US Courts

United States v. Aryeetey - Conviction and Sentence Appeal

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence of Ivanjoel Aryeetey for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court found no abuse of discretion in admitting DNA evidence and deemed the sentence substantively reasonable. Aryeetey was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment.

Safdieh v. Commissioner - Tax Court Appeal on $50,000 Penalties

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Tax Court decision, holding that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue may assess penalties under I.R.C. § 6038(b) for failure to report control of a foreign business. The court vacated the Tax Court's summary judgment for the taxpayer, Joseph Safdieh, who faced $50,000 in penalties for tax years 2005-2009.

Zorn v. Linton - Qualified Immunity in Excessive Force Case

The Supreme Court reversed the Second Circuit's decision, holding that Sergeant Jacob Zorn was entitled to qualified immunity in a lawsuit alleging excessive force during an arrest. The Court found that the force used was not clearly established as unlawful under the Fourth Amendment.

Vasquez v. Debt Recovery Solutions LLC - Consumer Credit Case Filing

A new civil case, Vasquez v. Debt Recovery Solutions LLC, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case involves a consumer credit matter and was filed on March 24, 2026, with an initial filing fee of $405.

Com. v. Smith - PCRA Dismissal Appeal

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the dismissal of Joseph Charles Smith's Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) petition. Smith appealed the dismissal, arguing the PCRA court erred by dismissing his petition as untimely without a hearing. The court found no abuse of discretion and affirmed the lower court's decision.

Com. v. McElroy, J. - Appeal Dismissed

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has dismissed the appeal of Jody C. McElroy in docket number 616 MDA 2025. The appeal stemmed from the revocation of McElroy's probation following violations related to absconding from supervision. The court affirmed the judgment of sentence.

Weatherholtz v. McKelvey - Protective Order Ruling

The Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed a protective order against Dylan Jacob McKelvey in the case of Weatherholtz v. McKelvey. The ruling stems from a second petition for a protective order filed by Kristin Allyn Weatherholtz following an encounter at a flea market. The court addressed the statute of limitations defense raised by the appellant.

Com. v. Gonzalez, J. - Affirmation of Sentence for Attempted Homicide and Assault

The Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the sentences for Julio Gonzalez, who was convicted of attempted homicide, assault, and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure. The court upheld the aggregate sentence of 29 to 67 years of incarceration.

Com. v. Whitcomb, W. - Sentence Appeal Affirmed

The Pennsylvania Superior Court affirmed the judgment of sentence for William L. Whitcomb, who appealed his sentence following a guilty plea to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child. The court found no basis for appeal and affirmed the lower court's decision.

Com. v. Snyder, C. - Affirmation of Motion to Suppress Denial

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the denial of Corey Eugene Snyder's motion to suppress evidence. Snyder appealed his convictions for firearms offenses, arguing that evidence obtained during a parole search was improperly seized. The court found the search was conducted with reasonable suspicion as per the parole rules.