood, instead imposing a 30-day suspension without pay. The court ruled that suspension was more proportionate to the misconduct than removal following a disciplinary proceeding.

•Court imposed 30-day suspension without pay instead of removal, calling it more proportionate to the misconduct

Regulatory

•NextMed must pay $150,000 settlement for exploiting GLP-1 drug popularity with deceptive ads and fake testimonials

FTC Orders $150K Settlement Against NextMed for Deceptive Weight-Loss Ads

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a $150,000 settlement with telehealth company NextMed and its executives for exploiting consumer interest in popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs through deceptive advertising, fake testimonials, and unfair billing practices.

•Company prohibited from making unsubstantiated weight-loss claims and must obtain proper billing consent

Regulatory

•FTC requires Boeing to divest Spirit assets supplying Airbus to preserve competition

FTC Approves Boeing-Spirit Merger with Major Asset Divestiture Requirements

The Federal Trade Commission approved Boeing's $8.3 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems but requires significant asset divestitures to preserve competition in aircraft manufacturing. Boeing must sell Spirit's Airbus-supplying businesses to Airbus and divest Malaysian operations to maintain market balance.

•Spirit's Malaysian aerostructures business must be sold to Composites Technology Research Malaysia

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Supreme Court Rules on Property Registry Document Order

The Puerto Rico Supreme Court issued a decision in Oriental Bank v. Díaz Pagán clarifying that property registrars must qualify and register documents according to the tracto sucesivo principle, even when presented out of proper order. The December 3, 2025 ruling addresses fundamental procedures in property registration law.

•Property registrars must process documents according to tracto sucesivo principle regardless of submission order

•Decision provides clarity for banking institutions and property owners on registration procedures

•Alaska Supreme Court affirmed termination of mother's parental rights to Indian child under ICWA

Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination Under ICWA

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a superior court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to her Indian child under the Indian Child Welfare Act. The court rejected the mother's appeals on multiple procedural and substantive grounds in a memorandum decision issued December 3, 2025.

•Court rejected mother's arguments about active efforts, reasonable time, substantial risk, and best interests

Supreme Court of Minnesota

Minnesota Supreme Court: Warrantless DNA Collection Unconstitutional

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that warrantless collection of DNA samples through buccal swabs from criminal defendants violates both the U.S. and Minnesota Constitutions. The December 3 decision in *State of Minnesota v. Seneca Warrior Steeprock* declares such searches unreasonable and requires a new trial for the defendant.

•Minnesota Supreme Court declares warrantless DNA collection through buccal swabs unconstitutional

•Ruling requires new trial for defendant Seneca Warrior Steeprock due to constitutional violation

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Massachusetts High Court Rules on Ineffective Counsel in Plea Bargain Case

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court established new standards for ineffective assistance of counsel claims, ruling that attorneys who ignore client requests for plea negotiations may violate constitutional rights. The decision stems from a decades-old homicide case involving Gary E. Mosso.

•Supreme Judicial Court established new standard for ineffective counsel claims when attorneys ignore client requests for plea negotiations

•Two-part test requires showing attorney conduct was unreasonable and that prejudice resulted from failure to pursue requested plea bargains