Verdict . News

Supreme Court of Louisiana

Oct 15, 2025•4 min read

Louisiana Supreme Court Suspends Judge Donald 'Chick' Foret for Misconduct

The Louisiana Supreme Court suspended Judge Donald 'Chick' Foret of Jefferson Parish's 24th Judicial District Court following a Judiciary Commission recommendation. The disciplinary action stems from inappropriate judicial demeanor and failure to recuse himself in a case.

•Judge Donald 'Chick' Foret was suspended by the Louisiana Supreme Court following Judiciary Commission recommendations

•The disciplinary action stemmed from inappropriate judicial demeanor during a murder trial and failure to recuse himself in another case

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

Oct 15, 2025•4 min read

NH Supreme Court Rules on Sexual Abuse Claim Against Catholic Diocese

The New Hampshire Supreme Court addressed whether a 2020 law removing statute of limitations for sexual abuse claims can be applied retroactively to revive time-barred cases against the Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester.

•Randy Ball sued the Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester over 1970s sexual abuse at summer camp, but his claim was dismissed as time-barred

•The case centered on whether New Hampshire's 2020 law eliminating statute of limitations for sexual abuse can be applied retroactively

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Oct 14, 2025•4 min read

Massachusetts High Court Reviews Self-Defense in Transferred Intent Case

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is reviewing Commonwealth v. Kenneth Jose Santana-Rodriguez, a homicide case where the defendant claims self-defense after fatally shooting an innocent bystander while aiming at another person who allegedly threatened him. The case raises complex questions about transferred intent and self-defense law.

•Supreme Judicial Court granted rare direct appellate review, bypassing Appeals Court

•Defendant claims self-defense after fatally shooting innocent bystander while aiming at alleged threat

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

Oct 14, 2025•4 min read

Massachusetts Supreme Court Affirms Attorney Disbarment Despite Duress Claims

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed the disbarment of attorney Benjamin Behnam Tariri, rejecting his claims that his original consent to disbarment was obtained through duress and coercion. The court's October 2025 decision marks the end of Tariri's attempts to overturn his June 2023 disbarment.

•Tariri was disbarred in June 2023 after consenting to the disciplinary action but immediately attempted to appeal

•His initial appeal was dismissed as untimely, prompting him to file a civil procedure motion claiming duress and coercion

•Supreme Court of Guam vacated Jesse Pinaula's felony convictions for firearm and drug possession

Supreme Court of Guam

Guam Supreme Court Vacates Conviction in Firearm Case Due to Evidence Error

The Supreme Court of Guam vacated Jesse Junior Quintanilla Pinaula's felony convictions for firearm and drug possession after finding the trial court improperly admitted prejudicial evidence about his pretrial release status and pending criminal matter.

•Trial court improperly admitted evidence of defendant's pretrial release status and pending criminal matter

•Kansas Supreme Court ruled state name display not required on license plates except registration decals

Supreme Court of Kansas

Kansas Supreme Court: State Name Not Required on License Plates

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that state law does not require the display of the state name on license plates except on registration decals. The court reversed lower court decisions in State v. Beck, emphasizing that courts should not read requirements into statutes that are not explicitly stated.

•Court reversed lower court decisions in State v. Beck using plain meaning statutory interpretation

Supreme Court of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Dilloun Rademacher

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has issued an emergency order temporarily suspending attorney Dilloun Rademacher from practicing law, effective immediately. The Court also appointed Chief Disciplinary Counsel as Special Master to take possession of client files following disciplinary proceedings.

•Rhode Island Supreme Court temporarily suspended attorney Dilloun Rademacher on July 29, 2025, following an emergency petition

•Chief Disciplinary Counsel was appointed as Special Master to secure client files and protect clients' interests

•Wisconsin Supreme Court reinstated attorney Steven D. Johnson despite his failure to disclose receiving a public reprimand during reinstatement proceedings

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Wisconsin Supreme Court Reinstates Attorney Despite Undisclosed Ethics Violation

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has reinstated attorney Steven D. Johnson's law license following a six-month suspension, despite discovering that Johnson failed to disclose receiving a public reprimand during his reinstatement proceedings. The court cautioned future litigants against similar nondisclosure.

•Both Johnson and the Office of Lawyer Regulation failed to inform referee about the consensual public reprimand

•Washington Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals decision denying CR 60(b)(11) relief

Oct 9, 2025•4 min read

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Reverses on Civil Rule 60(b)(11) Relief Standards

The Washington Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision and granted extraordinary relief under Civil Rule 60(b)(11) in *Luv v. West Coast Servicing, Inc.*, ruling that a series of legal mistakes and trial court errors justified relief from judgment. The en banc decision, filed October 9, 2025, clarifies when parties can seek relief from final judgments under the state's civil rules.

•Trial court's erroneous application of law, combined with other legal mistakes, justified extraordinary relief from judgment