Verdict . News

•Federal Circuit vacated Veterans Court decision dismissing Marine veteran's petition for VA action

Federal Circuit Vacates Veterans Court in Hamill Benefits Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated and remanded a Veterans Court decision that dismissed Marine veteran David Hamill's petition for extraordinary relief to compel the VA to adjudicate his character of discharge determination.

•Case involves veteran David Hamill seeking character of discharge determination after 'Other Than Honorable' discharge

•Federal Circuit affirmed AeroVironment's immunity from patent infringement under government contractor provisions

Federal Circuit Affirms AeroVironment Win in Patent Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that defense contractor AeroVironment, Inc. cannot be held liable for patent infringement under federal government immunity provisions. The court also upheld the denial of attorney fees to AeroVironment in the dispute with inventors Paul and David Arlton.

•Court upheld denial of attorney fees to AeroVironment despite its victory on the merits

2w ago•5 min read

•Federal Circuit vacated Court of Federal Claims' denial of EAJA attorney fees in class action against government

Federal Circuit Vacates EAJA Fee Denial in Kandel Class Action

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated a lower court's denial of attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act in Kandel v. United States, directing the Court of Federal Claims to examine whether the government's pre-litigation conduct was substantially justified. The decision involves a class action that originated in 2006 and centers on disputes under the Lump Sum Act.

•Court directed lower tribunal to examine whether government's pre-suit conduct was substantially justified

State Court

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Massachusetts SJC Hears Plea Withdrawal Case on Immigration Advice

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is reviewing Commonwealth v. Santana, a case examining whether a defendant can withdraw his guilty plea after claiming his attorney failed to inform him of deportation consequences. Jorge Santana, a lawful U.S. resident, pleaded guilty to drug charges in 2018 that triggered automatic deportation proceedings.

•Jorge Santana seeks to withdraw 2018 guilty plea claiming attorney failed to advise about deportation consequences

•Case centers on Padilla v. Kentucky standards requiring immigration advice for noncitizen defendants

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Affirms District Court in Chalpin v. Marcus & Millichap Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling in a commercial real estate dispute between Chalpin Realty SC, LLC and Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services Inc. The appellate court issued a summary order on Feb. 4, 2026, upholding the district court's February 2025 decision.

•Second Circuit affirmed district court ruling in favor of Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services

•Court issued non-precedential summary order that limits future citation authority

•Federal Circuit affirmed lower court's denial of government motion to dismiss

Federal Circuit Affirms Lower Court in Restaurant Relief Fund Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court decision allowing over 300 restaurants and businesses to proceed with their lawsuit seeking unpaid grants from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The court rejected the government's motion to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.

•Over 300 restaurants and businesses are suing for unpaid RRF grant applications

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Wire Fraud Conviction in Heggins Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Daniel Frank Heggins' conviction for aiding and abetting wire fraud, upholding his 24-month prison sentence and $6,029 restitution order. The unpublished per curiam decision rejected Heggins' appeal challenging both his conviction and restitution requirements.

•Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed Heggins' wire fraud conviction and 24-month sentence

•Court rejected challenges to conviction and $6,029 restitution order to settlement company

State Court

•Ohio Supreme Court imposed identical six-month stayed suspension mirroring Colorado discipline

Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Imposes Reciprocal Discipline on Colorado Attorney

The Ohio Supreme Court has suspended attorney Michael Edward Edminister for six months, with the entire suspension stayed on probation conditions, following identical discipline imposed by Colorado's Supreme Court. The case demonstrates interstate coordination in attorney discipline through reciprocal enforcement provisions.

•No objections filed to reciprocal discipline proceedings under Gov.Bar R. V(20)

State Court

•Indiana Supreme Court unanimously affirmed murder conviction and life without parole sentence for Anthony Wayne Carter

Indiana Supreme Court

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Murder Conviction and Life Sentence

The Indiana Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Anthony Wayne Carter's murder conviction and life imprisonment without parole sentence on Feb. 4, 2026. Carter had challenged the trial court's refusal to instruct the jury on lesser charges and the sufficiency of evidence supporting a statutory torture aggravator that enhanced his sentence.

•Carter challenged trial court's refusal to instruct jury on lesser charge of reckless homicide and sufficiency of torture aggravator evidence