Verdict . News

Apr 14, 2025•4 min read

•DHHS filed petition to take jurisdiction of minor DVL from his mother under Michigan's Child Protection Act

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Child Welfare Case Involving Mental Health Crisis

The Michigan Supreme Court decided a child welfare case involving the Department of Health and Human Services' petition to take jurisdiction of a minor with mental health issues from his mother after she refused to pick him up from a hospital stay.

•Case stemmed from June 2021 incident where child with mental health history attempted arson and threatened suicide

Apr 14, 2025•4 min read

•Michigan Supreme Court decided case involving 911 center employee who reported supervisor's improper emergency call coding

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on 911 Center Whistleblower Case

The Michigan Supreme Court decided Stefanski v. Saginaw County 911 Communications Center Authority, a case involving alleged retaliation against an employee who reported supervisor misconduct in handling a fatal shooting emergency call.

•Employee claimed constructive discharge in retaliation for reporting that supervisor failed to dispatch EMS to shooting scene

Apr 11, 2025•4 min read

•Prosecutors have wide latitude but cannot argue facts beyond evidence presented at trial

Kansas Supreme Court Sets Prosecutorial Limits in State v. Ervin

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled in State v. Javan Jermaine Ervin, establishing clear boundaries for prosecutorial conduct during criminal trials. The court affirmed that prosecutors have wide latitude but cannot argue facts beyond evidence presented.

•District judges may properly instruct juries about prior crime evidence under K.S.A. 60-455

Apr 11, 2025•4 min read

•District judge failed to instruct jury on statutory definitions of 'transient,' 'residence,' and 'reside' under Kansas Offender Registration Act

Kansas Supreme Court Reverses Conviction Over Missing Jury Instructions

The Kansas Supreme Court reversed a sex offender registration conviction, ruling that the district judge committed clear error by failing to provide jury instructions on statutory definitions. The court found that proper instruction on the meaning of 'transient' status under the Kansas Offender Registration Act was essential given conflicting evidence.

•Kansas law requires transient offenders to register every 30 days and creates specific legal presumptions about residence

Apr 10, 2025•4 min read

•Michigan Supreme Court consolidated two cases involving 19-year-old defendants sentenced to mandatory life without parole

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Mandatory Life Sentences for Young Adults

The Michigan Supreme Court consolidated two cases involving defendants sentenced to mandatory life without parole for first-degree murder committed when they were 19 years old. The court's decision follows its ruling in *People v. Parks* that mandatory life sentences for 18-year-olds violate constitutional protections.

•The court's decision follows the precedent in *People v. Parks* declaring mandatory life sentences for 18-year-olds unconstitutional

Apr 2, 2025•4 min read

•Michigan Supreme Court addressed Fourth Amendment vehicle search protections in firearm possession case

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Firearm Search in People v Armstrong

The Michigan Supreme Court issued a ruling in People v. Armstrong addressing Fourth Amendment protections in vehicle searches involving firearm discoveries. The case centers on whether police had probable cause to search a vehicle after smelling marijuana, leading to charges for concealed weapon possession and felon-in-possession violations.

•Case involved charges for concealed weapon, felon in possession, and firearm during felony commission

Apr 1, 2025•4 min read

•Michigan Supreme Court decided case involving healthcare provider's lawsuit against insurance company over unpaid auto accident medical bills

Michigan Supreme Court Rules on Healthcare Provider Insurance Claims

The Michigan Supreme Court decided a case involving Spine Specialists of Michigan PC's lawsuit against MemberSelect Insurance Company over unpaid medical bills for auto accident treatment. The case centers on the application of Michigan's one-year-back rule for no-fault insurance claims and recent legislative amendments.

•Case centers on application of Michigan's one-year-back rule for filing no-fault insurance benefit claims

Mar 21, 2025•4 min read

•Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Court of Appeals decision upholding 15-year violent offender registration requirement for Aaron Douglas Unruh

Kansas Supreme Court Affirms Offender Registration in Appellate Procedure Case

The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision requiring Aaron Douglas Unruh to register as a violent offender for 15 years, while establishing an important precedent about appellate procedure. The court held that appellate courts abuse their discretion when they invoke exceptions to procedural rules without sufficient record evidence.

•Court established precedent that appellate courts abuse discretion when invoking exceptions to preservation rules without sufficient record evidence

Mar 14, 2025•4 min read

•Scott William Anderson was convicted on 14 counts of financial fraud in November 2024

Kansas Supreme Court Disbars Attorney After 14-Count Fraud Conviction

The Kansas Supreme Court has disbarred Scott William Anderson following his conviction on 14 counts of financial fraud. The court accepted Anderson's voluntary surrender of his law license after a jury found he provided false information on loan applications, forged signatures, and directed employees to impersonate others.

•The fraud involved false loan applications, forged signatures, and directing employee impersonation