US Courts

Lamiesha Toney v. State of Arkansas - Criminal Appeal

The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed Lamiesha Toney's conviction for second-degree murder and first-degree battery, rejecting her sufficiency-of-evidence challenge. Toney received a 20-year sentence for her role as accomplice in a shooting that killed Emmanuel Foster and injured Jason Anderson. The court found sufficient evidence that Toney acted as Deric Smith's accomplice.

Rachel Herndon v. Tyleek Matthews - Visitation Award Reversed for Lack of Paternity Adjudication

The Arkansas Court of Appeals reversed a trial court order that had awarded appellee Tyleek Matthews alternating-weekend visitation with Rachel Herndon's son, MC. The appellate court held that the trial court erred in awarding visitation where Tyleek's paternity had never been adjudicated. The order of protection remains in effect; only the visitation provision was reversed.

Simshauser v. Simshauser - Protection Order and Contempt Appeal

Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed the Garland County Circuit Court's order granting Michelle Simshauser's petition for an order of protection and motion for contempt against appellant Trenton Simshauser. The appellate court rejected Trent's arguments that there was insufficient evidence of domestic abuse and that he was wrongly denied a jury trial for criminal contempt.

First Service Bank v. Snowden - Subdivision Restriction Enforcement

The Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed a permanent injunction preventing First Service Bank from using Lot 23 in Goodhaven Subdivision for commercial purposes. The court held that the bank's proposed use violated the subdivision's bills of assurance, which restrict lots to residential use, despite the Greenbrier City Council having approved rezoning. The Snowdens and Barbara Johnson Revocable Trust successfully enforced the 1969 subdivision restrictions.

Arkansas appellate court orders rebriefing in fraud case

Arkansas appellate court orders rebriefing in fraud case

Sareminaeini v. Noem et al - Immigration Motion to Dismiss

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California docketed a Motion to Dismiss filed by government officials including Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Pamela Jo Bondi, Joseph B. Edlow, and Kash Patel in an immigration civil case. The motion challenges plaintiff Sareminaeini's claims in case 3:25-cv-09238-LJC.

Vidal v. Venettozzi - Prison Disciplinary Due Process

The Second Circuit vacated summary judgment for New York DOCCS officials in Vidal v. Venettozzi, holding that Joseph Vidal's 180-270 days in special housing unit disciplinary segregation constitutes an atypical and significant hardship triggering Fourteenth Amendment due process protections. The court remanded for further proceedings on whether Vidal received adequate procedural protections at his disciplinary hearing.

Waldman v. Palestine Liberation Org. - Tort Claims

The Second Circuit decided motions in Waldman v. Palestine Liberation Org., a consolidated appeal involving multiple plaintiffs bringing Anti-Terrorism Act claims against the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian Authority, and individual defendants. The court resolved motions filed August 11, 2025, affecting ongoing federal civil litigation involving terrorism-related tort claims.

Ramsay v. Bondi, immigration appeal denied, March 27

Ramsay v. Bondi, immigration appeal denied, March 27

Vidal v. Venettozzi, Second Circuit appeal, decided April 1st

Vidal v. Venettozzi, Second Circuit appeal, decided April 1st