Verdict . News

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Dismisses DNA Cold Case Appeal as Premature

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court dismissed Jason J. Follette's appeal challenging the prosecution of 1996 sexual assault and burglary charges. The court ruled the appeal was interlocutory and did not meet exceptions to the final judgment rule.

•Court dismissed appeal as interlocutory, ruling Follette must wait until after final judgment to challenge prosecution

•State filed DNA 'John Doe' charges in 2002, just days before statute of limitations expired on 1996 crimes

•Judge narrowed restraining order from entire Las Vegas Valley to three plaintiff communities only

Eighth District Court

Nevada Judge Narrows Water Authority's Grass Designation Powers

A Las Vegas judge has significantly limited a restraining order that prevented the Southern Nevada Water Authority from designating grass as 'useless,' restricting protection to only three plaintiff communities instead of the entire Las Vegas Valley. The case involves claims that water conservation efforts are killing trees.

•Plaintiffs claim 100,000 trees died and $300 million in damage occurred due to grass removal pressure

Colorado Court of Appeals

Colorado Paramedic Appeals Convictions in Elijah McClain Death Case

A former Aurora, Colorado, paramedic convicted of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain is appealing his convictions to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Peter Cichuniec argues the jury's verdict was inconsistent, convicting him for drug administration while acquitting his co-defendant who actually administered the fatal ketamine dose.

•Peter Cichuniec appeals convictions for criminally negligent homicide and assault in Elijah McClain's 2019 death

•Defense argues jury verdict was inconsistent by convicting Cichuniec while acquitting co-defendant who administered ketamine

•Idaho Supreme Court reversed district court's exclusion of prescription monitoring program records in DUI case

Idaho Supreme Court

Idaho Supreme Court Reverses DUI Evidence Ruling on Prescription Records

The Idaho Supreme Court reversed a district court's decision that excluded prescription monitoring program records and medical information from a DUI case. The ruling in *State v. Borek* affects how prosecutors can use prescription drug data in impaired driving prosecutions throughout Idaho.

•District court had ruled prescription drug information was protected by psychotherapist-patient privilege

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling in Auto Accident Case

The South Dakota Supreme Court delivered a split decision in Hamer v. Duffy, partially affirming and partially reversing a lower court's ruling in an automobile accident case involving employee liability. The case centers on whether Paul Duffy was acting within his scope of employment for Cornerstone Poured Foundations when the 2019 accident occurred.

•South Dakota Supreme Court partially affirmed and partially reversed lower court ruling in 2019 automobile accident case

•Case involves Paul Duffy, who was acting within scope of employment for Cornerstone Poured Foundations during the accident

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

Alaska Supreme Court

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

•Hawaii Supreme Court rejected Austin Rosa's certiorari petition against Kauai Police Department and county officials

Supreme Court of Hawaii

Hawaii Supreme Court Rejects Police Misconduct Appeal by Austin Rosa

The Hawaii Supreme Court rejected a petition for review in *Rosa v. Kaua'i Police Department*, ending a civil rights lawsuit by self-represented plaintiff Austin Rosa against the Kauai Police Department, prosecutor's office, and county government. The February 4, 2026 order represents the final appellate option in Hawaii's state court system.

•Self-represented plaintiff exhausted all state court appeals following adverse Intermediate Court of Appeals ruling

•Todd D. Robinson was convicted in 2013 of first-degree murder following a one-person grand jury indictment without a preliminary examination

Michigan Supreme Court

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on One-Person Grand Jury Murder Conviction

The Michigan Supreme Court has issued a decision in *People v. Robinson*, addressing the conviction of Todd D. Robinson for first-degree murder following a controversial one-person grand jury indictment. The case centers on whether defendants charged under Michigan's one-person grand jury statutes are entitled to preliminary examinations.

•The 2022 *People v. Peeler* decision established that defendants charged under one-person grand jury statutes are entitled to preliminary examinations

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Issues Mixed Ruling in Kaiser Trucking v. Liberty Mutual

The South Dakota Supreme Court partially affirmed and partially reversed a lower court decision in Kaiser Trucking, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, marking the second time this insurance coverage dispute has reached the state's highest court. The case involves a 2015 collision and subsequent efforts by the trucking company to recover under Liberty Mutual's policy covering the other driver.

•Second appeal to South Dakota Supreme Court indicates complex, prolonged legal battle

•Mixed ruling partially affirms and partially reverses lower court decision