Verdict . News

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

Alaska Supreme Court

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

•Wisconsin Supreme Court reviewed lower court's suppression of digital evidence in child pornography case involving automated scanning

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Wisconsin Supreme Court Reviews Evidence Suppression in Child Pornography Case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a decision January 14, 2026, in State v. Gasper, reviewing a court of appeals ruling that reversed a circuit court's order suppressing evidence in a child pornography case. The case centers on Fourth Amendment protections regarding digital evidence obtained through automated scanning by social media platforms.

•Case centers on Fourth Amendment protections when government employees view flagged content without warrants

•Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed district court's denial of additional retroactive child support claim

Wyoming Supreme Court

Wyoming Supreme Court Denies Mother's Retroactive Child Support Claim

The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed a district court's denial of a mother's petition seeking additional retroactive child support covering an eight-month period. The court ruled that the doctrine of res judicata barred the mother from relitigating child support issues already decided in a previous proceeding.

•Court ruled that res judicata doctrine barred mother from relitigating already-decided support issues

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota Supreme Court Rules on Estate Dispute Between Widow, Family

The South Dakota Supreme Court issued a ruling January 14 in an estate dispute involving Martin Allen Webb, who died eight years after marrying Stephanie Eagleberger following a prenuptial agreement signed the day before their 2013 wedding. The case involves competing claims between the widow and family member Dee Haugen.

•Martin Allen Webb married Stephanie Eagleberger in 2013 after she signed a prenuptial agreement waiving estate rights the day before their wedding

•Stephanie Webb challenged the prenuptial agreement after her husband's death, seeking an elective share and family allowance from his estate

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

Alaska Supreme Court

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

West Virginia Supreme Court

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

WV Supreme Court Denies Sentence Reduction for 30-Year Sexual Assault Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's denial of a sentence reconsideration motion filed by Jessie Davis, who was convicted in 1995 of multiple counts of sexual assault. Davis argued his rehabilitation efforts warranted a sentence reduction from his 35- to 85-year prison term.

•Jessie Davis was convicted in 1995 of four counts of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of sexual abuse by a parent, guardian, or custodian

•The West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed a circuit court's denial of Davis's Rule 35(b) motion for sentence reconsideration

•Cam Ryan Stanley indefinitely suspended from practicing law in Ohio after defaulting in disciplinary proceedings

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Indefinitely Suspends Attorney Cam Ryan Stanley

The Ohio Supreme Court indefinitely suspended attorney Cam Ryan Stanley from practicing law after he failed to respond to disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Board of Professional Conduct. The suspension, effective immediately, prohibits Stanley from all legal practice and client representation.

•Suspension prohibits all legal practice, client representation, and use of attorney privileges

•Judge Celebrezze received a two-year suspension with one year conditionally stayed for Code of Judicial Conduct violations

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Suspends Judge Celebrezze for Judicial Misconduct

The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Judge Leslie Ann Celebrezze for two years with one year conditionally stayed following violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct and Rules of Professional Conduct. The disciplinary action stems from her service on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Domestic Relations Division.

•She resigned from the Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Division on December 22, 2025

Supreme Court of Oklahoma

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules in NONDOC Media v. University of Oklahoma Public Records Case

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has issued a decision in NONDOC Media and William W. Savage III v. State Ex Rel. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, a case addressing media access to public university records and government transparency in higher education.

•NONDOC Media and journalist William W. Savage III brought a public records case against the University of Oklahoma's Board of Regents

•The case was decided by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, indicating significant legal questions about university transparency