Verdict . News

•Judge Richard Leon appeared likely to side with Senator Kelly in challenging his potential demotion

U.S. District Court

Judge Questions Pentagon's Authority to Silence Retired Military Critics

A federal judge expressed strong skepticism toward the Pentagon's effort to demote retired Navy Captain and Senator Mark Kelly for urging military members to reject illegal orders. Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Leon questioned whether speech restrictions should extend to retired service members.

•Justice Department argued retired service members should face same speech restrictions as active-duty personnel

•Environmental groups challenge county's reliance on 13-year-old environmental impact statement for new Ritz-Carlton resort approval

Legal News

2w ago•5 min read

Environmental Groups Sue Hawaii Over Outdated Ritz-Carlton Review

Environmental groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Honolulu County's approval of a new Ritz-Carlton resort on Oahu's North Shore, arguing officials violated state environmental law by relying on a 13-year-old impact statement that failed to account for endangered species now present at the site.

•Hawaiian yellow-faced bees were federally listed as endangered in 2016, three years after original environmental review

Legal News

U.S. District for the Northern District of California

First Uber Sexual Assault Trial Goes to Jury Seeking $146M

The first sexual assault case against Uber to reach trial concluded Tuesday with plaintiff Jaylynn Dean seeking $146.2 million in damages for being raped by her driver in 2023. This bellwether case in federal court could influence how thousands of similar pending cases against the rideshare giant are resolved.

•First of thousands of consolidated sexual assault cases against Uber to reach trial, with $146.2 million in damages sought

•Case involves 2023 rape of passenger by driver Hassan Turay, who admitted victim was too intoxicated to consent

State Court

•Idaho Supreme Court reversed district court's exclusion of prescription monitoring program records in DUI case

Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Reverses DUI Evidence Ruling on Prescription Records

The Idaho Supreme Court reversed a district court's decision that excluded prescription monitoring program records and medical information from a DUI case. The ruling in *State v. Borek* affects how prosecutors can use prescription drug data in impaired driving prosecutions throughout Idaho.

•District court had ruled prescription drug information was protected by psychotherapist-patient privilege

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fourth Circuit Affirms Drug, Firearms Convictions for Jones

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the drug and firearms convictions of Lawrence Levon Jones, rejecting his challenges to evidentiary rulings, motion denials, and sentencing enhancements. Jones received a 480-month prison sentence for his role in a drug-trafficking operation.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed Lawrence Levon Jones's drug and firearms convictions and 480-month sentence

•Jones challenged evidentiary rulings, motion denials, and sentencing enhancements on appeal

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•5 min read

8th Circuit Denies Asylum for Guatemalan Indigenous Family

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition for review from Guatemalan mother Petrona Sebastian Diego and her minor children, who sought asylum based on persecution of their indigenous Chuj tribal identity. The court affirmed lower immigration court rulings that rejected the family's claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed denial of asylum for Guatemalan mother and children claiming indigenous Chuj persecution

•Immigration judge found family credible but failed to prove persecution was tied to their group membership

State Court

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling in Auto Accident Case

The South Dakota Supreme Court delivered a split decision in Hamer v. Duffy, partially affirming and partially reversing a lower court's ruling in an automobile accident case involving employee liability. The case centers on whether Paul Duffy was acting within his scope of employment for Cornerstone Poured Foundations when the 2019 accident occurred.

•South Dakota Supreme Court partially affirmed and partially reversed lower court ruling in 2019 automobile accident case

•Case involves Paul Duffy, who was acting within scope of employment for Cornerstone Poured Foundations during the accident

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms District Court in Insurance Arbitration Dispute

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling in Apex Hospitality Group v. Independent Specialty Insurance Company, rejecting an attempt to compel arbitration under international convention for a domestic surplus line insurance dispute involving Louisiana property.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed district court decision rejecting international arbitration in domestic insurance dispute

•Court relied on recent Town of Vinton precedent involving similar surplus line insurance policy

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Affirms Guilty Plea Despite Defendant's Medication Use

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a district court properly handled a guilty plea from a defendant who had taken medications for bipolar disorder and sleep issues before the proceeding. The court rejected Steve Boria's argument that Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11 required more extensive inquiry into his medication use.

•Second Circuit affirmed guilty plea despite defendant's use of psychiatric medications before court hearing

•Court ruled district judge's follow-up questions about mental clarity satisfied Rule 11 requirements