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•Gateway Services must immediately stop enforcing existing noncompete agreements affecting nearly 1,800 employees

FTC Orders Pet Cremation Company to Drop Nationwide Noncompete Agreements

The Federal Trade Commission finalized a consent order requiring Gateway Services, Inc. to stop enforcing noncompete agreements that prevented nearly 1,800 employees from working in the pet cremation industry for one year after leaving the company. The unanimous FTC decision represents continued enforcement against restrictive employment practices that suppress worker mobility.

•The company is permanently banned from creating new noncompete agreements

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Statute of Limitations in Child Sex Case

The Virginia Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings that dismissed a civil lawsuit filed by Jane Doe against Joseph Robert Green Jr. over allegations stemming from a sexual relationship that began when she was 14 and he was 33. The case was barred by the statute of limitations.

•Virginia Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of civil lawsuit filed 16 years after alleged abuse began

•Case involved sexual relationship between 14-year-old girl and 33-year-old man starting in 2005

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Dismisses Immunity Appeal for Procedural Deficiency

The Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed a petition for review in Knudsen v. Taylor, ruling it lacked jurisdiction because the circuit court never formally denied the petitioner's sovereign immunity plea. The court emphasized strict adherence to procedural requirements under Virginia's 2023 immunity appeal statute.

•Virginia Supreme Court dismissed immunity appeal due to lack of formal circuit court order denying immunity plea

•2023 Virginia Code § 8.01-670.2 requires explicit court order before immunity appeals become eligible for review

Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Bars Retrial After Jury Polling Issues in Murder Case

The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed a Charleston County trial court decision and ruled that double jeopardy bars the retrial of John Joseph Erb for murder and voluntary manslaughter after issues arose during jury polling at the conclusion of his initial trial.

•South Carolina Supreme Court ruled double jeopardy bars retrial of John Joseph Erb for murder and voluntary manslaughter

•Court reversed Charleston County Circuit Court decision after issues arose during jury polling at conclusion of original trial

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Supreme Court Denies Postconviction Relief for Dana Gallop

The Rhode Island Supreme Court unanimously affirmed the denial of Dana Gallop's petition for postconviction relief, rejecting his claims of prosecutorial misconduct and procedural errors. Gallop had argued that the state failed to disclose inducements given to eyewitnesses and that the trial court improperly handled his motion for summary disposition.

•Rhode Island Supreme Court unanimously affirmed denial of Gallop's postconviction relief petition

•Court rejected claims of prosecutorial misconduct regarding alleged undisclosed witness inducements

•Alaska Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of indigent inmate's constitutional lawsuit against Department of Corrections

Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal of Inmate's Court Access Lawsuit

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's summary judgment dismissal of Raymond Katchatag's civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Corrections. The indigent inmate alleged violations of his constitutional right to court access while preparing administrative appeals at Spring Creek Correctional Center.

•Raymond Katchatag claimed violations of his right to court access while preparing administrative appeals at Spring Creek Correctional Center

•SEC Investor Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for December 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. ET

Regulatory

Nov 25, 2025•4 min read

SEC Advisory Committee to Address Corporate Governance and Tokenization Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission's Investor Advisory Committee will convene a virtual public meeting on December 4, 2025, to examine regulatory changes in corporate governance and the tokenization of equity securities.

•Two panels will address corporate governance regulatory changes and equity securities tokenization

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Nov 25, 2025•4 min read

Maryland Supreme Court Limits Automatic Assignment of Arbitration Clauses

The Supreme Court of Maryland ruled in *Lyles v. Santander Consumer USA Inc.* that arbitration agreements in one contract don't automatically transfer when that contract is assigned, unless the assignment language specifically includes them. The decision clarifies the limited role of circuit courts in arbitration disputes and establishes new precedent for multi-contract arrangements.

•Assignment of a contract containing an arbitration clause doesn't automatically assign that clause to related agreements

•Circuit courts' role in arbitration petitions is limited to determining whether a valid arbitration agreement exists, without jury involvement

West Virginia Supreme Court

Nov 25, 2025•4 min read

WV Supreme Court Affirms Termination of Parental Rights in Domestic Violence Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to two children after she failed to complete a second improvement period. The case involved repeated incidents of domestic violence and substance abuse despite previous successful completion of court-ordered programs.

•Mother K.F. lost appeal challenging termination of parental rights to children C.F. and I.F.

•Parents had previously regained custody in January 2023 after completing improvement periods, but lost children again within 11 months