Legal Research

TESARO INC v ANAPTYSBIO INC - Anticipatory Breach Claim Dismissed

The Delaware Court of Chancery granted defendant AnaptysBio Inc.'s motion to dismiss plaintiff Tesaro Inc.'s anticipatory breach claim arising from a collaboration agreement governing dostarlimab (Jemperli). The court held that Tesaro failed to allege that AnaptysBio's October 7, 2025 notice letter conveyed repudiation with unequivocal, positive, and unconditional words or conduct as required under Delaware law. The court separately rejected AnaptysBio's anti-SLAPP argument, finding the defendant did not establish the required nexus between the anticipatory breach claim and protected activity since the claim arises from the alleged act of repudiation itself, not the October 7 letter.

European Patent EP4433476A1: Chromane Amidine Antibiotics, Merck, Apr 2026

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4433476A1 for chromane amidine monobactam antibiotics on April 15, 2026, designated Kind A1 (application published with search report). The applicant is Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, with listed inventors CHEN, Helen, Y., DONG, Shuzhi, HU, Zhiyong, SU, Jing, YU, Tao, and ZHANG, Yong. The application claims pharmaceutical compositions comprising the disclosed chromane amidine compounds classified under C07D 417/14 for the treatment of bacterial infections, designated across 35 validation states including all EU member states, the UK, and additional European countries.

Syngenta EP4448534A1 Patent for Microbiocidal Compounds

The European Patent Office has published patent EP4448534A1 for Syngenta Crop Protection AG, covering microbiocidal bicyclic heterocyclic derivatives. The patent has been formally granted and published with IPC classifications C07D 495/04, C07D 513/04, and A01N 43/56. The patent is effective across 31 designated EU member states, with protection extending to the specific chemical compound compositions described in the application.

EP4433471A1: N-(2H-Indazol-5-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide Derivatives as HTT Modulators for Huntington's Disease

The EPO published patent application EP4433471A1 disclosing N-(2H-indazol-5-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide derivatives and similar compounds as HTT (huntingtin protein) modulators for the treatment of Huntington's disease. The applicant is CHDI Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit research organization focused on Huntington's disease therapeutics. The application covers novel chemical entities designed to modulate HTT function, with designated states spanning 32 European countries including DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, ES, PL, SE, and others under the EPC.

Nucleoside Compound for Feline Infectious Peritonitis, EP4328227A1

The European Patent Office published application EP4328227A1 on April 15, 2026, covering a nucleoside compound and its therapeutic application in the treatment of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP). The applicant is Vigonvita Life Sciences Co., Ltd., with inventors LEI Yang, CAO Gang, and HU Rong. The application covers C07D 487/04 heterocyclic compounds and is designated across 31 European states including DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, ES, PL, and SE.

Cyclohexyl Beta-Hydroxy Alkyl Amines for Medical Use

Atrogi AB has published European Patent Application EP4405041A1 for cyclohexyl beta-hydroxy alkyl amines and medical uses thereof, with inventors Bengtsson and Pelcman. The application is filed under multiple IPC classifications spanning C07D and C07C organic chemistry compounds. The compound is classified under A61P 3/10, indicating potential anti-diabetic or metabolic therapeutic applications, and is designated across 37 European member states including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Incyte Quinoline KRAS Inhibitor Patent Publication, Apr 15, 2026

The EPO published patent application EP4415824A1 by Incyte Corporation on April 15, 2026, titled 'Quinoline Compounds as Inhibitors of KRAS.' The application covers quinoline derivatives as KRAS G12C inhibitors for cancer treatment, with 21 named inventors and IPC classifications spanning C07D 471/04, A61K 31/437, and A61P 35/00. The application is designated in all 31 EPC contracting states including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Pharmaceutical companies developing targeted oncology therapies should review this publication for freedom-to-operate considerations, noting that publication of the application does not yet confer granted protection and Incyte's claims remain pending.

