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•Arizona Supreme Court unanimously rejected adopting the 'closely related party doctrine' for forum selection clause enforcement

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Rejects 'Closely Related Party Doctrine' for Forum Selection Clauses

The Arizona Supreme Court unanimously declined to adopt the 'closely related party doctrine' for forum selection clause enforcement, ruling that contract provisions and existing legal doctrines provide sufficient protection for non-signatories. The decision in Henderson v. Hon. Moskowitz/Sullivan establishes clear precedent for Arizona contract law.

•Case involved dispute over consulting contract between client and offshore advisory firm Nomad Capitalist USA

•Arizona Supreme Court unanimously held that trial court properly denied motion to suppress narcotics evidence from traffic stop

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Search Standards in Drug Case

The Arizona Supreme Court unanimously ruled in *State of Arizona v. Asalia Guadalupe Alvarez-Soto* that a trial court properly denied a motion to suppress narcotics evidence from a traffic stop. The court also established new precedent for reviewing video evidence in criminal cases.

•Court ruled law enforcement officer had reasonable suspicion to initiate the traffic stop under Fourth Amendment standards

•Utah Supreme Court ruled on pretrial justification hearings for self-defense claims in murder cases

Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Rules on Pretrial Self-Defense Hearings

The Utah Supreme Court issued an opinion in *State v. Jennings* addressing whether defendants charged with murder can obtain pretrial hearings to adjudicate their self-defense claims. The case involves Deon Andre Jennings, who is charged with killing Willie Houston and claims he acted in self-defense.

•Defendant Deon Andre Jennings sought pretrial hearing on self-defense claim in Willie Houston killing

•Utah Supreme Court addressed landlord liability for tenant's aggressive dogs in premises liability case

Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Rules on Landlord Liability in Tenant Dog Bite Case

The Utah Supreme Court issued a ruling in *Tesch v. Bonneville Property Investment, LLC*, addressing whether landlords can be held liable when tenants' aggressive dogs injure third parties. The case involves a young boy bitten by a pit bull while retrieving a baseball from rental property.

•Young boy was bitten by pit bull while retrieving baseball from rental property with inadequate dog restraint

•Kain Blackwing allegedly directed three women in polygamous relationships to murder a 14-year-old rape victim and her family from his jail cell

Utah Supreme Court

Utah Supreme Court Rules on Evidence in Blackwing Murder Plot Case

The Utah Supreme Court issued a ruling in State v. Blackwing involving a defendant charged with orchestrating an attempted murder plot from jail to prevent a 14-year-old rape victim from testifying. The case centers on evidentiary standards in a complex criminal conspiracy involving polygamous relationships and witness intimidation.

•The Utah Supreme Court ruled on an interlocutory appeal regarding evidentiary standards in the complex conspiracy case

•Alaska Supreme Court affirmed City of Homer's zoning ordinance amendment against procedural and substantive challenges

Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court Affirms Homer Zoning Ordinance Against Resident Challenge

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a superior court decision upholding a City of Homer zoning ordinance amendment, rejecting procedural and substantive challenges brought by pro se resident Frank Griswold. The court also upheld an award of attorney's fees to the city.

•Pro se resident Frank Griswold failed to prove the city violated notice requirements or procedural rules

•Alaska Supreme Court clarified citizen access to grand juries under Article I, section 8 of state constitution

Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court Clarifies Grand Jury Access in Garber Ruling

The Alaska Supreme Court ruled November 28 in Thomas Garber v. Superior Court, addressing how citizens can bring matters before grand juries for investigation under Article I, section 8 of the Alaska Constitution.

•Court amended Alaska Criminal Rule 6.1 to establish clear procedures for bringing matters before grand juries

•Alaska Supreme Court issued Opinion No. 7796 on November 28, 2025, in a case involving Alaska USA Federal Credit Union and state child support enforcement

Alaska Supreme Court

Alaska Supreme Court Rules in Federal Credit Union Child Support Case

The Alaska Supreme Court issued Opinion No. 7796 on November 28, 2025, in a dispute between Alaska USA Federal Credit Union and state child support enforcement agencies. The case involved complex issues of banking operations, child support collection procedures, and state revenue enforcement.

•Three major banking organizations filed amicus briefs supporting the credit union, indicating broad industry implications

Supreme Court of Virginia

Nov 26, 2025•4 min read

Virginia Supreme Court Dismisses Immunity Appeal for Procedural Deficiency

The Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed a petition for review in Knudsen v. Taylor, ruling it lacked jurisdiction because the circuit court never formally denied the petitioner's sovereign immunity plea. The court emphasized strict adherence to procedural requirements under Virginia's 2023 immunity appeal statute.

•Virginia Supreme Court dismissed immunity appeal due to lack of formal circuit court order denying immunity plea

•2023 Virginia Code § 8.01-670.2 requires explicit court order before immunity appeals become eligible for review