Verdict . News

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Supreme Court Restricts Police Traffic Stops for Cell Phone Use

The Maryland Supreme Court ruled in *State v. Stone* that police officers cannot justify traffic stops based solely on observing a driver touching or manipulating a cell phone screen. The court held that officers must identify specific facts that reasonably establish a traffic violation has occurred, as merely touching a phone is consistent with both legal and illegal use.

•Court applied Terry v. Ohio standard requiring specific facts beyond general observations

•Simply touching or manipulating a phone screen insufficient for reasonable suspicion

•Oregon Supreme Court ordered immediate release of Jason John Hatton from Deer Ridge Correctional Institution

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Prison Release in Habeas Case

The Oregon Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Jason John Hatton from Deer Ridge Correctional Institution on January 27, 2026, finding his continued imprisonment illegal. The court granted Hatton's habeas corpus petition in a brief order that cited improper calculation of sentencing credits.

•Court found Hatton's continued imprisonment illegal due to improper calculation of sentencing credits

•Oregon Supreme Court found Michael Andrew McEwen's imprisonment illegal and ordered immediate discharge from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release in Habeas Case

The Oregon Supreme Court ordered the immediate discharge of Michael Andrew McEwen from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, ruling his imprisonment illegal in a habeas corpus proceeding decided January 27, 2026.

•McEwen was originally sentenced to 49 months total incarceration across two cases in 2024

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Ripple Labs in XRP Securities Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Ripple Labs in a federal securities class action lawsuit. The appellate court held that the three-year statute of repose under the Securities Act of 1933 bars the plaintiff's claims against the cryptocurrency company.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Ripple Labs in securities class action lawsuit

•Court ruled three-year statute of repose under Securities Act of 1933 bars plaintiff's claims

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Enforces Appeal Waiver in Federal Sex Trafficking Case

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals is addressing a government motion to enforce an appeal waiver in the case of Jackie Antonio Duncan, who received a 30-year sentence for child sex trafficking. Duncan pleaded guilty but now seeks to appeal despite waiving that right in his plea agreement.

•Duncan pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of children and received a 30-year sentence

•Government moved to enforce appeal waiver from Duncan's plea agreement

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Dismisses Veteran's Medical Malpractice Suit Against VA

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit dismissed a Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit filed by veteran Cassius Standifer Peak against the Department of Veterans Affairs. Peak alleged that VA medical staff negligently injured his neck during urological surgery while he was under anesthesia at the Atlanta VA Medical Center.

•Veteran filed FTCA negligence claim against VA after alleged neck injury during urological surgery

•District court dismissed lawsuit for missing six-month filing deadline after VA claim denial

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Supervised Release Revocation for Armed Robbery

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected an appeal by Emmannuel Rodole Francois challenging the revocation of his supervised release. Francois argued that the government failed to produce sufficient evidence of armed robbery and armed false imprisonment.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed revocation of supervised release for armed robbery allegations

•Francois challenged both evidence sufficiency and confrontation rights violations

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Grants En Banc Rehearing in ESOP Class Action Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has granted a rare en banc rehearing in *Bolton v. Inland Fresh Seafood Corporation of America*, a class action lawsuit involving Employee Stock Ownership Plan participants. The full court's decision vacates the previous panel opinion.

•11th Circuit granted en banc rehearing after majority of active judges voted in favor

•Previous three-judge panel opinion has been vacated pending full court review

•Delaware Supreme Court affirmed lower court ruling upholding validity of five-month marriage between Russell LaFon Jr. and Jacqueline Felmlee

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms Widow's Rights in Five-Month Marriage Case

The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Chancery ruling that upheld the validity of a five-month marriage, rejecting the deceased husband's father's challenge to his daughter-in-law's inheritance rights. The case stemmed from a Valentine's Day 2023 wedding that ended tragically when the 34-year-old groom died unexpectedly five months later.

•Father challenged marriage validity to prevent daughter-in-law from inheriting under intestacy laws after son's unexpected death at age 34