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Connecticut Supreme Court

Connecticut Supreme Court Rules in State v. Christon M. Home Invasion Case

The Connecticut Supreme Court has issued a decision in State v. Christon M., involving a defendant convicted of home invasion and first-degree assault by firearm discharge. The case addresses important statutory interpretation questions regarding Connecticut's home invasion law.

•Defendant convicted of home invasion and first-degree assault by firearm discharge after entering residence and shooting occupant

•Case addresses statutory interpretation issues regarding Connecticut's home invasion law Section 53a-100aa

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Upholds Beach Access Easement in Property Dispute

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed a lower court ruling that established an implied recreational easement on beachfront property in Phippsburg's Popham Beach Estates subdivision. The decision allows neighboring property owners to maintain access rights to Sea Wall Beach despite objections from the landowners.

•Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed implied recreational easement on Sea Wall Beach property in Phippsburg subdivision

•Property owners the Tappens lost appeal challenging neighboring families' beach access rights established by subdivision history

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Maine Supreme Court Affirms Assault Convictions in Zackaria Case

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the conviction of Saad Zackaria on charges of aggravated assault and assault with a dangerous weapon, rejecting his appeals based on evidence suppression and speedy trial violations. The court upheld the trial court's denial of Zackaria's motions in the January 2026 decision.

•Zackaria was convicted on one count of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon (Class A) and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (Class C)

•His appeal challenged the denial of his motion to suppress evidence obtained at Preble Street Resource Center and his motion to dismiss for speedy trial violations

West Virginia Supreme Court

West Virginia Supreme Court Reviews Workers' Compensation Appeal

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is reviewing a workers' compensation dispute between Georgian American Alloys, Inc. and injured worker Mark Davis. The employer challenges an intermediate court decision that upheld a 15% permanent partial disability award, arguing preexisting medical conditions should reduce the compensation.

•West Virginia Supreme Court reviews appeal of 15% permanent partial disability award to Mark Davis

•Georgian American Alloys argues preexisting conditions, not workplace injury, caused worker's impairment

West Virginia Supreme Court

WV Supreme Court Denies Triple Murder Convict's Habeas Appeal

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals denied Jeffrey Ray Woods' habeas corpus petition on January 13, affirming his life sentences for the 2005 triple murder of a married couple and the wife's son. Woods had sought to overturn his convictions and secure a new trial.

•West Virginia Supreme Court denied Jeffrey Ray Woods' habeas corpus petition on January 13, 2026

•Woods was convicted in 2005 of three counts of first-degree murder involving a married couple and the wife's son

West Virginia Supreme Court

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

WV Supreme Court Affirms Zero Benefits for Coal Miner's Black Lung Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a decision denying disability benefits to coal miner Terry Kyle, who was diagnosed with occupational pneumoconiosis but awarded a 0% permanent partial disability rating. The court upheld lower court rulings in the workers' compensation case.

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed 0% disability rating for coal miner Terry Kyle despite black lung diagnosis

•Kyle was diagnosed with mild occupational pneumoconiosis and experienced shortness of breath from work-related dust exposure

•Wesley Thomas Cooper appealed a district court order requiring him to register in Montana as a sex offender based on his North Dakota conviction

Montana Supreme Court

Montana Supreme Court Rules on Interstate Sex Offender Registration Case

The Montana Supreme Court issued a decision in Wesley Thomas Cooper v. Montana Department of Justice, addressing whether an individual convicted of sexual assault in North Dakota must register as a sex offender in Montana. The case centers on interstate application of sex offender registration laws and jurisdictional authority.

•The case involves interpretation of interstate sex offender registration requirements and proper legal procedures for challenging registration obligations

•Ohio Supreme Court found corrections officials unreasonably delayed public records responses

Ohio Supreme Court

Ohio Supreme Court Awards Damages for Public Records Delays

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Department of Rehabilitation and Correction officials unreasonably delayed responding to public records requests, awarding statutory damages to the requester. The court's decision reinforces enforcement of Ohio's Public Records Act transparency requirements.

•Court awarded statutory damages under Ohio's Public Records Act to the requester

•Montana Supreme Court decided Estate of Athy v. Edgewood on January 13, 2026, involving claims against multiple senior living entities

Montana Supreme Court

Montana Supreme Court Rules on Athy Estate Case Against Senior Living Chain

The Montana Supreme Court issued a decision in Estate of Athy v. Edgewood on January 13, 2026, addressing an appeal by Alex Athy on behalf of his deceased mother's estate against multiple Edgewood senior living facilities. The case centers on whether the district court properly dismissed civil claims with prejudice.

•Case centered on whether district court properly dismissed civil claims with prejudice and characterized them as medical malpractice claims