Denali Therapeutics Parkinson's Patent, C07D 403/14

Denali Therapeutics Inc. obtained EPO publication of patent application EP4329763A1, titled 'METHODS FOR TREATING AND MONITORING PARKINSON'S DISEASE', classified under C07D 403/14 and published on 15 April 2026. The application designates all EU member states as covered contracting states. Three inventors are named: Danna L. Jennings, Vinay M. Daryani, and Sarah Huntwork-Rodriguez. Patent publications create no immediate compliance obligations but establish intellectual property rights that may affect freedom-to-operate assessments for competitors in Parkinson's therapeutics.

EP4329880A1 - Small Molecule Modulators of Glucocerebrosidase Activity

Vanqua Bio, Inc. has obtained publication of European patent application EP4329880A1 titled 'Small Molecule Modulators of Glucocerebrosidase Activity and Uses Thereof,' filed by inventors Kevin Hunt and Jianbin Zheng. The application covers C07D-classified small molecule compounds that modulate glucocerebrosidase activity, with potential neurological applications indicated by the A61P 25/16 classification. The EPO published the application with search report on 15 April 2026, designating all EU member states and extension states.

Dana-Farber HDAC Degrader Patent, Apr 15

The EPO published patent application EP4333842A1 for Class IIA Histone Deacetylase (HDAC) Degrader Ligands filed by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., with inventors Fischer, Eric S., Xiong, Yuan, and Donovan, Katherine. The application covers compounds classified under A61K 47/55, C07D 413/14, C07D 401/04, and C07D 401/14, with designated states spanning all 31 EPC contracting states including DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, ES, PL, and SE. The therapeutic applications indicated include oncology (A61P 35/04) and neurological disorders (A61P 25/28), with compounds based on five-membered heterocyclic structures (A61K 31/4245).

Huyabio International SHP2 EGFR Combination Therapy Patent EP4334317A1

Huyabio International, LLC obtained EPO Publication EP4334317A1 on April 15, 2026, covering combination therapies comprising SHP2 inhibitors and EGFR tyrosine kinase kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment. The patent application was filed with IPC classifications including A61K31/519, C07D471/04, and A61P35/00, and designates all EU member states including AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, and TR. Inventors include SHOJAEI Farbod, RICONO Jill M., GOODENOW Robert, and GILLINGS Mireille.

Cancer Treatment Methods Targeting Biallelic Loss of Function Mutations

European Patent Office published application EP4330426A1 for Repare Therapeutics Inc., covering methods of treating cancers having biallelic loss of function or gene overexpression mutations. The patent application includes chemical compound classifications under A61K, C07D, C12Q, and A61P categories, with a publication date of April 15, 2026. Designated states cover all current EPO member states including Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and 24 other European jurisdictions.

Beigene PI3KDelta Inhibitor Salts and Crystalline Forms Patent Application EP4347598A1

Beigene Switzerland GmbH has obtained publication of European Patent Application EP4347598A1 covering salts of a PI3KDelta inhibitor, crystalline forms, and methods of preparation. The application was published April 15, 2026 under IPC classification C07D 487/04, with designated states spanning all 44 EPC contracting states including AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, and TR. The therapeutic applications disclosed include anticancer (A61P 35/00), anti-inflammatory (A61P 29/00), and immunological disorder treatments (A61P 37/00).

USSC Proposes Amendment Implementing SAFER SKIES Act Unmanned Aircraft Guidelines

The United States Sentencing Commission has published a notice of proposed amendment to the sentencing guidelines in response to the SAFER SKIES Act (Title LXXXVI of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, Pub. L. 119-60). The proposed amendment would create a new guideline at §3B1.6 (Use of Unmanned Aircraft) providing a tiered adjustment for offenses involving unmanned aircraft, and amend Appendix A (Statutory Index) to reference new offenses created by the Act. The Commission requests public comment by June 18, 2026.

