Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

State v. Chamberlin: Circumstantial Proof of Penetration and Contextual Admission of Subsequent Out-of-State Abuse

Date: Jul 18, 2026

State v. Chamberlin: Circumstantial Proof of Penetration and Contextual Admission of Subsequent Out-of-State Abuse 1. Introduction In State v. Richard J. Chamberlin (2026 VT 29), the Vermont Supreme...

Wakefield v. Wakefield (2026 VT 34): Text-First Enforcement of Premarital Separate-Property Clauses and No Constructive Abandonment by Contemporaneous Estate Planning

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Wakefield v. Wakefield (2026 VT 34): Text-First Enforcement of Premarital Separate-Property Clauses and No Constructive Abandonment by Contemporaneous Estate Planning 1. Introduction Scott Wakefield...

2026 VT 31 — Low Noneconomic Damages Upheld Absent Clear Proof of Compromise; Premises-Liability Instructions Need Not Track Restatement § 343 Verbatim

Date: Jul 18, 2026

2026 VT 31 (Justin Tiedemann v. Bernard Wheeler & Catherine Wheeler): Low Noneconomic Damages Upheld Absent Clear Proof of Compromise; Premises-Liability Instructions Need Not Track Restatement § 343...

Mutual-Wills Contracts Bind the Surviving Spouse’s Nonprobate Survivorship Property and Bar Bad-Faith Lifetime Diversions

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Mutual-Wills Contracts Bind the Surviving Spouse’s Nonprobate Survivorship Property and Bar Bad-Faith Lifetime Diversions Case: Susan Inouye v. Estate of Patricia McHugo (Gregory McHugo and Nancy...

Probation Conditions Are Not a Substitute for Extending a Relief-from-Abuse Order

Date: Jul 18, 2026

Probation Conditions Are Not a Substitute for Extending a Relief-from-Abuse Order 1. Introduction In Jennifer Townsend v. Cody Townsend (2026 VT 32), the Vermont Supreme Court reviewed a Windsor...

Certification on Economic-Loss Bar and Athlete “Eligibility Injury” from Nonconsensual Ingestion of a Banned Substance

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Certification on Economic-Loss Bar and Athlete “Eligibility Injury” from Nonconsensual Ingestion of a Banned Substance Case: Asinga v. Gatorade Co. (2d Cir. July 17, 2026) Court: United States Court...

United States v. DeJesus: PSR Page-Reference Incorporation Satisfies Oral Pronouncement of Supervised-Release Conditions; Mental-Health Condition Upheld Where Need Is Self-Evident

Date: Jul 17, 2026

United States v. DeJesus: PSR Page-Reference Incorporation Satisfies Oral Pronouncement of Supervised-Release Conditions; Mental-Health Condition Upheld Where Need Is Self-Evident 1. Introduction In...

Continuances Based on Speculative Compassionate Release and Limits on Appellate Judicial Notice in Termination Proceedings (Interest of A.L. and D.L.)

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Continuances Based on Speculative Compassionate Release and Limits on Appellate Judicial Notice in Termination Proceedings (Interest of A.L. and D.L.) 1. Introduction In Interest of A.L. and D.L.,...

Florida Probate “Small Estate” Expansion and New Adversary Classification for Enforcing Personal Representative Authority (2026)

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Florida Probate “Small Estate” Expansion and New Adversary Classification for Enforcing Personal Representative Authority (2026) 1. Introduction In In Re: Amendments to Florida Probate Rules - 2026...

Foster v. State (Fla. 2026): Deference to Postconviction Credibility Findings Defeats Coercion-Based Brady/Giglio Claims; Polygraph Reports Remain Inadmissible

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Deference to Postconviction Credibility Findings Defeats Coercion-Based Brady/Giglio Claims; Polygraph Reports Remain Inadmissible Case: Jermaine Foster v. State of Florida (Supreme Court of Florida,...

Recantation Is “Discovered” When the Witness Chooses to Recant: Timeliness, Credibility Deference, and No-Lesser-Sentence Review in Successive Florida Capital Postconviction

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Recantation Is “Discovered” When the Witness Chooses to Recant: Timeliness, Credibility Deference, and No-Lesser-Sentence Review in Successive Florida Capital Postconviction I. Introduction In Tina...

Graham’s “Meaningful Opportunity for Release” Rule Does Not Apply to Juvenile Homicide Offenders: Consecutive Juvenile LWOP Sentences Governed by Miller/Jones

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Graham’s “Meaningful Opportunity for Release” Rule Does Not Apply to Juvenile Homicide Offenders: Consecutive Juvenile LWOP Sentences Governed by Miller/Jones I. Introduction In Corey B. Johnson v....

Premature Willfulness Findings in Probation Revocations Are Error but Not Plain Error Absent Material Prejudice (Smith v. State)

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Premature Willfulness Findings in Probation Revocations Are Error but Not Plain Error Absent Material Prejudice (Smith v. State) 1. Introduction In David Lee Smith v. The State of Wyoming, 2026 WY...

Termination Under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-2-309(a)(v) Requires No “Reasonable Efforts” Showing; Neglect-Statute Efforts Provision Inapplicable

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Termination Under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14-2-309(a)(v) Requires No “Reasonable Efforts” Showing; Neglect-Statute Efforts Provision Inapplicable Introduction In In the Matter of the Termination of...

Final Judgment as Implicit Denial of Unruled Rule 37 Sanctions Motions (and the Need for an Evidentiary Record) in Wyoming

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Final Judgment as Implicit Denial of Unruled Rule 37 Sanctions Motions (and the Need for an Evidentiary Record) in Wyoming 1. Introduction In In the Matter of the Estate of Robert P. Dykes, Deceased:...

Specific-Unanimity Required When One Count Is Proven by Multiple Distinct Acts

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Specific-Unanimity Required When One Count Is Proven by Multiple Distinct Acts Case: State of Minnesota v. Tracey Dee Keyes (Minn. July 15, 2026) | Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota | Disposition:...

Revocation Sentencing After Esteras: “Consequences” and “Accountability” Are Permissible When Tied to Deterrence, Rehabilitation, and Breach of Trust—not Retribution for the Underlying Offense

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Revocation Sentencing After Esteras: “Consequences” and “Accountability” Are Permissible When Tied to Deterrence, Rehabilitation, and Breach of Trust—not Retribution for the Underlying Offense 1....

Illinois Tax-Sale Purchasers Hold “Tax Claims” Under § 511(a): 18% Interest Applies via 35 ILCS 200/21-15 in Chapter 13

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Illinois Tax-Sale Purchasers Hold “Tax Claims” Under § 511(a): 18% Interest Applies via 35 ILCS 200/21-15 in Chapter 13 Case: Bernardo Romero v. Corona Investments, LLC (In re: Bernardo Romero), No....

Pickering Permits Termination of First Responders for Public, Racist Social-Media Speech that Undermines Community Trust—Even Assuming Public Concern

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Pickering Permits Termination of First Responders for Public, Racist Social-Media Speech that Undermines Community Trust—Even Assuming Public Concern Case: Sam Inendino v. Annette Nance-Holt, et al....

Implicit Consideration of Mitigation Arguments Suffices to Avoid Procedural Error—Especially for Significantly Below-Guidelines Sentences

Date: Jul 17, 2026

Implicit Consideration of Mitigation Arguments Suffices to Avoid Procedural Error—Especially for Significantly Below-Guidelines Sentences 1. Introduction United States v. Corrie Singleton (7th Cir....