Verdict . News

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

DC Circuit Affirms Dismissal of $53M Iraq Judgment Enforcement Case

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's dismissal of Mohammad Hilmi Nassif & Partners' attempt to enforce a $53 million Jordanian court judgment against Iraq and its Ministry of Industry & Minerals. The court ruled that no exception to Iraq's sovereign immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act applied.

•D.C. Circuit affirmed dismissal of Jordanian company's $53 million judgment enforcement case against Iraq

•Court ruled Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act provides sole basis for jurisdiction over foreign states in U.S. courts

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

DC Circuit Upholds Rulings Against Russia in Ukrainian Asset Cases

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed lower court decisions against the Russian Federation in consolidated cases brought by Ukrainian companies seeking compensation for assets seized during Russia's 2014 invasion of Crimea. The February 13, 2026 ruling supports claims by electricity distributor JSC DTEK Krymenergo and petrol station operators under a bilateral investment treaty.

•DC Circuit affirmed district court decisions against Russia in two consolidated Ukrainian company cases

•Cases involve seized electricity distribution and petrol station businesses during 2014 Crimea invasion

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Apple, Google, Cisco, Intel Challenge USPTO Director in Federal Circuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided February 13, 2026, in a case where major technology companies Apple, Cisco, Google, and Intel appealed a district court ruling involving USPTO Director John Squires. The case stems from a 2020 challenge to certain patent office policies.

•Major tech companies Apple, Cisco, Google, and Intel appealed USPTO Director John Squires in Federal Circuit case decided February 13, 2026

•The litigation began in 2020 as a challenge to certain USPTO policies, with proceedings in Northern District of California

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Reverses Patent Board in Netflix v. DivX Streaming Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's decision in a patent dispute between Netflix and DivX over streaming technology. The court vacated the Board's ruling and remanded the case for reconsideration with a corrected claim construction.

•Federal Circuit reversed Patent Board's claim construction in Netflix v. DivX streaming patent case

•Court vacated Board decision rejecting Netflix's obviousness challenge to DivX's streaming patent

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Massachusetts High Court Rules on Vehicle Search Consent in Drug Case

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued an opinion in Commonwealth v. Robinson addressing police authority to search vehicles during traffic stops after a defendant gave limited consent to search only the front passenger area.

•Defendant gave limited consent to search "front passenger area" but police found contraband in center console and glove compartment

•Supreme Judicial Court granted direct appellate review, indicating significant constitutional questions

•Five-month-old infant died from anoxic brain injury after being found face-down in blanket at registered daycare

Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Child Abuse Finding in Daycare Infant Death

The Iowa Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and reinstated a founded child abuse assessment against daycare provider Amanda Cooke following the death of a five-month-old infant. The child died from anoxic brain injury after being found with her face in a blanket during naptime at Cooke's registered childcare facility.

•Iowa Department of Health and Human Services issued founded child abuse assessment for failure to provide proper supervision

•Iowa Supreme Court unanimously reversed Uranga's sex offender registry violation conviction due to insufficient evidence

Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Sex Offender Registry Conviction

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously reversed Joshua Kelly Uranga's conviction for failing to register temporary lodging, ruling the state failed to prove he stayed away from his residence for more than five days as required by law.

•State failed to prove defendant stayed away from residence for required five-day minimum under section 692A.105

•Idaho Supreme Court affirmed conviction for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter after jury acquitted on felony charge

Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Affirms Vehicular Manslaughter Conviction

The Idaho Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of Pompeyo Salazar-Cabrera for misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, following his appeal of a district court decision. The case involved a jury that acquitted Salazar-Cabrera on felony charges but convicted him on the lesser-included misdemeanor offense.

•Judge initially promised no jail time but later sentenced defendant to 150 days, creating grounds for appeal

•Delaware Supreme Court affirmed Chancery Court ruling on ADR provision enforcement

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms Chancery Ruling in M&A Earnout Dispute

The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Chancery decision in Fortis Advisors LLC v. Stillfront Midco AB, resolving a dispute over alternative dispute resolution provisions in a merger agreement involving post-closing earnout payment calculations.

•Dispute involved post-closing earnout payment calculations in merger agreement