Arkansas Receives $44M Tobacco Settlement Disbursement

The State of Arkansas received $44,414,444.95 as its annual proceeds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). With this disbursement, Arkansas has now received a total of more than $1.47 billion in tobacco settlement funds since the agreement. The funds support health-related programs including the Arkansas Biosciences Institute, the Medicaid Expansion Program, the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, and the Targeted State Needs Program.

Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. Gives Remarks at TIMBER Working Group Roundtable

Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. delivered remarks at the TIMBER Working Group Roundtable on April 24, 2026, framing illegal logging as the most profitable natural resource crime on the planet and the third most profitable transnational crime. The speech outlined three priorities of the Trump Administration: protecting Americans from transnational criminal organizations exploiting borders, reducing reliance on foreign supply chains for the American timber industry, and reducing regulatory burden in timber sales. Woodward invited stakeholders to collaborate on implementing federal initiatives to address these concerns.

Principal Deputy AG Gustafson Remarks at TIMBER Working Group on Timber Trafficking

Principal Deputy Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) delivered remarks at the TIMBER Working Group roundtable on April 24, 2026, outlining the Trump Administration's commitment to combating illegal timber trafficking. ENRD highlighted its prosecutorial priorities, resumed trade enforcement programming, and new intelligence analyst positions funded by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to support timber trafficking investigations. The remarks emphasized the global scale of the problem—illegal logging generates an estimated $52-157 billion USD annually—and called for collaborative enforcement to protect the domestic wood products industry, which loses approximately $500 million USD annually to trafficking.

DOJ Environmental Crimes Bulletin Lists 14 Cases, March 2026

The DOJ Environmental Crimes Section published its March 2026 monthly bulletin on April 24, 2026, summarizing 14 federal criminal cases across 12 districts. Cases include dog fighting and animal fighting ventures (Central District of California, 11th Circuit), exotic bird and reptile trafficking (Southern District of California, Northern District of West Virginia), pesticide smuggling (Eastern District of California), timber trafficking under the Lacey Act (Southern District of Florida), fraudulent asbestos training certificates and wire fraud (Southern District of Indiana), hazardous waste storage violations under RCRA (Eastern District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Missouri), animal crush video distribution and conspiracy (Southern District of Ohio, Western District of Pennsylvania, Southern District of Florida), seafood sales Lacey Act violations (Northern District of Texas), and reptile trafficking (Northern District of West Virginia).

United States of America v. Jason Anthony Dirks - Appeal Dismissed, Counsel Withdrawn

The Fifth Circuit dismissed the appeal of criminal defendant Jason Anthony Dirks after appointed Federal Public Defender counsel filed an Anders brief identifying no nonfrivolous issues for review. The court granted counsel's motion for leave to withdraw and excused counsel from further responsibilities. Dirks did not file a pro se response. The underlying case arose from the Northern District of Texas, USDC No. 2:25-CR-28-1.

World IP Day 2026 Highlights IP Role in Sports Innovation

The European Patent Office announces World IP Day 2026, celebrated globally on 26 April, with this year's theme 'IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate' highlighting how intellectual property supports technologies, designs, and brands shaping modern sport. The EPO will launch a social media campaign in collaboration with national offices and WIPO to share inspiring stories about IP-driven sports innovation. The announcement encourages the public to follow EPO on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X using the #WorldIPDay hashtag.

MONKEY HANGER Figurative Trade Mark Decision O/0346/26

Hearing Officer Ms L Fayter issued decision O/0346/26 dated 24 April 2026 concerning the MONKEY HANGER (figurative) trade mark covering goods in Classes 25, 30, and 33. The decision addresses grounds including Sections 5(1), 5(2) and 5(3) relating to likelihood of confusion, family of marks, dilution cases (reputation, link, unfair advantage of repute), Section 5(4) regarding earlier rights and relevant date, and revocation/proof of use requirements.

UKIPO Rejects Honor of Kings Trademark Challenge, 24 April 2026

UKIPO issued decision O/0344/26 on 24 April 2026 regarding a trademark challenge against HONOR OF KINGS (Figurative) and HONOR OF KINGS marks across Classes 09, 41, and 42. The decision was rendered by Hearing Officer Ms S Wilson, with grounds cited under Sections 5(1), 5(2), 5(3), and 5(4) of UK trademark law. Parties seeking to understand the outcome of this specific trademark challenge proceeding should consult the full decision.

