Verdict . News

Jul 31, 2025•4 min read

•Michigan Supreme Court decided appeal in child protection case on July 31, 2025

Michigan High Court Rules on Child Protection Case After Sex Abuse Claims

The Michigan Supreme Court decided an appeal in *In re Barber/Espinoza* on July 31, 2025, involving the Department of Health and Human Services' petition to terminate parental rights after a child disclosed years of sexual abuse. The case centers on allegations that a mother knew about the abuse and allowed it to continue in exchange for drugs.

•Child disclosed sexual abuse by mother's friends between ages two and nine

Jul 31, 2025•4 min read

•Carson convicted of stealing $60,000 cash and valuables from neighbor's safes

Michigan Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in $60,000 Safebreaking Case

The Michigan Supreme Court has affirmed the conviction of Michael G. Carson on multiple felony charges including safebreaking and larceny of property valued at $20,000 or more. Carson was found guilty of stealing approximately $60,000 in cash and valuable items from his neighbor's safes in 2019.

•Text messages on defendant's phone provided crucial evidence of criminal coordination

Jul 31, 2025•2 min read

•Michigan Supreme Court reversed dismissal and remanded employment discrimination case against senior living facility under Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act

Michigan Supreme Court Reverses and Remands Civil Rights Claims Against Senior Living Facility

The Michigan Supreme Court reversed a lower court's dismissal and remanded a workplace discrimination case involving a certified nursing assistant who alleged race-based harassment, gender harassment, and retaliation against American House Roseville I, LLC under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

•Certified nursing assistant alleged retaliation after reporting inappropriate conduct to HR and state authorities

•Phillips charged unreasonable fees in estate matters without proper written fee agreements

Jul 31, 2025•4 min read

Indiana Supreme Court

Indiana Supreme Court Suspends Attorney 180 Days for Estate Fee Violations

The Indiana Supreme Court suspended attorney Christopher Phillips for 180 days after finding he charged unreasonable fees in estate matters and mismanaged his attorney trust account. Phillips will serve 120 days actively with the remainder stayed pending successful completion of three years of probation under certified public accountant monitoring.

•Mismanaged attorney trust account while handling estate funds and property sales

•Arizona Supreme Court unanimously ruled residents can propose initiative to block city street narrowing project

Jul 30, 2025•4 min read

Arizona Supreme Court

Arizona Supreme Court Rules City Residents Can Block Street Project

The Arizona Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and held that a citizen initiative to prevent the City of Page from narrowing a street is legislative in nature and falls within residents' constitutional right to initiate local laws.

•Court held the citizen initiative is legislative in nature and protected under state constitutional provisions

Jul 25, 2025•4 min read

•Attorney Kathy H. Murphy was found in criminal contempt during a preliminary examination and sentenced to two days in jail

Michigan Supreme Court Reviews Attorney Contempt Case After Circuit Reversal

The Michigan Supreme Court addressed the criminal contempt conviction of attorney Kathy H. Murphy, who was found in contempt during a preliminary examination proceeding. The Wayne Circuit Court had reversed the district court's contempt finding, citing insufficient record-keeping.

•Wayne Circuit Court reversed the contempt conviction, citing the district court's failure to maintain adequate records

•Indiana Supreme Court found trial court erred by allowing counsel to waive juvenile's rights advisement without personally questioning the minor

Jul 23, 2025•5 min read

Indiana Supreme Court

Indiana Supreme Court Rules on Juvenile Rights Procedures in Sex Crime Case

The Indiana Supreme Court affirmed a juvenile's delinquency adjudication while finding the trial court erred in allowing counsel to waive rights advisements without personally questioning the minor. The case involved charges of child molestation and dissemination of harmful material to minors.

•Court affirmed delinquency adjudication on harmless error grounds despite procedural violations

Supreme Court of Missouri

Jul 22, 2025•4 min read

Missouri Supreme Court Denies Gun Charge Expungement in Marijuana Case

The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's denial of an expungement petition, ruling that unlawful use of a weapon while possessing marijuana does not qualify as a 'marijuana offense' under the state constitution. The decision clarifies limits on constitutional expungement provisions for drug-related cases.

•Missouri Supreme Court ruled weapons charges don't qualify as 'marijuana offenses' under state constitution

•Defendant sought expungement for gun possession while having marijuana under Amendment 3 provisions

Supreme Court of Missouri

Jul 22, 2025•4 min read

Missouri Supreme Court Rules Defendants Abandoned by Appointed Counsel

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled July 22 that two defendants, Jessie Nelson and Cameron Woods, were abandoned by their appointed counsel who filed untimely amended motions for postconviction relief. The court affirmed the lower courts' judgments despite finding counsel abandonment.

•Missouri Supreme Court found appointed counsel abandoned clients by filing untimely amended postconviction motions

•Court affirmed trial court judgments despite counsel abandonment, finding no clear error on the merits