Verdict . News

Jan 21, 2026•1 min read

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of all four defendants in consolidated appeals

Fourth Circuit Affirms Convictions in Multi-Defendant Federal Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the convictions of four defendants in a federal criminal case from the Eastern District of Virginia. Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson all lost their appeals in the consolidated cases decided January 21, 2026.

•Cases originated from 2020 federal criminal prosecution in Eastern District of Virginia

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 21, 2026•5 min read

6th Circuit Rules on 911 Dispatch Liability in Fatal Domestic Violence Case

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in *Cody Boone v. Ottawa County Central Dispatch Authority*, addressing whether emergency dispatchers can be held liable when a 911 caller who reported mental health concerns later killed his father. The case stems from a December 2019 incident where inadequate emergency response protocols may have contributed to a preventable homicide.

•Kenneth Boone called 911 twice - first with father James warning about mental health crisis and threats, second to report he had killed his father

•OCCDA dispatchers assigned non-urgent priority code despite explicit warning about imminent violence from caller with untreated schizophrenia

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 21, 2026•5 min read

6th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Alliance Data Securities Lawsuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has affirmed the dismissal of a class action securities lawsuit brought by Newtyn Partners against Alliance Data Systems Corporation and its executives. The appellate court rejected the investors' appeal of a lower court ruling that dismissed their shareholder claims.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed dismissal of securities class action against Alliance Data Systems Corporation and executives

•Case involved Newtyn Partners suing on behalf of shareholders for alleged securities law violations

•Fourth Circuit affirmed methamphetamine conviction after rejecting suppression motion challenge

4th Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction After Suppression Motion Denied

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Jack F. Gibbins III for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The appeals court rejected Gibbins' challenge to the denial of his motion to suppress drug evidence found during his hospital treatment.

•Drug evidence found in defendant's hospital clothing deemed admissible under inevitable discovery doctrine

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of four co-defendants in federal case from Eastern District of Virginia

Fourth Circuit Affirms Convictions in Multi-Defendant Federal Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the convictions of four co-defendants in a federal criminal case from the Eastern District of Virginia. The court issued a published opinion in the consolidated appeals involving Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson.

•Court issued published opinion in consolidated appeals, indicating precedential value

•Coalition of 13 environmental groups and 6 major cities sued Trump administration

Environmental Coalition Sues Trump Administration in Fourth Circuit

A coalition of 13 environmental organizations and six major cities filed an appeal in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging Trump administration environmental policies. The case targets President Trump and top officials including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and OMB Director Russell Vought.

•Case targets President Trump, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and other top officials

•Fourth Circuit found district court erroneously applied career offender enhancement but affirmed sentence as harmless error

4th Circuit Affirms Sentence Despite Career Offender Error in Cox Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Roy Cox's criminal sentence despite finding the district court erroneously applied a career offender enhancement, ruling the error was harmless because the judge indicated he would have imposed the same sentence regardless.

•Trial judge's explicit statement that same sentence would be imposed regardless proved crucial to appeals court decision

•Fourth Circuit reversed $266,906.03 jury verdict in favor of car accident plaintiff

Fourth Circuit Reverses $266,906 Car Accident Verdict in Virginia Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has reversed a $266,906.03 jury verdict awarded to plaintiff Kaitlin Vasterling in her personal injury lawsuit against defendant Alison Dirle stemming from a severe car accident on Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach. The federal appeals court remanded the case back to the district court with instructions to enter final judgment in favor of Dirle.

•Appeals court ordered district court to enter final judgment for defendant Alison Dirle

•Fourth Circuit affirmed convictions of four defendants from same Norfolk federal case

4th Circuit Affirms Convictions in Multi-Defendant Norfolk Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed convictions of four defendants in a consolidated criminal case from Norfolk federal court. The appeals court upheld the decisions of Senior District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. in cases involving Nelson Evans, Kalub Shipman, Jaquate Simpson, and Landis Jackson.

•Published opinion by Judge Heytens establishes precedential value for future cases