CONVERSE Trademark Opposition, Ms Leisa Davies, 24th Apr

UK IPO Hearing Officer Ms Leisa Davies issued Decision BL Number O/0347/26 on 24 April 2026 concerning the CONVERSE trademark. The decision addressed opposition grounds under Sections 5(1), 5(2) and 5(3) covering both dilution by reputation and dilution by link, along with revocation and proof of use matters including genuine use dates and partial revocation for arriving at a fair description of goods and services. The trademark covers Classes 12 and 35. This is a final decision resolving the trademark challenge before the UK Intellectual Property Office.

DreamFunded Marketplace LLC and Fernandez FINRA Extension Order

The SEC granted FINRA an extension of time to respond to DreamFunded Marketplace LLC and Manuel Fernandez's renewed motion to stay FINRA expulsions, adopting Applicants' alternative request. FINRA must file its response by April 29, 2026, with Applicants' reply due by May 1, 2026. The underlying disciplinary action involved three independent expulsions of DreamFunded as a FINRA funding portal and three independent bars on Fernandez for association, based on violations of Commission Regulation Crowdfunding Rules and FINRA Funding Portal Rules.

Norman Thorn Robertson v. FINRA - Expungement Appeal Dismissed

The SEC dismissed Norman Thorn Robertson's application for review of FINRA's denial of his request to use FINRA's arbitration forum to expunge information about a 1994 NASD regulatory action from his CRD records. The SEC held that Section 19(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 authorizes review only when an SRO has prohibited or limited access to services it actually offers. Since Robertson failed to demonstrate that FINRA provides arbitration for expunging regulatory action information from the CRD, the SEC concluded it lacks statutory authority to hear the case.

DFPS Gender Transition Investigation Injunctions Vacated as Moot

The Supreme Court of Texas vacated three temporary injunction orders that had prohibited the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services from investigating reports of minors receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapy for gender transitioning. The court held that plaintiffs' claims for injunctive relief presented no live justiciable controversy because DFPS permanently closed its investigations and most of the children reached the age of majority while appeals were pending. The court reversed the court of appeals' judgments and dismissed the interlocutory appeals without reaching the constitutional merits of whether DFPS exceeded its authority.

Justice Young Dissent - Discovery Ruling - Warwick Construction Inc.

Justice Young of the Texas Supreme Court filed a dissent from the Court's denial of a petition for writ of mandamus in a construction dispute involving Warwick Construction Inc., Bustamante Construction, and DLC General Construction Services Inc. The dissent concerns the trial court's refusal to permit a limited reopening of discovery under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 190.5(b). Justice Young argued the denial was premature and that the trial should be stayed pending resolution of the mandamus petition, warning that proceeding to trial risks reversible error and wasted judicial resources if relators' ability to present their case is compromised.

Bell Helicopter GARA Bars Suit Mandamus Granted

The Texas Supreme Court conditionally granted Bell Helicopter's petition for writ of mandamus, holding that the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) bars the plaintiffs' claim because the alleged defect in the flight manual has not changed since the helicopter was delivered in 1997. The court clarified that GARA's 18-year clock restarts only when a 'new' part is 'alleged to have caused' the accident, and that revisions to a flight manual do not constitute a new part under the statute. The crash occurred in 2017, twenty years after initial delivery, and Bell successfully invoked GARA's statute of repose.

Kingsbury v. Second Injury Fund of Iowa - Settlement Precludes Fund Claim

The Iowa Supreme Court reversed the district court and held that a workers' compensation claimant who settles with her employer via a compromise settlement that does not establish the employer's liability for permanent disability cannot pursue Second Injury Fund benefits under Iowa Code section 85.35(10). The court found that the settlement 'constitute[s] a final bar to any further rights arising under' the Iowa Workers' Compensation Act because it left the claimant unable to prove she sustained a work-related, compensable injury for some degree of permanent disability that would trigger Fund liability. The case was remanded with instructions to affirm the commissioner's decision granting summary judgment to the Fund.

