Verdict . News

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Drug Conspiracy Sentences for Tennessee Defendants

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the sentences of Mason Shelton and Tyler Richard Seaberg, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both defendants unsuccessfully challenged their sentences as procedurally and substantively unreasonable.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed sentences for marijuana and money laundering conspiracy charges against two Tennessee defendants

•DEA investigation in summer 2023 led to charges after confidential informant arranged drug purchase discussions

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Remands Civil Rights Case Against Prince George's County

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated a lower court's dismissal and remanded Randy Richardson's civil rights lawsuit against Prince George's County. Richardson alleged the county's permitting department discriminated against his minority-owned small business through harassment and improper fines.

•Fourth Circuit vacated district court's dismissal of discrimination lawsuit against Prince George's County

•Richardson alleged county's permitting department discriminated against his minority-owned business

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms $300K Judgment in Business Partnership Fraud Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a nearly $300,000 non-dischargeable judgment against Michele DiBassie in a bankruptcy fraud case brought by her former business partner Christopher Reeves. The court rejected DiBassie's arguments challenging Reeves' standing and contract interpretation.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed $299,980.98 non-dischargeable judgment against Michele DiBassie in bankruptcy fraud case

•Court rejected DiBassie's challenges to Christopher Reeves' standing to bring embezzlement claims

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Criminal Convictions in Multi-Defendant Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a ruling Monday affirming criminal convictions against multiple defendants including Oscar Jose Carreno Fernandez and Luis Jose Alfonzo Rodriguez in a federal case from the Southern District of Florida. The consolidated appeals stemmed from a 2022 prosecution involving at least three defendants.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed criminal convictions of multiple defendants from Southern District of Florida

•Consolidated appeals involved Oscar Jose Carreno Fernandez, Luis Jose Alfonzo Rodriguez, and Jesus Alberto Hernande

State Court

•Montana Supreme Court affirmed Lorenzo Harris's deliberate homicide conviction in the shooting death of James Williams

Montana Supreme Court

Montana Supreme Court Affirms Harris Murder Conviction in Bench Trial

The Montana Supreme Court affirmed Lorenzo James Harris's deliberate homicide conviction, rejecting his argument that the trial court violated due process by failing to consider a lesser charge of mitigated deliberate homicide. The court ruled Harris failed to preserve his claims and did not demonstrate plain error.

•Harris argued the trial court violated due process by not considering mitigated deliberate homicide as a lesser charge

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Upholds Warrantless Home Search Based on Defendant Consent

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Steven Shobert voluntarily consented to a warrantless search of his home, allowing officers to discover weapons including a fully automatic rifle. The court applied the totality-of-circumstances test to determine consent voluntariness.

•Tenth Circuit affirmed that Steven Shobert voluntarily consented to warrantless home search

•Officers discovered multiple weapons including fully automatic rifle during search

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of FLSA, Title VII Claims Against Waste Pro

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of employment claims brought by Junior Orlando Andrew against his former employer, Waste Pro of Florida. Andrew, representing himself pro se, had alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act regarding overtime pay and retaliation, as well as Title VII claims for race discrimination and hostile work environment.

•Pro se plaintiff Junior Orlando Andrew lost his appeal against Waste Pro of Florida in the Eleventh Circuit

•Claims included FLSA overtime violations, retaliation, and Title VII race discrimination allegations

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

DC Circuit Affirms Partial Sealing of DOJ Digital Surveillance Orders

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision to keep portions of Justice Department applications for non-disclosure orders under the Stored Communications Act sealed, rejecting arguments from Empower Oversight Whistleblowers & Research that the public has a First Amendment right to access these surveillance records.

•D.C. Circuit affirmed district court's partial denial of unsealing DOJ surveillance applications under Stored Communications Act

•Empower Oversight argued unsuccessfully that applications were judicial records subject to First Amendment access rights

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Patent Board Rulings Against Eagle View

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential decision affirming Patent Trial and Appeal Board rulings that found multiple claims in Eagle View Technologies' aerial imaging patents unpatentable. The February 3, 2026 ruling resolves appeals from two inter partes review proceedings involving patents held by Eagle View against competitor Nearmap US.

•Federal Circuit affirmed Patent Trial and Appeal Board rulings invalidating multiple Eagle View Technologies patent claims

•Board found claims in two aerial imaging patents unpatentable as obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103