Verdict . News

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed denial of workers' compensation coverage for walk-in bathtub and porch modifications

West Virginia Supreme Court Affirms Denial of Home Modifications for Worker

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision denying workers' compensation coverage for home accessibility modifications, including a walk-in Jacuzzi bathtub and porch repairs, for an injured AAA Paving & Sealing employee. The court upheld the denial due to insufficient medical rationale for the requested accommodations.

•Claim administrator, Board of Review, and appeals courts all cited insufficient medical rationale for requested home accommodations

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed termination of mother's parental rights after drug-affected birth

WV Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights Termination in Drug Birth Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights after her newborn tested positive for multiple drugs at birth. The mother had been incarcerated while pregnant and had previously lost parental rights to another child due to substance abuse.

•Mother tested positive for multiple controlled substances while pregnant and incarcerated

Supreme Court of South Dakota

South Dakota High Court Affirms Elder Abuse Conviction

The South Dakota Supreme Court affirmed the conviction of Ronald Peter Clemensen on multiple counts of theft by exploitation of his elderly mother. The case involved Clemensen mortgaging family farm property and using funds from his mother's investment account to cover debts from his failing business.

•Ronald Clemensen was convicted of multiple counts of theft by exploitation of his elderly mother

•The charges involved mortgaging family farm property and using his mother's investment account funds

•Oregon Supreme Court reversed conviction for unauthorized use of U-Haul truck

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Reverses Conviction in U-Haul Rental Case

The Oregon Supreme Court reversed a criminal conviction for unauthorized use of a vehicle involving a defendant who allegedly kept a U-Haul truck for three weeks beyond a one-day rental agreement. The case centered on disputed signature evidence.

•Case centered on disputed signature evidence that defendant denied signing

•Oregon Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals ruling allowing search of opaque containers during civil detox holds

Oregon Supreme Court

Oregon Supreme Court Reverses Search Ruling in Civil Detox Case

The Oregon Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision that allowed police to search an opaque container during a civil detox hold. The case involved Jason Thomas Wilcox and centers on Fourth Amendment protections during noncriminal custody under Oregon's civil detox statute.

•Case involves interpretation of state constitutional protections during noncriminal custody under ORS 430.399

•Iowa Supreme Court unanimously reversed Court of Appeals decision, ruling city council's closed hiring session was legal

Supreme Court of Iowa

Iowa Supreme Court Upholds City Council's Closed Hiring Session

The Iowa Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Cedar Rapids city council members did not violate the state's Open Meetings Act when they conducted a closed-session interview for a city clerk position. The decision reversed a Court of Appeals ruling and clarified the scope of personnel hiring exceptions under Iowa transparency laws.

•Case clarifies scope of personnel hiring exceptions under Iowa's Open Meetings Act

•Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed termination of Guardian S.D.'s custodial rights to two children

West Virginia High Court Upholds Guardian Termination in Child Welfare Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a guardian's custodial rights to two children after she allegedly allowed unsupervised contact with their biological parents, whose rights had been previously terminated. The guardian's appeal for an improvement period was denied.

•Guardian allegedly allowed unsupervised contact with biological parents whose rights were terminated in 2019

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed circuit court's termination of parental rights for mother of three children

WV Supreme Court Upholds Termination of Mother's Parental Rights

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a mother's parental rights to two children and custodial rights to a third child. The mother appealed, arguing she should have received a post-adjudicatory improvement period to address the neglect findings.

•Mother had prior 2021 neglect case involving unsafe housing conditions but successfully completed improvement period

•West Virginia Supreme Court affirmed termination of father's parental rights after domestic violence pattern repeated

West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Parental Rights Termination in Domestic Violence Case

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals affirmed a circuit court's decision to terminate a father's parental rights to his two children after repeated domestic violence incidents. The father had appealed, arguing that less restrictive alternatives should have been considered.

•Parents initially regained custody in 2023 after completing improvement programs but exposed children to violence again