Verdict . News

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Credit Union's Right to Reclaim Financed Snowmobile

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a lower court ruling awarding The County Federal Credit Union possession of a 2022 Ski-Doo Expedition snowmobile from Michael Madore. The court rejected Madore's arguments that the credit union lacked a valid security interest and that he qualified as a bona fide purchaser for value without notice.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed credit union's right to reclaim financed snowmobile despite sale to third party

•Court rejected defendant's bona fide purchaser defense against properly perfected security interest

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Court Affirms Dismissal of U.S. Bank Foreclosure Action

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a district court's dismissal without prejudice of a foreclosure action by U.S. Bank against Richard and Shirley Jewett. Third-party creditor Unifund CCR Partners, which holds a judgment lien on the property, unsuccessfully appealed the dismissal.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously affirmed district court's dismissal without prejudice of U.S. Bank foreclosure action

•Third-party creditor Unifund CCR Partners unsuccessfully appealed the dismissal, arguing it would not preclude future foreclosure actions

West Virginia Supreme Court

West Virginia High Court Reviews Highway Worker's Disability Appeal

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is reviewing a workers' compensation case involving Brian Lester, a Division of Highways employee, who challenges the denial of temporary total disability benefits and additional compensable conditions. The case centers on whether medical evidence supports continued disability from a workplace injury.

•Brian Lester appeals lower court decisions that closed his temporary total disability benefits and denied additional compensable conditions

•The case centers on whether Dr. Rajesh Patel's medical opinions support adding bilateral S1 radiculitis, thoracic myelopathy, and S1 sprain to the claim

West Virginia Supreme Court

West Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Denial of Home Modifications for Worker

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision denying workers' compensation coverage for home accessibility modifications, including a walk-in Jacuzzi bathtub and porch repairs, for an injured AAA Paving & Sealing employee. The court upheld the denial due to insufficient medical rationale for the requested accommodations.

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed denial of workers' compensation coverage for walk-in bathtub and porch modifications

•Claim administrator, Board of Review, and appeals courts all cited insufficient medical rationale for requested home accommodations

West Virginia Supreme Court

WV Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights Termination in Drug Birth Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights after her newborn tested positive for multiple drugs at birth. The mother had been incarcerated while pregnant and had previously lost parental rights to another child due to substance abuse.

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed termination of mother's parental rights after drug-affected birth

•Mother tested positive for multiple controlled substances while pregnant and incarcerated

Regulatory

•FDA approved Itvisma gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy in patients 2 years and older

FDA Approves Gene Therapy Itvisma for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Itvisma (onasemnogene abeparvovec-brve), a gene therapy treatment for spinal muscular atrophy in patients 2 years and older with confirmed SMN1 gene mutations. The approval marks a significant advancement in treating this rare genetic condition that affects muscle strength and movement.

•Treatment targets patients with confirmed SMN1 gene mutations

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Supreme Court Clarifies Protective Order Due Process Standards

The Supreme Court of Maryland issued a comprehensive ruling in Clarke v. Gibson addressing key procedural requirements in domestic violence protective order cases. The court established new standards for appellate preservation, due process service requirements, and evidence sufficiency for final protective orders.

•Court ruled respondent failed to preserve appellate issue regarding timing requirements for protective order hearings

•Supreme Court held that service of temporary protective order alone satisfies constitutional due process requirements

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland High Court: Sentences Not 'Imposed' Until Hearing Ends

The Supreme Court of Maryland ruled in *Reyes v. State* that criminal sentences are not legally imposed under Maryland Rule 4-345 until the entire sentencing proceeding concludes. The decision allows trial courts to modify sentences during hearings without triggering double jeopardy protections or violating state sentencing rules.

•Maryland Supreme Court rules sentences not legally 'imposed' until entire sentencing proceeding concludes

•Trial courts can modify sentences during hearings without violating Maryland Rule 4-345 or double jeopardy protections

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Supreme Court Dismisses Rent Escrow Case as Moot

The Supreme Court of Maryland dismissed an appeal in Wilson v. Tanglewood Venture, LP, finding no live controversy remained after tenants vacated their units and the landlord obtained proper licensing. The case raised important questions about whether tenants must pay rent into escrow when rental properties lack required local licenses.

•Supreme Court dismissed appeal as moot after tenants vacated and landlord obtained required license

•Case involved rent escrow statute and whether tenants must pay into escrow for unlicensed properties