Verdict . News

•Illinois Supreme Court rules trial courts must decide directed verdict motions before proceeding to defense evidence

Illinois Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Timing of Directed Verdict Motions

The Illinois Supreme Court held that trial courts must rule on defendants' mid-trial motions for directed verdict before proceeding to defense evidence. In People v. Johnson, the court affirmed the defendant's conviction despite finding procedural error, ruling the mistake did not warrant reversal under the plain error standard.

•Court affirmed defendant's conviction despite procedural error, finding evidence was not closely balanced

•Texas Supreme Court denied review in subsurface trespass case involving mineral estate interference

Texas Supreme Court Denies Review in Mineral Rights Trespass Case

The Texas Supreme Court denied review in Ageron Energy, LLC v. ETC Texas Pipeline, Ltd., a case involving subsurface trespass claims against neighboring mineral estates. Justice Busby's concurrence warns that the lower court's decision undermines important protections for mineral rights holders.

•Justice Busby's concurrence criticizes appeals court for potentially barring future claims through improper application of res judicata

Oct 31, 2025•5 min read

•Texas Supreme Court denied review in City of Houston v. Ashley Harris, leaving circuit split unresolved

Texas Supreme Court Declines Review on Superseded Admissions Question

The Texas Supreme Court denied review in City of Houston v. Ashley Harris, leaving unresolved a circuit split between Houston appeals courts on whether superseded admissions constitute evidence that can preclude summary judgment. Justice Young's concurrence highlighted the procedural uncertainty facing trial courts when parties amend their admissions during litigation.

•Houston appeals courts disagree on whether superseded admissions constitute evidence that can defeat summary judgment

•Texas Supreme Court reversed parental rights termination when state agency representative twice stated they sought only restriction, not termination

Texas Supreme Court Reverses Parental Rights Termination

The Texas Supreme Court reversed a trial court's termination of parental rights after the Department of Family and Protective Services' representative twice stated the agency sought only to restrict, not terminate, a mother's rights. The Court ruled trial courts cannot terminate parental rights when faced with unequivocal statements from the department indicating they do not seek such measures.

•Court established that trial courts cannot terminate parental rights when faced with unequivocal statements from department withdrawing termination as relief

•Texas Supreme Court ruled that Dr. Gonzalez can pursue constitutional challenges against the Texas Medical Board's investigation

Texas Supreme Court Rules on Doctor's Campaign Speech vs. Medical Board

The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dr. Reynaldo 'Rey' Gonzalez Jr., who was investigated by the Texas Medical Board for calling himself a 'physician' during his congressional campaign despite lacking a medical license. The court held that certain constitutional claims should proceed against the medical board.

•The medical board investigated Gonzalez for campaign speech, not medical practice violations

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Oct 30, 2025•4 min read

Massachusetts High Court Upholds GPS Monitoring for Attorney in $2M Case

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the imposition of GPS monitoring as a condition of pretrial release for attorney Benjamin Tariri, who is accused of embezzling nearly $2 million from nine clients. The court rejected Tariri's constitutional challenge to the tracking requirement.

•Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed GPS monitoring for attorney Benjamin Tariri accused of $2 million embezzlement

•Tariri was arrested at Logan Airport attempting to board flight to Iran with no return ticket

•Utah Supreme Court grants partial rehearing petition filed by Talisker Partnership

Oct 30, 2025•4 min read

Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Issues Amended Opinion in Talisker Real Estate Case

The Utah Supreme Court has issued an amended opinion in *Talisker Partnership v. Midtown Acquisitions L.P.*, granting in part Talisker's petition for rehearing and modifying key paragraphs of the original decision. The ruling represents a development in a major real estate dispute involving multiple Talisker entities and Wells Fargo Bank.

•Court modifies paragraphs 21, 29, and 30 of original opinion in complex real estate dispute

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Oct 30, 2025•5 min read

Maine Supreme Court Upholds Denial of Hague Convention Return Petition

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a lower court's decision denying a Greek-Australian father's petition under the Hague Convention to return his child to Greece during divorce proceedings. The court found Peter Xamplas failed to file within the required timeframe and that mother Michele Xamplas successfully established the well-settled-child defense.

•Maine Supreme Court affirmed District Court's denial of Hague Convention petition seeking child's return to Greece

•Father Peter Xamplas failed to meet one-year filing deadline and mother Michele Xamplas successfully established well-settled-child defense

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

Oct 30, 2025•4 min read

NH Supreme Court Affirms Jurisdiction in Interstate Custody Case

The New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision to retain exclusive jurisdiction over a child custody case involving unmarried parents Taylor Coyne and Ashley Blanchfield, despite the mother's relocation to Maine with their children.

•New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed Circuit Court's retention of exclusive jurisdiction over custody matter

•Mother Ashley Blanchfield had relocated to Maine with two children but agreed New Hampshire would maintain jurisdiction