New Hampshire Case Commentaries

Administrative License Suspension Hearings: Non-Jurisdictional Nature of Statutory Time Limits and Prejudice Requirement

Date: Apr 17, 2025

Administrative License Suspension Hearings: Non-Jurisdictional Nature of Statutory Time Limits and Prejudice Requirement Introduction The case of Kyla Bernard-Nichols v. Director, New Hampshire...

Evidentiary Hearing Mandate for PAB Summary Dispositions in Termination Appeals

Date: Apr 17, 2025

Evidentiary Hearing Mandate for PAB Summary Dispositions in Termination Appeals Introduction This case arises from an appeal by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (“DOC”) of a Personnel...

Spousal Privilege Under Rule 504: Testimony Excluded, Communications Admissible

Date: Apr 17, 2025

Spousal Privilege Under Rule 504: Testimony Excluded, Communications Admissible Introduction State v. Bradley (2025 N.H. 17) is an interlocutory appeal decided by the Supreme Court of New Hampshire...

Inclusion of Pedestrian Warning Signs Within “Highways” Under RSA 231:92

Date: Apr 17, 2025

Inclusion of Pedestrian Warning Signs Within “Highways” Under RSA 231:92 Introduction Felts v. City of Rochester, 2025 N.H. 16 (April 16, 2025), is an interlocutory appeal decided by the Supreme...

Reasonableness Standard for Survivorship Transfers Under Mutual Wills

Date: Apr 17, 2025

Reasonableness Standard for Survivorship Transfers Under Mutual Wills Introduction This commentary examines the Supreme Court of New Hampshire’s decision in Michelle Boucher, individually and as...

Reliance on Contemporaneous Unrelated Case Competency Evaluations and Preservation of Due Process Rights

Date: Apr 15, 2025

Reliance on Contemporaneous Unrelated Case Competency Evaluations and Preservation of Due Process Rights Introduction In State of New Hampshire v. S.B. (No. 2023-0417, Apr. 14, 2025), the Supreme...

Clarifying Municipal Immunity Under RSA 507-B: “Operation of Premises” and the Abrogation of Common‐Law Negligence Claims

Date: Apr 12, 2025

Clarifying Municipal Immunity Under RSA 507-B: “Operation of Premises” and the Abrogation of Common-Law Negligence Claims Introduction In L.B., a minor v. G.T., a minor, & a. (2025), the Supreme...

Joinder of Related Sexual Offense and Image‐Dissemination Charges Under NH Crim. P. 20

Date: Apr 11, 2025

Joinder of Related Sexual Offense and Image‐Dissemination Charges Under NH Crim. P. 20 Introduction State of New Hampshire v. Bradley Caprarello, decided April 10, 2025 by the Supreme Court of New...

Equitable Enforcement of Frustrated Property Settlements: In re Morse

Date: Apr 9, 2025

Equitable Enforcement of Frustrated Property Settlements: In re Morse Introduction In the Matter of Anne Morse and Frank Morse (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, April 8, 2025) addresses the remedies...

Admission of Contemporaneous Text Messages under Hearsay Exceptions in Domestic Violence Prosecutions

Date: Apr 9, 2025

Admission of Contemporaneous Text Messages under Hearsay Exceptions in Domestic Violence Prosecutions Introduction In the matter of State of New Hampshire v. Kenneth Brunelle (No. 2023-0302), the...

Defining “Substantially Completed” in Equitable Zoning Waivers under RSA 674:33-a, I(a)

Date: Apr 5, 2025

Defining “Substantially Completed” in Equitable Zoning Waivers under RSA 674:33-a, I(a) Introduction This commentary examines the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s April 4, 2025 decision in Garry R. Lane...

Prohibition on Delegation of Non-Emergency Medical Decision-Making in New Hampshire Parenting Plans

Date: Apr 5, 2025

Prohibition on Delegation of Non-Emergency Medical Decision-Making in New Hampshire Parenting Plans Introduction This commentary examines the Supreme Court of New Hampshire’s decision in In the...

Clarifying Trial Court Discretion: Juror Impartiality and False Exculpatory Statement Instructions in State v. Barron

Date: Apr 3, 2025

Clarifying Trial Court Discretion: Juror Impartiality and False Exculpatory Statement Instructions in State v. Barron Introduction State of New Hampshire v. Armando Barron, decided on April 2, 2025...

Defining “Course of Conduct” and “Reasonable Fear” in Civil Stalking: T.D. v. F.D.

Date: Apr 3, 2025

Defining “Course of Conduct” and “Reasonable Fear” in Civil Stalking: T.D. v. F.D. Introduction In T.D. v. F.D., No. 2024-0595 (N.H. Apr. 2, 2025), the Supreme Court of New Hampshire addressed the...

Privacy–Public Interest Balancing and In-Camera Review Under New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know Law

Date: Apr 3, 2025

Privacy–Public Interest Balancing and In-Camera Review Under New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know Law Introduction In Laurie A. Ortolano v. City of Nashua, 2025 N.H. 2 (Apr. 2, 2025), the New Hampshire...

Clarifying Plain Error and Jury Instructions: Permissible Alternative Causation Theories in Negligent Homicide – State v. Cummings (2025 N.H. 15)

Date: Apr 2, 2025

Clarifying Plain Error and Jury Instructions: Permissible Alternative Causation Theories in Negligent Homicide – State v. Cummings (2025 N.H. 15) Introduction State v. Cummings, 2025 N.H. 15, is a...

Framework for Evaluating Trial Continuance and Direct‐Appeal Ineffective Assistance Claims

Date: Mar 27, 2025

Framework for Evaluating Trial Continuance and Direct‐Appeal Ineffective Assistance Claims Introduction In State of New Hampshire v. Joshua Kandoll (No. 2023-0487, March 26, 2025), the New Hampshire...

Actual Payment, Not Mere Tender, Required to Cure Rent Arrears under RSA 540:9

Date: Mar 27, 2025

Actual Payment, Not Mere Tender, Required to Cure Rent Arrears under RSA 540:9 Introduction In Barrington Oaks Cooperative, Inc. v. Frank Blackington (Supreme Court of New Hampshire, Mar. 26, 2025),...

State v. Lewis: Timing of Essential-Need Determinations in Competency Proceedings

Date: Mar 27, 2025

State v. Lewis: Timing of Essential-Need Determinations in Competency Proceedings Introduction In State of New Hampshire v. Kenneth J. Lewis, Jr., No. 2023-0213 (N.H. Mar. 26, 2025), the New...

Distinct Community-of-Interest Requirement for Public Safety Bargaining Units: Appeal of Town of Barnstead (2025 N.H. 14)

Date: Mar 27, 2025

Distinct Community-of-Interest Requirement for Public Safety Bargaining Units: Appeal of Town of Barnstead (2025 N.H. 14) Introduction The Supreme Court of New Hampshire’s decision in Appeal of Town...