Verdict . News

First Circuit Court of Appeals

1st Circuit Rules on Federal Employee Life Insurance Beneficiary Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has ruled in a complex dispute over federal life insurance proceeds from a deceased postal worker. The case involves competing claims between the employee's ex-wife and children versus his deceased spouse's estate.

•Gary Hebert, a USPS employee, executed a beneficiary form shortly before dying of cancer, but failed to fully complete it

•District court ruled the incomplete form still met FEGLIA requirements and Hebert had mental capacity

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Upholds San Antonio Officer's Termination Over Off-Duty Incident

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the termination of probationary San Antonio police officer Lucy Abajian-Salon, who was fired after an off-duty confrontation with construction workers in her neighborhood resulted in property damage allegations.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed termination of probationary San Antonio police officer Lucy Abajian-Salon following off-duty incident with construction workers

•Officer's federal discrimination lawsuit under Title VII, Section 1981, and Texas Labor Code was dismissed by district court and upheld on appeal

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Rules on ERISA Class Action Against Luxottica Pension Plan

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a mixed ruling in a class action lawsuit alleging that Luxottica's pension plan systematically violated ERISA by using outdated actuarial assumptions to calculate retirement benefits. The court affirmed in part and reversed in part the lower court's decision regarding arbitration and standing issues.

•Second Circuit ruled Duke has standing for plan reformation under Section 502(a)(2) but not for monetary payments to the plan

•Court applied effective vindication doctrine to prevent mandatory arbitration of the plan reformation claim

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Probation Revocation for Drug Offender

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to revoke probation for Brandie Nicole Appleton, who violated her supervised release terms within two months of sentencing. The published opinion addresses probation revocation standards in federal drug cases.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed probation revocation for defendant who violated supervised release within two months

•Appleton originally received probation instead of recommended 41-51 month prison sentence for drug and ammunition charges

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Voids $50M Broiler Chicken Settlement Over Open Terms

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a $50 million settlement agreement in the massive broiler chicken antitrust litigation is unenforceable because material terms remained unresolved when parties exchanged acceptance emails.

•Seventh Circuit reversed district court ruling that would have enforced $50 million settlement agreement

•Court held that material terms left unresolved at time of email acceptance prevented binding contract formation

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Insurance Denial for Storm-Damaged Farm Barn

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that upheld Liberty Mutual's decision to cover only one of two storm-damaged barns on a Missouri farm. The February 2026 decision in *Matthew Achey v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.* highlights the critical importance of precise policy language in agricultural insurance disputes.

•Storm damaged two barns in December 2021, but insurer covered only the 44' x 160' barn, not the 44' x 208' structure

•Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Liberty Mutual and Ohio Security Insurance Company

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•2 min read

8th Circuit Reviews Supervised Release Revocation Standards

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is examining whether a district court improperly weighted sentencing factors when revoking Benjamin Higgerson's supervised release for the third time. The case centers on standards for substantive reasonableness in supervised release revocation sentences.

•Benjamin Higgerson challenges his sentence after third supervised release revocation as substantively unreasonable

•Appeal argues district court improperly considered "promoting respect for the law" factor excluded from revocation proceedings

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Denial of Arbitration in Cemetery Worker Class Action

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of a motion to compel arbitration in a class action lawsuit brought by cemetery worker Manuel Gonzales against Rose Hills Company and related entities. The appellate court ruled that the defendants failed to establish the existence of an arbitration agreement.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's denial of motion to compel arbitration in cemetery worker class action

•Defendants Rose Hills Company and related entities failed to establish existence of valid arbitration agreements

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Upholds $167.7M Award Against Nikola Founder Milton

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a $167.727 million arbitration award against Trevor Milton, founder and former CEO of Nikola Corporation. The federal appeals court rejected Milton's attempt to vacate the massive judgment under the Federal Arbitration Act.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed $167.727 million arbitration award against Trevor Milton, Nikola Corporation's founder

•Milton's appeal challenged the award under Federal Arbitration Act sections 10(a)(3) and (4) for arbitrator misconduct