US Courts

USA v. DePape - Affirming Criminal Sentence

The Ninth Circuit affirmed David Wayne DePape's criminal sentence, holding that a sentencing court can correct an error in failing to afford a defendant the right to allocute under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32 by re-sentencing under Fed. R. Crim. P. 35(a). The court found this correction to be an "other clear error" under Rule 35(a).

Debtor avoids judgment liens under § 522(f)(1)(A) for homestead exemption

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado granted a debtor's motion to avoid judgment liens under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f)(1)(A). The court found that the liens impaired the debtor's homestead exemption, allowing for their removal from the property.

In re Wilbur Arnold Young - Chapter 7 to 13 Conversion Denied

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado denied a Chapter 7 debtor's motion to convert his case to Chapter 13. The court found the conversion request was made in bad faith and the debtor lacked the means to fund the proposed Chapter 13 plan.

State of Louisiana v. Shonnon Esteen - Affirmation of Conviction

The Louisiana Court of Appeal affirmed the sentences and convictions of Shonnon Esteen in docket number 2025-KA-0388. Judge Lobrano concurred in the result. The court's decision upholds the prior ruling on appeal.

State of Louisiana v. Shonnon Esteen - Rape and Sexual Battery Convictions Affirmed

The Louisiana Court of Appeal affirmed the sentences and convictions of Shonnon Esteen for two counts of second-degree rape and sexual battery. The alleged offenses occurred between 2006 and 2010. The court found no reversible error in the trial court's proceedings.

Sixth Circuit Affirms Policy Permits Depreciation Deduction in Insurance Claim

The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision, ruling that an insurance policy permitted the insurer to deduct depreciation from repair cost payouts. The court found that the policy's language authorized this practice, upholding the insurer's claim handling.

Sixth Circuit Upholds Opioid Conviction of Dr. Michael Fletcher

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Dr. Michael Fletcher for distributing controlled substances. The court found sufficient evidence to support the convictions related to opioid prescriptions issued from his Kentucky pain clinic and upheld the denial of his motion for a new trial.

Keller v. EBAY HEALTH & WELFARE BENEFITS PLAN - ERISA

Matthew Keller has filed a complaint against the EBAY HEALTH & WELFARE BENEFITS PLAN in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case, identified by Case Number 3:26-cv-02622, is based on a Federal Question and falls under the Nature of Suit category of Labor: E.R.I.S.A. The complaint was filed on March 25, 2026.

US v. Fabian - Crack Cocaine Conviction and Sentence Appeal

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a conviction for crack cocaine distribution but vacated the imposition of standard supervised release conditions. The court remanded the case to the district court to ensure the defendant is made aware of these conditions.

Knapp v. Barclays - Securities Act of 1933 Claims

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of claims against Barclays PLC and its executives under the Securities Act of 1933. The court found that a reverse stock split of exchange-traded notes did not constitute a "sale" under Section 12, and investors failed to trace their post-split notes to a specific registration statement for Section 11 claims.