Verdict . News

•Idaho Supreme Court affirmed conviction despite drug dog's 43% field accuracy rate over two weeks

Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Upholds Drug Dog Search Despite 43% Field Accuracy Rate

The Idaho Supreme Court affirmed a conviction in *State v. Barritt*, rejecting a defendant's challenge to a warrantless vehicle search based on a drug detection dog alert. Joshua J. Barritt argued the dog's 43% field accuracy rate over two weeks made the alert unreliable, but the court ruled the dog's 100% controlled environment accuracy established probable cause.

•Court prioritized dog's 100% controlled environment accuracy over real-world performance statistics

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Student Dismissal from Respiratory Program

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a lower court's decision upholding Kennebec Valley Community College's dismissal of student XinXiu 'Tina' Hogan from its Respiratory Therapy Program. The court also dismissed Hogan's federal civil rights and state educational discrimination claims as duplicative in the January 29, 2026 ruling.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court upheld student dismissal from respiratory therapy program at Kennebec Valley Community College

•Court dismissed federal Section 1983 civil rights claims and state educational discrimination claims as duplicative

•Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Court of Chancery's July 2024 ruling in Goldman family estate dispute

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms Chancery Ruling in Goldman Estate Dispute

The Delaware Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a Court of Chancery decision in a family business dispute involving the estate of Allan H. Goldman. The high court upheld the lower court's July 2024 ruling after oral arguments in the case between estate executor Steven Gurney-Goldman and family member Jane H. Goldman.

•Case involved executor Steven Gurney-Goldman defending against challenge by Jane H. Goldman over estate administration

West Virginia Supreme Court

WV Supreme Court Affirms Dismissal in Firearm Safety Child Neglect Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's dismissal of an abuse and neglect petition against a father accused of leaving firearms within a child's reach and maintaining unsanitary living conditions. The court upheld the dismissal based on procedural rules preventing duplicate petitions in multiple counties.

•Supreme Court affirmed dismissal of abuse and neglect petition citing proper procedural grounds

•Father allegedly left firearms within child's reach and maintained unsanitary living conditions

Federal Circuit

First Circuit Court of Appeals

First Circuit Revives Religious Discrimination Claims Against Hasbro

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has revived discrimination and retaliation claims against toy giant Hasbro Inc. brought by two former employees who resigned after being denied religious exemptions from the company's COVID-19 vaccination policy. The court vacated lower court dismissals and remanded the case for further proceedings.

•First Circuit reversed district court dismissal of religious discrimination claims against Hasbro

•Two former employees resigned after being denied religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccine policy

Federal Circuit

First Circuit Court of Appeals

First Circuit Reviews Settlement Dispute in Siemens FLSA Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit is examining a complex employment dispute between Ann Marie Maccarone and Siemens Industry, Inc., centered on a disregarded settlement agreement in a Fair Labor Standards Act case that reached oral agreement during a court-annexed mediation.

•Ann Marie Maccarone sued Siemens Industry for alleged FLSA and state wage law violations

•Parties reached oral settlement agreement during court-annexed mediation in March 2024

North Dakota Supreme Court

ND Supreme Court Remands Case Over Conditional Plea Documentation Error

The North Dakota Supreme Court remanded State v. Vasquez back to the district court after finding that while both parties agreed the defendant entered a conditional plea, the criminal judgment failed to specify this crucial detail as required by state court rules.

•North Dakota Supreme Court remanded criminal case due to improper documentation of conditional plea

•All parties agreed defendant entered conditional plea, but judgment failed to specify this as required by court rules

Federal Circuit

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Issues Summary Order in Prison Disability Rights Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on Jan. 29, 2026, in a case brought by Disability Rights New York against the state corrections department. The appeal involves disability rights advocacy within New York's correctional system.

•Second Circuit issued summary order in disability rights case against NY corrections department

•Disability Rights New York challenged state prison system and Commissioner Martuscello

North Dakota Supreme Court

North Dakota Supreme Court Affirms Child Neglect Conviction

The North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed Christopher John Golberg's child neglect conviction, rejecting his arguments that evidence should have been suppressed and that trial evidence was insufficient. The 4-1 decision upheld a jury verdict following an investigation into alleged child abuse at his then-girlfriend's home.

•North Dakota Supreme Court affirmed child neglect conviction in 4-1 decision

•Defendant's motion to suppress evidence from home search was rejected