Verdict . News

•Indiana Supreme Court unanimously ruled property tax caps limited to one-acre homesteads regardless of actual curtilage size

Indiana Supreme Court

Indiana Supreme Court Limits Property Tax Cap to One-Acre Homesteads

The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously ruled that property owners cannot claim constitutional tax cap protections beyond one acre, even when their curtilage extends farther. The decision in Tulsi Sawlani, M.D. v. Lake County Assessor clarifies homestead exemption limits under state law.

•Dr. Tulsi Sawlani and wife failed to prove their 3.981-acre property's excess land qualified as protected curtilage

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

RI Attorney Flynn Faces Emergency Suspension Amid Federal Investigation

Rhode Island attorney Joseph Molina Flynn faces potential immediate suspension after the state's Chief Disciplinary Counsel filed an emergency petition alleging he misappropriated client funds and neglected cases. Flynn is also under federal investigation by multiple agencies including the FBI and IRS.

•Emergency petition filed Oct. 6, 2025, seeking immediate suspension of Joseph Molina Flynn

•Allegations involve 12 former clients claiming unpaid services, misappropriated funds, and neglected cases

•Florida Supreme Court affirmed denial of Smithers' successive postconviction motion to vacate death sentences

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Denies Death Row Appeal for Samuel Smithers

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of Samuel L. Smithers' successive motion to vacate his two death sentences. Smithers, who has an active death warrant, was convicted for murders at a Plant City property where he worked as a groundskeeper in 1996.

•Smithers has an active death warrant and was convicted for 1996 murders at Plant City property

•Arizona Supreme Court reversed John Logan Brown's aggravated assault conviction and remanded the case for further proceedings

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Reverses Conviction in Self-Defense Case

The Arizona Supreme Court reversed a criminal conviction for John Logan Brown, who was charged with three counts of aggravated assault and claimed self-defense. The court addressed whether a bedroom constitutes a 'residential structure' under state law and the application of justification statutes for defending one's home.

•The court addressed whether a bedroom in a condominium constitutes a 'residential structure' under Arizona self-defense law

Connecticut Supreme Court

Connecticut Supreme Court Splits on DNA Collection in State v. Sharpe

The Connecticut Supreme Court issued a divided opinion in State v. Sharpe, with Justices D'Auria and Ecker filing a partial concurrence and dissent challenging the constitutionality of warrantless DNA collection from discarded items.

•Connecticut Supreme Court splits on constitutionality of warrantless DNA collection from discarded items

•Justices D'Auria and Ecker dissent from majority's approval of DNA evidence gathering methods

•Florida Supreme Court affirmed circuit court's denial of postconviction relief under Rule 3.851

Oct 3, 2025•4 min read

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Supreme Court Denies Death Row Appeal in Family Murder Case

The Florida Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's denial of postconviction relief for Mesac Damas, who killed his wife and five children in 2009. The court also denied his habeas corpus petition in the consolidated cases.

•Court denied habeas corpus petition in consolidated death penalty cases

•SEC creates centralized online resource for Treasury clearing rule implementation

Regulatory

Sep 30, 2025•4 min read

SEC Creates Hub for Treasury Clearing Rules Implementation

The Securities and Exchange Commission launched a centralized webpage to assist broker-dealers and market participants in implementing new central clearing requirements for U.S. Treasury securities. The initiative provides status updates and guidance as the financial industry transitions to enhanced market infrastructure rules.

•New webpage provides status updates and guidance for broker-dealers and market participants

•SEC granted conditional exemptive relief for CAT operating cost requirements

Regulatory

Sep 30, 2025•4 min read

SEC Grants Cost Relief for Consolidated Audit Trail Operations

The Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order granting conditional exemptive relief to reduce operating costs associated with the Consolidated Audit Trail. The order addresses certain requirements under the CAT National Market System Plan and Rule 613 of Regulation NMS.

•Order affects National Market System Plan governing Consolidated Audit Trail

•FTC alleges $100 million payment from Zillow to Redfin constitutes illegal anti-competitive agreement

Regulatory

Sep 30, 2025•4 min read

FTC Sues Zillow and Redfin Over $100M Anti-Competition Deal

The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against real estate giants Zillow and Redfin, alleging they entered into an illegal $100 million agreement in February 2025 that eliminates competition in the rental housing advertising market. The FTC claims Redfin agreed to exit the multifamily rental advertising business for up to nine years.

•Redfin agreed to exit multifamily rental advertising market for up to nine years under the deal