Verdict . News

Supreme Court of Virginia

Virginia Supreme Court Denies Innocence Petition After 34 Years

The Virginia Supreme Court rejected Corey Hargrove's petition for a writ of actual innocence, denying his claim that DNA evidence proves his innocence in a 1991 rape conviction. Hargrove has served over three decades of a 50-year sentence for the rape, sexual abuse, and abduction of Saphonia Woolridge.

•Corey Hargrove was convicted in 1991 of rape, sexual abuse, and abduction and sentenced to 50 years in prison

•His actual innocence petition claimed DNA evidence and credibility issues proved his innocence

•Washington Supreme Court issued en banc decision in Horvath v. DBIA Services on December 18, 2025

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Rules on Public Disclosure Act in Horvath Case

The Washington State Supreme Court issued an en banc decision in Horvath v. DBIA Services on December 18, 2025, addressing the application of the state's Public Disclosure Act to metropolitan improvement districts. The ruling references the 50-year legacy of Initiative 276, which established fundamental principles of government transparency.

•Case addresses application of Washington's Public Disclosure Act to metropolitan improvement districts

Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Halts Pulte Homes Coastal Development Project

The South Carolina Supreme Court granted relief to Friends of Coastal South Carolina, reinstating an automatic stay on a 27-home development project by Pulte Home Company that would fill nearly two acres of wetlands. The court vacated a lower court order that had lifted the stay pending resolution of the environmental challenge.

•South Carolina Supreme Court reinstated automatic stay on 27-home coastal development project by Pulte Home Company

•Project would fill 1.94 acres of wetlands on 63.23 acres of coastal property with required environmental permits

•Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Court of Appeals decision denying writ of prohibition sought by state medical licensing board

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms in Medical Board Licensing Appeal

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Appeals decision on December 18, 2025, in a case where the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure sought a writ of prohibition against Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas D. Wingate. The unpublished opinion involved multiple medical board officials challenging the circuit court's actions in a licensing dispute involving Dr. Pragya B. Gupta.

•Case involved challenge to Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas D. Wingate's authority in medical licensing dispute involving Dr. Pragya B. Gupta

New York Court of Appeals

NY Court of Appeals Rules on Construction Site Liability in Ladder Fall

The New York Court of Appeals ruled that an electrical subcontractor does not have to indemnify a general contractor for damages from a carpenter's ladder fall accident. The December 18 decision in Dibrino v. Rockefeller Center North involves complex liability questions in construction site injuries.

•Court of Appeals affirmed that DAL Electrical does not have to indemnify general contractor JRM for carpenter's ladder fall injury

•Accident occurred in June 2019 during MLB headquarters renovation at 1271 Sixth Avenue

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Dec 18, 2025•2 min read

Louisiana Supreme Court Affirms Tort Interest Rules in Bilalis Case

The Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings in a personal injury case, clarifying that legal interest accrues from the date of judicial demand even when a judgment mistakenly references the jury verdict date. The court ruled with one dissent in Evangelia Bilalis v. Wallace Drennan and Zurich American Insurance Company.

•Supreme Court affirmed lower courts with one dissent by Justice Guidry

•Legal interest accrues from judicial demand date even when judgment mistakenly references jury verdict date

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Louisiana Supreme Court Bars 'Betterment' Deductions in Auto Damage Claims

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that tortfeasors cannot deduct for 'betterment' when compensating victims for vehicle property damage, affirming full indemnification while reversing penalty awards in a case involving a 2023 rear-end collision.

•Louisiana Supreme Court unanimously rejected betterment deductions in third-party tort property damage claims

•Court affirmed full indemnification principle but reversed penalty awards as case presented legal issue of first impression

•Kentucky Supreme Court unanimously affirmed conviction on six felony counts including first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Affirms Child Sex Abuse Conviction

The Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and 20-year prison sentence of Airan Hernandez Mendez for multiple counts of child sexual abuse involving twin 5-year-old girls. Hernandez Mendez was found guilty of three counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and distribution of obscene matter to a minor.

•Defendant received 20-year prison sentence for crimes against twin 5-year-old girls in his household

•Kentucky Supreme Court issued mixed ruling on insurance discovery dispute involving Allied World and Kentucky State University

Kentucky Supreme Court

Kentucky Supreme Court Rules on Insurance Discovery Dispute

The Kentucky Supreme Court issued a mixed ruling December 18, 2025, in a case involving Allied World Specialty Insurance Company's challenge to discovery orders in an employment practices liability dispute with Kentucky State University. The court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded the case.

•Court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded case challenging Franklin Circuit Court discovery orders