Wind Energy Vested Rights Dispute, Worth County

The Iowa Supreme Court upheld a district court declaratory judgment in favor of Worthwhile Wind, LLC, finding the developer held vested rights to develop a wind energy generation project in Worth County under a pre-existing ordinance. The Court affirmed that Worth County's subsequent moratorium on wind energy development and a later enacted less favorable ordinance were entered into and enacted in bad faith. This decision clarifies the standards for vested rights in renewable energy development against local government regulatory changes.

Sarah Kingsbury v. Second Injury Fund of Iowa - Workers' Compensation Settlement Appeal

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on whether a worker can pursue Second Injury Fund benefits after entering a Compromise Settlement with her employer under Iowa Code section 85.35(3), where the employer did not admit liability for permanent partial disability caused by the work injury. The Second Injury Fund appealed a district court order that reversed the Workers' Compensation Commissioner's determination regarding petitioner Sarah Kingsbury's ability to pursue her claim. The ruling clarifies the interaction between Compromise Settlements and Second Injury Fund claims in Iowa workers' compensation law.

CMT Highway LLC v Logan Contractors Supply Inc - Breach of Contract Cover Damages

The Iowa Supreme Court granted further review in CMT Highway LLC v. Logan Contractors Supply Inc., a breach of contract case involving cover damages under Iowa Code section 554.2712. The Court of Appeals had affirmed the district court ruling that a breaching seller's offer of the same goods at a higher price cannot qualify as a substitute good for cover. The appellate court held that binding contracts formed when Logan accepted CMT's bids, CMT breached by refusing to produce materials at agreed pricing, and Logan was entitled to cover damages on all projects because CMT's refusal to do business unless prices increased constituted repudiation of all contracts. Cross-appeal resulted in remand to correct prejudgment interest awarded to CMT.

Matthew Hunter $2.6M Disability Discrimination Verdict Remanded for Retrial

The Iowa Supreme Court granted further review in Matthew Lewis Hunter v. City of Des Moines, involving a $2,615,231.35 disability discrimination verdict against the City. The Court of Appeals had reversed the award, holding that an erroneous jury instruction on stereotypes tainted the verdict and that the failure-to-accommodate claim failed as a matter of law. The case has been remanded for retrial on the disability discrimination claim, with dismissal ordered for the failure-to-accommodate claim. Both parties sought further review—the City arguing Hunter was not qualified to serve as an officer, and Hunter arguing the evidence supported the accommodation finding and the jury instruction was proper.

Matthew Hunter v. City of Des Moines: Disability Discrimination Claim Remanded for New Trial

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a court of appeals decision reversing the district court judgment in favor of the plaintiff in a disability discrimination case involving a Des Moines police sergeant with PTSD. The court agreed that the jury's verdict was tainted by a novel jury instruction redefining disability discrimination under the Iowa Civil Rights Act that had not been previously approved. The court also affirmed that the plaintiff's failure-to-accommodate claim fails as a matter of law. The case is remanded for a new trial on the disability-discrimination claim only.

CMT Highway v Logan Contractors Supply - Cover Damages Ruling

The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed in part and vacated in part a Court of Appeals decision in CMT Highway LLC v. Logan Contractors Supply Inc., a dispute over cover damages under Iowa's UCC section 554.2712. The court held that an aggrieved buyer is not required to deal with a breaching seller when exercising its right to cover, and that purchasing substitute goods from other vendors at then-current market prices constitutes reasonable mitigation even if the breaching seller offered the same goods at a lower price. Logan Contractors Supply prevailed in obtaining damages for the difference between the substitute purchase price and CMT's original contract price.

