Verdict . News

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Nov 19, 2025•4 min read

SC Supreme Court Denies Murder Defendant's Expert Witness Reimbursement

The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed a trial court's denial of Kenneth Henry Eastwood's request for reimbursement of expert witness expenses from his murder trial. The court upheld the ruling that Eastwood was not entitled to compensation from the Commission on Indigent Defense for expert costs incurred during his defense.

•Supreme Court affirmed denial of expert witness expense reimbursement for murder defendant

•Case highlights complex framework governing indigent defense funding in South Carolina

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Nov 19, 2025•5 min read

SC Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction Despite Polygraph Evidence Error

The South Carolina Supreme Court affirmed Kenneth Henry Eastwood's murder conviction in the strangulation death of Cara Hodges, despite ruling the trial court erred in excluding polygraph evidence. The court applied harmless error doctrine, finding the evidentiary mistake did not affect the jury's verdict.

•South Carolina Supreme Court found trial court erred in excluding polygraph evidence but applied harmless error doctrine

•Court distinguished between inadmissible polygraph results and admissible evidence about examination process and psychological impact

Supreme Court of Oklahoma

Nov 18, 2025•4 min read

Oklahoma Supreme Court Reverses COVID-19 Nursing Home Liability Case

The Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Greenbriar Skilled Nursing and Dr. Tom Snyder in a case brought by the surviving spouse of a deceased nursing home resident. The case involved interpretation of federal PREP Act and state COVID-19 liability protections.

•Oklahoma Supreme Court reversed district court summary judgment favoring nursing home and physician

•Case involves interpretation of federal PREP Act and state COVID-19 liability protections

Regulatory

•SEC Division of Examinations published its annual 2026 examination priorities

SEC Division of Examinations Releases 2026 Examination Priorities

The Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Examinations has released its 2026 examination priorities, providing regulatory transparency to investment advisers, broker-dealers, and other market participants about key focus areas for the upcoming examination cycle.

•The priorities provide transparency to registrants and investors about regulatory focus areas

Regulatory

•Seek Capital and CEO Roy Ferman permanently banned from providing business financing, debt relief, and credit repair services

FTC Permanently Bans Seek Capital, CEO from Business Financing Services

The Federal Trade Commission has permanently banned Seek Capital and its CEO Roy Ferman from providing business financing, debt relief, and credit repair services to settle allegations that the California-based company deceived small business owners seeking funding through false promises of special lender relationships and zero-interest financing.

•Company allegedly charged thousands for credit cards while falsely promising zero-interest business loans through special lender relationships

Supreme Court of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Supreme Court Amends Legal Internship Rules in Split Decision

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has amended its Licensed Legal Internship program rules in a divided decision, with changes to Rules 2 and 6 and Regulation 7 taking effect immediately. The court's 5-4 split reflects disagreement over the amendments, with three justices dissenting and one justice offering partial dissent.

•Oklahoma Supreme Court amends Licensed Legal Internship Rules 2, 6, and Regulation 7 effective immediately

•Decision splits court 5-4, with Vice Chief Justice Kuehn writing separate dissent joined by two justices

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Massachusetts High Court Reverses Medical Malpractice Dismissal

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reversed a medical malpractice dismissal against nurse practitioner Michael Collins, holding that a tribunal erred in finding insufficient evidence. The court vacated the judgment after taking jurisdiction from the Appeals Court.

•Supreme Judicial Court reversed medical malpractice tribunal decision against nurse practitioner Michael Collins

•Court held tribunal incorrectly found insufficient evidence to proceed with malpractice claims

•FTC requires divestiture of 45 Oil Changers outlets to Main Street Auto LLC as condition for Valvoline's $625 million acquisition of 200 quick-lube shops

Regulatory

Nov 14, 2025•4 min read

FTC Orders Divestiture of 45 Oil Change Shops in $625M Valvoline Deal

The Federal Trade Commission is requiring Valvoline Inc. and Greenbriar Equity Fund V to divest 45 quick-lube oil change shops to address antitrust concerns in their $625 million acquisition deal. The divestiture aims to preserve competition and prevent higher prices for consumers across eight states.

•Antitrust concerns focused on elimination of competition in 25 local markets across eight states where companies directly compete

•Nebraska Supreme Court reaffirmed that criminal conviction appeals must review evidence most favorably to prosecution

Nov 14, 2025•4 min read

Nebraska Supreme Court

Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Criminal Appeal Standards in State v. Adams

The Nebraska Supreme Court issued a ruling in State v. Adams on November 14, 2025, establishing important precedents for how appellate courts review criminal convictions and evidentiary decisions under state law.

•Established clear error standard for reviewing district court findings under Nebraska Evidence Rule 404(3)