Verdict . News

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Denial of Arbitration in Cemetery Worker Class Action

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of a motion to compel arbitration in a class action lawsuit brought by cemetery worker Manuel Gonzales against Rose Hills Company and related entities. The appellate court ruled that the defendants failed to establish the existence of an arbitration agreement.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's denial of motion to compel arbitration in cemetery worker class action

•Defendants Rose Hills Company and related entities failed to establish existence of valid arbitration agreements

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Upholds $167.7M Award Against Nikola Founder Milton

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a $167.727 million arbitration award against Trevor Milton, founder and former CEO of Nikola Corporation. The federal appeals court rejected Milton's attempt to vacate the massive judgment under the Federal Arbitration Act.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed $167.727 million arbitration award against Trevor Milton, Nikola Corporation's founder

•Milton's appeal challenged the award under Federal Arbitration Act sections 10(a)(3) and (4) for arbitrator misconduct

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Affirms Kidnapping Conviction, Remands on Supervised Release

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed Cortez Blake's conviction for aiding and abetting kidnapping while remanding one issue regarding supervised release conditions. The published opinion, issued February 5, 2026, addressed five challenges to Blake's conviction and sentence from the Eastern District of Michigan.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed Cortez Blake's kidnapping conviction on four of five appeal grounds

•Court remanded case on supervised release conditions issue for further proceedings

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Reviews Tribal Water Authority Over Non-Indian Fee Land

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a case where the White Earth Nation required a non-Indian landowner to obtain tribal permits for a high-capacity water pump on his fee land within the reservation, raising questions about tribal jurisdiction over non-member activities.

•Non-Indian landowner David Vipond challenged tribal court jurisdiction over water permit requirements on his fee land within White Earth Nation reservation

•White Earth Nation enacted ordinance in May 2023 requiring tribal permits for high-capacity water pumps within or near the reservation

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Civil Rights Case Against SBCSD

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of civil rights claims filed by David Fink against the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and its officials. Fink alleged unlawful seizure of his funds following his arrest, but the appeals court found the dismissal was proper.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of civil rights lawsuit against San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

•David Fink alleged unlawful seizure of funds following his arrest by sheriff's deputies

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Eleventh Circuit Affirms Cocaine Distribution Sentence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a federal criminal sentence against Joseph Acevedo, who was convicted on cocaine distribution and firearm charges after police discovered drugs, cash, and a weapon during a traffic stop in Florida.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed federal sentence against Joseph Acevedo for cocaine distribution and firearm charges

•Case began with traffic stop that revealed cocaine, $12,540 in cash, and loaded pistol

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Roku Ends Federal Circuit Appeal Against Patent Licensing Group

Streaming device manufacturer Roku has voluntarily dismissed its Federal Circuit appeal against patent licensing consortium Access Advance and multiple Dolby entities. The joint stipulation filed February 5, 2026, resolves the appellate phase of a patent dispute that originated in Massachusetts federal court.

•Roku voluntarily dismissed its Federal Circuit appeal against Access Advance LLC and six Dolby-related entities through joint stipulation

•The appeal stemmed from a 2024 Massachusetts federal court case involving patent licensing disputes

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Rules on Veterans Evidence Standards in Cash Appeal

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals decided a case involving Navy veteran Robert Cash's challenge to VA benefit denial procedures. The appeal centers on whether veterans must resubmit evidence previously filed with the Board of Veterans' Appeals for different claims.

•Federal Circuit reviewed VA's evidence submission requirements across multiple veteran benefit claims

•Case centers on whether Board must consider evidence previously submitted for different proceedings

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Denial of Tech Firm's Bid Protest in Commerce IT Contract

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court decision denying Can Softtech Inc.'s bid protest challenging Information Technology service awards for the Department of Commerce. The court ruled that the agency was permitted to take unilateral corrective action by canceling the original awards and issuing new ones.

•Federal Circuit affirmed denial of Can Softtech Inc.'s bid protest against Department of Commerce IT contract awards

•Court ruled that agencies can take unilateral corrective action by canceling awards and issuing new ones during bid protests