Verdict . News

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Oct 27, 2025•4 min read

Massachusetts High Court Affirms Murder Conviction in Aaron Almeida Case

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed the murder conviction of Aaron Almeida Jr., who was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Ailton Goncalves and assault charges against Merly Miranda. The court rejected the defendant's appeal for a new trial.

•Aaron Almeida Jr. convicted of first-degree murder of Ailton Goncalves and assault of Merly Miranda

•Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed convictions and denied request for new trial

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Supreme Court Dismisses Mental Health Treatment Appeal as Moot

The Rhode Island Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by a patient challenging a District Court order for involuntary outpatient psychiatric treatment and forced medication. The high court ruled the case moot after reviewing the record and hearing oral arguments in the matter involving patient G.S., who was committed following erratic behavior in September 2024.

•Rhode Island Supreme Court dismissed appeal as moot after patient G.S. challenged involuntary outpatient treatment order

•District Court had authorized forced medication after psychiatrist testified patient posed substantial risk of harm to others

•Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed trial court's denial of motion to suppress cell phone evidence in criminal case against Leonidas Lowry

Louisiana Supreme Court Affirms Cell Phone Evidence in Criminal Case

The Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed a trial court's decision to deny a motion to suppress cell phone evidence in *State of Louisiana v. Leonidas Lowry*, establishing precedent for digital evidence extraction under Louisiana criminal procedure law.

•Cell phones were seized under valid warrants and secured within required 10-day window under Louisiana Criminal Procedure Article 163(C)

•Pre-tax sale notice failures no longer create absolute nullity for tax sales after January 1, 2009

Louisiana Supreme Court Revises Tax Sale Nullity Rules After 2008 Law

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that failure to provide pre-tax sale notice no longer creates absolute nullity for tax sales after 2009, while establishing new prescription periods for challenging such sales in quiet title actions.

•Challenges to tax sales must now meet dual timing requirements under Louisiana statutes 47:2287 and 47:2266

•Louisiana Supreme Court held that pre-tax sale notice failures no longer result in absolute nullity under revised 2008 statutes

Louisiana Supreme Court Clarifies Tax Sale Notice Requirements

The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a split decision in Belaire Development & Construction, LLC v. Succession of Theodore Shelton Sr., addressing critical questions about tax sale notice requirements and nullity standards. The court held that failure to provide pre-tax sale notice no longer results in absolute nullity under revised statutes.

•Court established specific prescriptive periods for challenging tax sales through reconventional demands to quiet title petitions

•Louisiana Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeal and rendered judgment for Werner Co. in fatal ladder accident case

Louisiana Supreme Court Reverses Verdict in Fatal Ladder Case

The Louisiana Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeal decision and rendered judgment in favor of Werner Co. in a products liability case stemming from a fatal ladder accident. The Oct. 24, 2025 ruling addressed whether the defendants qualified as manufacturers under state law.

•Court found defendants did not qualify as manufacturers under Louisiana Products Liability Act

•Louisiana Supreme Court reversed summary judgment dismissing railroad worker's FELA injury claim

Louisiana Supreme Court Reverses FELA Dismissal in Railroad Worker Case

The Louisiana Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions that dismissed a railroad worker's injury lawsuit against Kansas City Southern Railway Company. The court ruled that federal railroad safety regulations do not preclude claims under the Federal Employer's Liability Act.

•Court ruled federal railroad ballast safety regulations do not preclude FELA lawsuits

•Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that full payment of service fees is not required within the 90-day Article 1201(C) deadline

Louisiana Supreme Court Clarifies Service Fee Payment Timeline

The Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed lower court rulings in Darouse v. P.J.'s Coffee, holding that full payment of service fees is not required within the 90-day deadline under Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 1201(C). The court ruled that a request for service alone satisfies the statutory requirement.

•The court interpreted "requested" in the statute to mean only that a service request must be filed, not that fees must be paid

•Louisiana Supreme Court ruled the state can appeal trial court decisions on retroactive parole eligibility for juvenile homicide offenders

Louisiana Supreme Court Expands State Appeal Rights in Juvenile Cases

The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that the state has the right to appeal trial court decisions regarding retroactive parole eligibility for juvenile homicide offenders. The court reversed and remanded *State of Louisiana v. Dale Dwayne Craig* to the Court of Appeal for further consideration on the merits.

•The court reversed and remanded State of Louisiana v. Dale Dwayne Craig to the Court of Appeal for merit review