Verdict . News

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

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.

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

•The Eighth Circuit affirmed Auto-Owners Insurance's denial of coverage for HALO's virtual auction losses

8th Circuit Affirms Insurance Denial for Nonprofit's YouTube Auction Failure

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed Auto-Owners Insurance's denial of coverage to the Halo Foundation: Helping Art Liberate Orphans after a broken YouTube link disrupted the nonprofit's 2022 virtual art auction. The court held that technical failures during the livestreamed fundraising event were not covered under the insurance policy.

•A broken YouTube link minutes before the 2022 charity auction prevented attendees from viewing and bidding

•Eighth Circuit affirmed dismissal of pro se suit against Trump and federal agencies for lack of standing

8th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Pro Se Suit Against Trump

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a pro se lawsuit filed by Missouri resident Darrell Leon McClanahan, III against President Donald Trump and federal agencies. The appeals court upheld the dismissal for lack of standing and denial of leave to amend the complaint.

•Missouri resident Darrell McClanahan failed to allege sufficient injury caused by defendants

•Eighth Circuit affirmed below-Guidelines sentence for Jessica Peters on child pornography charges

8th Circuit Affirms Below-Guidelines Sentence in Child Pornography Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a below-Guidelines sentence imposed on Jessica Peters after she pleaded guilty to child pornography offenses. The court rejected her attorney's Anders brief challenging the sentence's substantive reasonableness.

•Defense counsel's Anders brief challenging sentence substantive reasonableness was rejected

•Eighth Circuit affirmed career offender enhancement for Dale Lucas Jr. in federal drug conspiracy case

8th Circuit Rejects Career Offender Challenge in Drug Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the career offender enhancement applied to Dale Lucas Jr. in his federal drug conspiracy case. Lucas received a 180-month sentence for cocaine distribution conspiracy, despite arguing his Illinois controlled substances conviction should not count as a predicate offense.

•Lucas received 180-month sentence despite enhanced guidelines range of 262-327 months

•Eighth Circuit affirmed 120-month mandatory minimum sentence for fentanyl conspiracy

8th Circuit Affirms Mandatory Minimum for Fentanyl Conspiracy

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a 120-month mandatory minimum sentence for Da'shawn Domena, who pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl but chose not to cooperate with prosecutors despite being eligible for safety valve provisions that could have reduced his sentence.

•Defendant chose not to cooperate despite being eligible for safety valve sentence reduction

•Eighth Circuit unanimously affirmed summary judgment against retired Marine Captain Walsh in FOIA lawsuit

8th Circuit Affirms Navy FOIA Denial Against Retired Marine Captain

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's summary judgment against retired Marine Captain Rory M. Walsh in his Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of the Navy. The brief unpublished decision upheld the lower court's reasoning without providing additional analysis.

•Court provided minimal analysis, deferring to district court's reasoning in unpublished decision

•Six named plaintiffs are challenging DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other top immigration officials in a class action lawsuit

Federal Appeals Court Reviews Class Action Against DHS Secretary Noem

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a class action lawsuit challenging Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and other top immigration officials. The case involves six named plaintiffs representing a broader class of similarly situated individuals.

•The case has drawn amicus support from 21 states backing the federal defendants

•Strauser initially received 200 months for drug conspiracy and firearm charges with career offender enhancement

8th Circuit Affirms Resentencing in Vincent Strauser Drug Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the resentencing of Vincent Neil Strauser in a drug conspiracy case. After initially reversing his career offender classification, the appeals court upheld the district court's new sentence following remand for resentencing.

•Eighth Circuit reversed career offender classification in 2024, leading to resentencing with 161-192 month range