Iowa Supreme Court Reverses Wind Moratorium Case, Remands to District Court

The Iowa Supreme Court reversed the district court ruling in Worthwhile Wind LLC v. Worth County Board of Supervisors, holding that the wind energy developer had not acquired vested rights in the prior zoning regime despite investing $2,800,814.55 in preliminary development activities. The court found the developer's preliminary work—including two MET towers, soil studies, and MISO filings—did not constitute the completion of substantial work required to vest rights before the county enacted its April 2021 moratorium on commercial wind energy systems. The case has been remanded for further proceedings.

Multilayered Formulations With Dual Release Rate Patent Application EP3622948A1

The European Patent Office published patent application EP3622948A1 for multilayered formulations with dual release rates of active principles, filed by I.P.S. International Products & Services S.r.l. The application, published April 15, 2026, covers formulations under IPC classification A61K 9/16 and names five inventors: PASOTTI Gino, SPALLA Andrea, PENGO Sergio, and SPALLA Luciano. The application designates all major European contracting states including DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, ES, and 28 other jurisdictions.

Novel Sulfonamide Carboxamide Compounds - EP3707137A1

The European Patent Office published patent EP3707137A1 for novel sulfonamide carboxamide compounds on April 15, 2026. The patent applicant is Inflazome Limited, with listed inventors including Cooper, Miller, MacLeod, Thom, Shannon, and Arregui. The patent covers pharmaceutical applications including A61K classifications for pyrazole and other heterocyclic compounds, with designated states covering the majority of European countries including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and the Nordic states.

Novel Sulfonamide Carboxamide Compounds EP3707134A1

EPO published European patent application EP3707134A1 for novel sulfonamide carboxamide compounds filed by Inflazome Limited, with inventors including Cooper, Miller, MacLeod, Thom, St-Gallay, Shannon, and Strutt. The application is classified under A61K (medicinal preparations) with multiple IPC subclasses including C07D and various tetrazole/triazole derivatives. Publication kind A1 indicates the application was published with an international search report. The designated states cover all EPO member states including AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR.

CADE Brazil Opens Technical Consultant Vacancy for DFT/Sisdip Implementation, Deadline April 28

The Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE) announced a selection process to hire specialized technical consultancy for implementing the 2nd Cycle of the Workforce Sizing Referential Model (DFT) and People Sizing System (Sisdip) within CADE. Both systems were made available by the Ministry of Management and Innovation (MGI). Applications must be submitted by April 28, 2026, via email in PDF format. Interviews will be conducted by videoconference without rescheduling options.

Sidak v. United States International Trade Commission — ALJs Unconstitutionally Appointed

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's permanent injunction preventing the International Trade Commission from using a protective order as the basis for an investigation or sanctions against Gregory Sidak, an expert witness who testified in a prior ITC proceeding. The court held that the administrative law judge who issued the protective order was unconstitutionally appointed under the Supreme Court's ruling in Lucia v. SEC (2018), because the ITC chairman appointed ALJs unilaterally without the collective votes of all six commissioners — violating the Constitution's Appointments Clause. The order was never ratified by the full commission, rendering it unenforceable. This ruling may affect parties subject to protective orders or investigations originating from ALJs who were not properly appointed by the full ITC commission.

United States v. Shafa — Conviction Affirmed, Misdemeanor Sentence Vacated, Case Remanded

The First Circuit affirmed Rahim Shafa's federal convictions for international money laundering, importing merchandise contrary to law, and receipt of misbranded drugs stemming from his operation of Novel Psychopharmacology, a Massachusetts clinic that imported unapproved drug implants from Hong Kong. The court vacated his misdemeanor misbranding sentence and remanded for the District Court to clarify its application of U.S. Sentencing Guidelines § 2B1.1, the fraud guideline. Shafa's 36-month concurrent sentences for the other convictions remain intact.

