Verdict . News

3w ago•4 min read

•Eighth Circuit affirmed district court denial of Hague Convention child return petition

8th Circuit Affirms Denial of International Child Return Petition

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of Lucas Alzu's petition to return his child under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. The Argentine father had alleged that Amy Nichole Huff wrongfully removed their child from Argentina.

•Case involved Argentine father seeking return of child from Missouri mother

3w ago•4 min read

•Eighth Circuit affirmed 240-month prison sentence for defendant who pled guilty to receiving child pornography

8th Circuit Affirms Enhanced Sentence for Child Porn Defendant

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed an enhanced prison sentence for Bryan Michael Vannausdle, who pled guilty to receiving child pornography after exchanging explicit materials with a 13-14-year-old girl. The appeals court upheld the district court's application of federal sentencing enhancement guidelines.

•Vannausdle exchanged explicit materials with 13-14-year-old girl and made sexual solicitations

3w ago•4 min read

•Richard Jeffery III sued stepbrother Tim Townsend and stepmother Patti Jeffery over IRA fund management

8th Circuit Reviews Family Dispute Over Father's IRA Funds

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing a complex family dispute where Richard Jeffery III sued his stepbrother and stepmother over the management of his deceased father's IRA funds. The case involves allegations that the stepbrother moved retirement funds without notice, resulting in financial losses.

•Stepbrother allegedly moved retirement funds to different brokerage without notice, causing losses

Jan 16, 2026•4 min read

•Patrick Newcomer violated federal supervised release by committing new state burglary and firearm possession crimes in 2024

8th Circuit Upholds Consecutive Supervised Release Terms for Repeat Offender

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to impose consecutive 12-month supervised release terms on Patrick Newcomer, who violated his existing federal supervised release by committing new state crimes. Newcomer had argued the terms should run concurrently.

•District court revoked his supervised release and imposed consecutive 12-month terms for each original federal conviction

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

•Nathaniel Azure convicted on six firearms charges for three shooting incidents on Spirit Lake Reservation between January 2021 and May 2022

8th Circuit Affirms Firearms Convictions on Spirit Lake Reservation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Nathaniel Patrick Azure on six firearms-related charges stemming from incidents on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota. The court rejected Azure's appeal challenging the district court's denial of his motion for mistrial based on alleged prosecutorial misconduct and the admission of Facebook records as evidence.

•Eighth Circuit rejected Azure's claims of prosecutorial misconduct and improper admission of Facebook records as evidence

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Collins pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing child pornography to an undercover federal agent

8th Circuit Upholds Child Pornography Distribution Sentence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed the sentence of Jessie Michael Collins, who pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography to an undercover federal agent. The court rejected his claims of procedural error and substantive unreasonableness in his sentencing.

•District court applied five-level sentencing enhancement based on pattern of sexual abuse involving a minor

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Eighth Circuit reversed district court ruling that limited spousal underinsured motorist claims to single $250,000 limit

8th Circuit Reverses Insurance Coverage Ruling on Spousal UIM Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed a district court decision in a dispute between Auto-Owners Mutual Insurance Company and Beverly Granger over whether underinsured motorist claims by spouses are subject to a single $250,000 per-person policy limit.

•Case involved Randy Granger's severe injuries and wife Beverly's loss-of-consortium claim after insufficient third-party coverage

Jan 14, 2026•5 min read

•Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing Section 1983 civil rights claims against Iowa law enforcement

8th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Iowa Police Excessive Force Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling dismissing civil rights claims against Dickinson County, Iowa, and two law enforcement officers. Ryan Wolterman had sued under federal civil rights statutes following a November 2020 incident involving Deputy Sheriff Shawn Syverson.

•Case stemmed from November 2020 incident involving Deputy Sheriff Shawn Syverson in Arnolds Park, Iowa

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

•Deputy Brian Williams fired at a 9-pound Pomeranian during a domestic violence call, with a stray bullet fragment hitting homeowner Tina Hight in the leg

8th Circuit Rules Officer's Stray Bullet That Hit Dog Owner Not 'Seizure'

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that when a police officer fires at a dog and accidentally hits the dog's owner with a stray bullet, this does not constitute a constitutional 'seizure' under the Fourth Amendment. The decision in Tina Hight v. Brian Williams clarifies the legal boundaries of police liability in unintended shooting incidents.

•The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this accidental shooting does not constitute a Fourth Amendment 'seizure'