Verdict . News

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Denies Google's Challenge to USPTO Patent Review Standard

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Google LLC's petition for mandamus relief seeking to force the Patent and Trademark Office to reconsider its rejection of inter partes review petitions against VirtaMove Corp.'s patent. The court upheld the USPTO's authority to deny patent challenges based on 'settled expectations' from long-standing patents.

•Federal Circuit denied Google's mandamus petition seeking to force USPTO reconsideration of denied IPR petitions against VirtaMove Corp.'s patent

•USPTO had rejected Google's original petitions citing 'settled expectations' from the patent being in force over 14 years

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

DC Circuit Affirms Army's Authority in Elite Intelligence Training Case

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court ruling in favor of Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll in a case challenging the dismissal of Major Andrew Dudt from the Advanced Source Operations Course. The unpublished judgment upholds military discretion in rigorous intelligence training programs.

•D.C. Circuit affirmed district court ruling in favor of Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll

•Major Andrew Dudt challenged his dismissal from Advanced Source Operations Course for poor performance

State Court

Connecticut Supreme Court

Connecticut Supreme Court Addresses Forum Ruling in DeCicco v. Dynata Case

The Connecticut Supreme Court has issued a decision in DeCicco v. Dynata, LLC, a wrongful death case stemming from a building fire in the Philippines. The case involves estate administrator Joseph DeCicco seeking damages from Connecticut-based Dynata LLC and its officers for deaths that occurred overseas.

•Connecticut Supreme Court rules on jurisdictional question in wrongful death case involving Philippine building fire

•Trial court dismissed case on forum non conveniens grounds with condition allowing restoration if Philippine courts lack jurisdiction

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Colorado Prisoner Appeals Federal Civil Rights Claims Against Attorneys

Justin Rueb, a Colorado prisoner representing himself, has appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals after two federal civil rights lawsuits against multiple attorneys were dismissed by a district court. The consolidated appeals challenge dismissals in cases alleging misconduct by lawyers involved in Rueb's prior state criminal and malpractice proceedings.

•Colorado prisoner Justin Rueb appeals dismissal of two federal civil rights lawsuits against multiple attorneys to Tenth Circuit

•Claims filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against lawyers involved in Rueb's prior state criminal case and malpractice litigation

State Court

Court of Appeals of Maryland

Maryland Supreme Court Disbarrs Attorney for Multiple Ethics Violations

The Supreme Court of Maryland has disbarred attorney Judith Marie Hamilton following violations of eight professional conduct rules during her representation of a divorce client. Hamilton's misconduct included failures in competence, communication, and fee handling, along with uncooperative behavior during the disciplinary investigation.

•Judith Marie Hamilton violated eight Maryland professional conduct rules during divorce case representation

•Violations included incompetence, poor communication, improper fee handling, and failure to safeguard client property

State Court

•Delaware Supreme Court issued mixed ruling on ex-wife's appeal challenging $515,000 asset dissipation finding

Delaware Supreme Court

Delaware Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling in $515,000 Divorce Asset Case

The Delaware Supreme Court issued a split decision in a contentious divorce appeal involving allegations that Kevin Winston dissipated over half a million dollars in marital assets, affirming some aspects of the Family Court's ruling while reversing others in the case brought by ex-wife Audrey Winston.

•Court affirmed some Family Court determinations while reversing others, remanding case for further proceedings

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Affirms Grandmother's Child Neglect Conviction in Minnesota

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed Sharon Rosebear's federal conviction for child neglect following the death of her 7-year-old granddaughter from malnutrition and infection caused by severe, untreated head lice on Christmas Day 2022.

•7-year-old child died from malnutrition and infection from untreated head lice on Christmas Day 2022

•Grandmother convicted under federal Major Crimes Act for child neglect on Red Lake Indian Reservation

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit Reviews Immigration Case Against Attorney General Bondi

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has issued a published opinion in *Bonilla-Espinoza v. Bondi*, marking one of the first federal immigration cases to name newly confirmed Attorney General Pamela Bondi as respondent. The case involves a petition for review from the Board of Immigration Appeals.

•Tenth Circuit issues published opinion in immigration case naming new Attorney General Pamela Bondi as respondent

•Case involves El Salvadoran citizen challenging denial of asylum and withholding of removal

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Denies Father's Deportation Relief Despite Disabled Child

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld the denial of Gabriel Alvarado's application for cancellation of removal, despite his having four U.S. citizen children including a daughter with Down syndrome and other serious medical conditions.

•Sixth Circuit upheld denial of cancellation of removal despite U.S. citizen children including daughter with Down syndrome

•Court applied strict 'exceptional and extremely unusual hardship' standard under federal immigration law