State v. Smith: Criminal History Resentencing Affirmed, Jury Claim Rejected

The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed Robert Edward Smith's resentencing in a case arising from a 2016 home invasion and murder. On remand, the district court had recalculated Smith's criminal history score from A to B after excluding an improperly included 2003 criminal-threat conviction, reducing his life-without-parole term from 653 to 618 months. Smith appealed again, arguing for the first time that the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines Act violates his constitutional right to a jury trial regarding prior convictions used for sentencing enhancement. The court declined to reach the merits, finding the claim unpreserved and foreclosed by settled law. A second issue regarding jail credit was rendered moot when the district court filed a nunc pro tunc journal entry on January 26, 2026, adding the disputed 627 days between sentencing and resentencing.

State v. Horton: Double Hearsay Ruling Affirmed

The Kansas Supreme Court affirmed the convictions of Terry D. Horton Jr. for aggravated battery and felony murder. The court upheld the district court's exclusion of double hearsay statements — specifically, alleged out-of-court statements by victim Cedrick Scott to Officer Tompkins about who shot him — finding no abuse of discretion. The court also held that the prosecutor's comparison of Horton's trial testimony with his earlier inconsistent statements did not impermissibly shift the burden of proof. The syllabus outlines three holdings concerning hearsay exceptions, independent appellate review of prosecutorial error, and burden-shifting standards.

Chuka Anene v. Eve Nwoekabia - Discretionary Application Dismissed

The Court of Appeals of Georgia dismissed a discretionary application for review filed by Chuka Anene in a divorce action originating from the trial court's February 3, 2026 final judgment and decree of divorce. The court held that Anene filed the application 52 days after entry of the divorce decree, exceeding the 30-day statutory deadline prescribed by OCGA § 5-6-35(d). The court reaffirmed that this deadline is jurisdictional and cannot be waived. The application is therefore dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Georgia Court Denies Raines Discretionary Appeal

The Court of Appeals of Georgia denied Joseph McClellan Raines' Application for Discretionary Appeal in docket A26D0458. The denial was issued on April 24, 2026, following consideration of the application under LC Number 2017CR0650. This disposition closes the discretionary appeal avenue at the state appellate level; the underlying conviction or case remains unaffected by this procedural ruling.

SERES CAPITAL GA, LLC v. BETTY JEAN COOK — Appeal Withdrawn

The Court of Appeals of Georgia granted appellant Seres Capital GA, LLC's motion to withdraw appeal number A26I0181. The court released jurisdiction back to the trial court upon receipt of this order dated April 24, 2026. This withdrawal is a procedural action taken at the appellant's request and does not constitute a ruling on the merits of the underlying dispute.

Estate of Ronald C. Perry - Undue Influence Claim Dismissed

The Tennessee Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's dismissal of an executor's undue influence claim against the decedent's widow, finding no confidential relationship existed between them. Jeffrey Scott Perry, as executor of Ronald C. Perry's estate, alleged that Inger Lise Severine had exercised undue influence and converted bank accounts to circumvent the Last Will and Testament. The appellate court upheld the dismissal based on the executor's failure to establish that a confidential relationship existed between the widow and the decedent.

Gregory G. Idom Mandamus Petition, Emergency Stay Denied

The 10th District Texas Court of Appeals in Waco denied Relator Gregory G. Idom's petition for writ of mandamus and emergency motion for stay on April 24, 2026. The petition, which sought to challenge or stay an underlying proceeding, was filed on April 23, 2026. Justice Smith delivered the opinion of the Court, with Chief Justice Johnson and Justice Harris concurring.

Target Group Ltd v HMRC — Supreme Court VAT Exemption Ruling

Target Group Ltd, a provider of outsourced loan administration services, appealed to the UK Supreme Court the question of whether its services are standard-rated supplies for VAT purposes or fall under the financial services exemption under article 135(1)(d) of the Principal VAT Directive, as implemented in the Value Added Tax Act 1994. The Supreme Court panel of five justices heard the appeal on 12-13 July 2023. This decision concludes Target's multi-year challenge following unsuccessful appeals at the First Tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, and Court of Appeal. Financial services firms providing outsourced administration or similar back-office services to lenders should review whether their operations satisfy the article 135(1)(d) exemption conditions.