Verdict . News

North Dakota Supreme Court

North Dakota Supreme Court Dismisses UND Flight Instructor Class Action

The North Dakota Supreme Court granted a supervisory writ petition from the University of North Dakota, directing a lower court to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by flight instructor Andrew Sangster. The court ruled that Sangster's claims regarding unpaid wages for flight instructors were not authorized under state law because they did not arise from a contract.

•North Dakota Supreme Court dismissed a class action lawsuit by flight instructors claiming unpaid wages from UND

•The court ruled claims were not authorized under state law because they did not arise from a contract

•Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed district court's denial of self-defense immunity claim in involuntary manslaughter case

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Affirms Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a district court ruling in a case where Cody McCalla entered a conditional plea of no contest to involuntary manslaughter charges following a fatal altercation with Patrick Mudd. McCalla had claimed self-defense immunity under Wyoming law but was unsuccessful in his appeal.

•Cody McCalla entered conditional plea of no contest while preserving right to appeal immunity ruling

Federal Circuit

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Hears Solar Industry Challenge to Commerce Department

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential order in *Auxin Solar Inc. v. United States*, a trade case involving major solar companies challenging Department of Commerce and Customs and Border Protection enforcement actions. The case includes industry giants like Canadian Solar, JA Solar, and Trina Solar as parties.

•Federal Circuit issued nonprecedential order in major solar industry trade case involving Auxin Solar and Concept Clean Energy against Commerce Department

•Case includes coalition of major solar manufacturers including Canadian Solar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, and JinkoSolar as defendants-appellants

Federal Circuit

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Reviews Family Asylum Case Against AG Bondi

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit filed an unpublished memorandum decision on February 5, 2026, reviewing an immigration case involving Maria de Los Angeles Hernandez-Zepeda and her three sons from El Salvador. The family challenged a Board of Immigration Appeals ruling that denied their asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection claims.

•Ninth Circuit filed unpublished memorandum decision in asylum case involving Salvadoran family of four

•Family challenged Board of Immigration Appeals denial based on murder witness and threatening incidents

•Wyoming Supreme Court ruled that will contests do not need to be filed as entirely separate civil actions from probate proceedings

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Rules on Will Contest Filing Requirements

The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Feb. 5 that will contest actions must be filed as separate civil cases, not within existing probate proceedings. The decision resolves a certified question from Fremont County District Court in an estate dispute involving the late Lloyd Haack.

•Decision resolves certified question from Fremont County District Court in estate dispute involving Lloyd Haack

North Dakota Supreme Court

ND Supreme Court Affirms Termination of Parental Rights in Indian Family Case

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed a juvenile court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to two minor children. The court retained jurisdiction and remanded for additional findings on active efforts under state law governing Indian families.

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed juvenile court's findings that children were in need of protection and had suffered harm

•Court retained jurisdiction and remanded for additional findings on active efforts under Indian family protection statute

Federal Circuit

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Issues Summary Order in Cantor v. Beech-Nut Class Action

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on February 5, 2026, in the case of Cantor v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Co., involving a class action lawsuit with dozens of named plaintiffs. The three-judge panel rendered a decision that will not have precedential effect due to its summary order status.

•Second Circuit issued summary order in class action against Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. on February 5, 2026

•Case involves over 60 named plaintiffs led by Jeremy Cantor seeking class action status

•Hawaii Supreme Court accepted certiorari petition filed by Steven Goo on Dec. 22, 2025

Supreme Court of Hawaii

Hawaii Supreme Court to Review Workplace Safety Case Against Royal Hawaiian Movers

The Hawaii Supreme Court has accepted a writ of certiorari in *Sumera v. Goo*, a workplace dispute involving employee Lester Sumera and Royal Hawaiian Movers management. The case will proceed to oral argument before the state's highest court.

•Case involves workplace dispute between employee Lester Sumera and Royal Hawaiian Movers management

•Rule 412 would restrict medical cost evidence to amounts actually paid or legally owed

Arkansas Supreme Court

Arkansas Supreme Court Proposes Rule Limiting Medical Bill Evidence

The Arkansas Supreme Court published a proposed Rule 412 for public comment that would restrict evidence of medical costs in personal injury cases to only amounts actually paid or legally owed. The rule responds to 2025 legislative changes and could significantly impact how medical damages are proven in court.

•The rule responds to 2025 Arkansas legislative changes regarding medical expense evidence