United States

Holland Coleman v. Pamela Coleman - Property Settlement Unconscionable

The Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed a trial court's decision to set aside a property settlement agreement as unconscionable. The court found a gross disparity in asset division and evidence of overreaching. The judgment was affirmed, and a challenge to a related order was waived.

Mitchell v. Jamil - Deed of Trust Action

The Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed a trial court's judgment awarding compensatory damages in a deed of trust action. The court found clear and convincing evidence of an agreement to modify the note's terms through the parties' course of dealings and waiver, and that the statute of frauds claim was waived.

J.N.W. v. Commonwealth of Virginia - Affirmance of Judgment

The Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed a trial court's judgment, denying a motion to suppress a confession and excluding expert testimony. The court found that any error in denying the motion to suppress was harmless due to independent evidence of guilt.

Cunningham v. Virginia - Criminal Conviction Affirmation

The Court of Appeals of Virginia affirmed a trial court's decision, finding sufficient evidence for a jury to convict Adam Ross Cunningham of attempted strangulation, attempted abduction, and assault and battery. The court also found no abuse of discretion in allowing testimony of subsequent acts of violence against the same victim.

Kyere v. Durand - Arbitration Agreement

The Court of Special Appeals of Maryland addressed whether a non-signatory agent can enforce an arbitration agreement. The court affirmed that doctors employed by a hospital had standing to compel arbitration under an employment agreement, citing interdependent misconduct and agency.

Bailey v. Happer - SAFE ACT Retroactive Application

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled in Bailey v. Happer that the SAFE Act may not be applied retroactively, but conduct predating the statute can be considered. The court affirmed a $395,310 award for financial exploitation.

Wharton v. State - Probation Extension Consent Ruling

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled that an illegal probation extension, even if consented to by the defendant, is void. The court found that while a defendant may consent to probation terms, they cannot consent to illegal conditions, and violations under such an extension are invalid. This ruling impacts how probation extensions with impermissible conditions are handled in Maryland courts.

In re Holder - Collateral Estoppel in Insurance Regulatory Scheme

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled that administrative hearings under the Insurance Article can have collateral estoppel effects on later proceedings, clarifying the application of collateral estoppel to regulatory schemes. The court also addressed the good faith requirement for claim denials and the separation of civil claims from judicial review petitions.

Reid v. Balt. Ambulatory Center - Expert Witness Qualifications in Health Care Malpractice

The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled that an anesthesiologist can provide expert testimony on the standard of care for a gastroenterologist's post-procedure assessment, provided the specialties are related and the issue overlaps. This clarifies expert witness qualification requirements under the Health Care Malpractice Claims Act.

Forks v. Trans Union LLC - Consumer Credit Case

A new civil case, Forks v. Trans Union LLC, was filed on February 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case involves consumer credit and was removed from state court. Trans Union LLC is the defendant.