Verdict . News

2w ago•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court issued memorandum opinion in estate dispute involving delayed medical response to stroke

Alaska Supreme Court Rules on Estate Dispute Over Delayed Medical Care

The Alaska Supreme Court issued a memorandum opinion in an estate dispute involving Daniel Romey, who died after his wife delayed calling for medical assistance when he suffered a stroke. The case centers on whether the wife's delay constituted felonious negligent homicide under Alaska's slayer statute.

•Son sought to remove stepmother as estate representative under Alaska's slayer statute, alleging negligent homicide

3w ago•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court issued consolidated memorandum opinion in child welfare appeals on January 28, 2026

Alaska Supreme Court Rules on Child Services Appeals in Consolidated Case

The Alaska Supreme Court issued a memorandum opinion on January 28, 2026, in consolidated appeals by parents Jeremiah H. and Jocelyn H. challenging the State's Office of Children's Services. The cases originated from Palmer Superior Court and involved emergency custody proceedings related to domestic violence and substance abuse concerns.

•Two parents challenged Office of Children's Services emergency custody decisions involving domestic violence and substance abuse concerns

3w ago•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court addressed novel questions about mandatory arbitration of attorney's fee disputes on January 23, 2026

Alaska Supreme Court Rules on Attorney Fee Dispute in Native Allotment Case

The Alaska Supreme Court issued a decision on January 23, 2026, in Leroy Oenga, Jr. v. Maria M. Givens, addressing novel questions about mandatory arbitration of attorney's fees in a case involving an Alaska Native allotment and federal government litigation.

•Case involved Alaska Native allotment heirs and successful federal government lawsuit over oil and gas mismanagement

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court affirmed superior court ruling favoring contractor Michael L. Foster & Associates in dispute with First Evangelical Covenant Church

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Ruling in Church Fire Repair Contract Dispute

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a superior court ruling favoring a construction contractor in a dispute with First Evangelical Covenant Church of Anchorage over unpaid invoices for fire damage repairs. The high court issued a memorandum opinion on January 14, 2026, requiring only a small reduction in damages awarded to Michael L. Foster & Associates, Inc.

•Case involved unpaid invoices for fire damage repairs after church's insurer stopped making payments to contractor

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court affirmed termination of parental rights for three Indian children under ICWA protections

Alaska Supreme Court Upholds Termination of Parental Rights in ICWA Case

The Alaska Supreme Court issued a memorandum opinion on January 14, 2026, upholding the termination of parental rights for two parents whose three Indian children were removed by the Office of Children's Services. The case involved a five-year custody battle under the Indian Child Welfare Act.

•Five-year case began with emergency custody due to father's substance use and mother's incarceration

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Baby removed after umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination in Drug Case

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the termination of a father's parental rights after his newborn's umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine and he was subsequently incarcerated for drug possession while on probation.

•Father incarcerated for drug possession while on felony probation

Dec 31, 2025•4 min read

•This marks Nina T.'s second unsuccessful appeal of supervised visitation requirements established in 2021

Alaska Supreme Court Denies Mother's Second Appeal for Child Visitation

The Alaska Supreme Court has denied a mother's second appeal seeking unsupervised visitation rights with her child in *Nina T. v. Michael P.* The December 31, 2025 memorandum opinion upholds a superior court's decision maintaining supervised visitation requirements that were established in a 2021 custody order following domestic violence findings.

•The original custody order was based on findings of domestic violence and felony custodial interference

Dec 19, 2025•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court denied Alex Koponen's claim to a driveway easement across neighbors' property

Alaska Supreme Court Denies Driveway Easement Claim in Property Dispute

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a lower court ruling that denied Alex Koponen's claim to an easement for a driveway across his neighbors' property in Fairbanks. The court rejected both Koponen's arguments for an easement by estoppel and a prescriptive easement.

•Court rejected both easement by estoppel and prescriptive easement arguments

Dec 3, 2025•4 min read

•Alaska Supreme Court affirmed termination of mother's parental rights to Indian child under ICWA

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights Termination Under ICWA

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a superior court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to her Indian child under the Indian Child Welfare Act. The court rejected the mother's appeals on multiple procedural and substantive grounds in a memorandum decision issued December 3, 2025.

•Court rejected mother's arguments about active efforts, reasonable time, substantial risk, and best interests