Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

Suggestive-Identification Challenges Are Waived on Direct Appeal Absent a Timely Trial Objection

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Suggestive-Identification Challenges Are Waived on Direct Appeal Absent a Timely Trial Objection I. Introduction In Savion Winters v. State of Mississippi (Miss. June 4, 2026), the Supreme Court of...

Civil Contempt Cannot Enforce a Vague “Hold Harmless” Divorce Provision Absent Clear-and-Convincing Proof of Willful Refusal to Comply

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Civil Contempt Cannot Enforce a Vague “Hold Harmless” Divorce Provision Absent Clear-and-Convincing Proof of Willful Refusal to Comply 1. Introduction Case: Louise Gombako-Amos v. Corey Rene Amos...

Temporal Evidence Required for Constructive Notice Under Texas “Time-Notice” Rule—Employee Proximity and Inspection Policies Alone Do Not Suffice

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Temporal Evidence Required for Constructive Notice Under Texas “Time-Notice” Rule—Employee Proximity and Inspection Policies Alone Do Not Suffice Case: Esteves v. Lowe's Home Centers (No. 25-40663)...

Commonwealth v. Antle Commentary

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Penalty Statutes Do Not Expand Substantive Wildlife Crimes; Conspiracy Indictments Fail When They Include Non-Criminal “Purchase” Objects (Commonwealth v. Antle) Introduction In Commonwealth v. Antle...

FCC §503(b)(4) Forfeiture Orders Do Not Trigger a Seventh Amendment Jury Right Until §504 De Novo Enforcement

Date: Jun 6, 2026

FCC §503(b)(4) Forfeiture Orders Do Not Trigger a Seventh Amendment Jury Right Until §504 De Novo Enforcement Introduction FCC v. AT&T, Inc. (consolidated with Verizon Communications, Inc. v. Federal...

Conditional Habeas Writs: “No Utilizing” an Identification Bars Implicit In‑Court Identification at Retrial; Jurisdiction Persists Absent Clear Vacatur, and CVRA Rights Must Be Asserted by the Victim via Statutory Procedure

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Conditional Habeas Writs: “No Utilizing” an Identification Bars Implicit In‑Court Identification at Retrial; Jurisdiction Persists Absent Clear Vacatur, and CVRA Rights Must Be Asserted by the Victim...

High Dissimilarity Defeats Preliminary-Injunction Dilution Claims (Even Post-TDRA) and Conceptual Weakness Tempers Commercial Strength in Trade Dress

Date: Jun 6, 2026

High Dissimilarity Defeats Preliminary-Injunction Dilution Claims (Even Post-TDRA) and Conceptual Weakness Tempers Commercial Strength in Trade Dress 1. Introduction The Scotts Co. LLC v. The Procter...

Receivership Stay Orders Are Not Appealable as Injunction Modifications: Fifth Circuit Limits § 1292(a) and Invokes Rule 38 Show-Cause

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Receivership Stay Orders Are Not Appealable as Injunction Modifications: Fifth Circuit Limits § 1292(a) and Invokes Rule 38 Show-Cause 1. Introduction Case: SEC v. Barton, No. 25-11043 (5th Cir. June...

Appraisal Payment May Moot the Contract Claim, But “Breach” Still Goes to the Jury as an Element of Virgin Islands Bad Faith

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Appraisal Payment May Moot the Contract Claim, But “Breach” Still Goes to the Jury as an Element of Virgin Islands Bad Faith 1. Introduction RLF Nazareth LLC v. York RSG (International) Limited;...

Wessel v. Virginia State Bar — Deception About Trial Intent, Mandatory Withdrawal After Discharge, and the Non-Delegable Duty to Promptly Disburse Undisputed Settlement Funds

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Wessel v. Virginia State Bar — Deception About Trial Intent, Mandatory Withdrawal After Discharge, and the Non-Delegable Duty to Promptly Disburse Undisputed Settlement Funds Court: Supreme Court of...

Summary Judgment First: Ecclesiastical Abstention Cannot Dispose of Church-Property Cases Where Membership Is a Material Fact in Dispute

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Summary Judgment First: Ecclesiastical Abstention Cannot Dispose of Church-Property Cases Where Membership Is a Material Fact in Dispute Case: Shalom Presbyterian Church of Washington v. Atlantic...

SEC Disgorgement Requires No Proof of Investor Pecuniary Loss: “Victim” Status Turns on Invasion of Legally Protected Interests

Date: Jun 6, 2026

SEC Disgorgement Requires No Proof of Investor Pecuniary Loss: “Victim” Status Turns on Invasion of Legally Protected Interests Case: Sripetch v. Securities and Exchange Commission, 608 U. S. ___...

Hikma v. Amarin: Pleading “Active Steps” for §271(b) Inducement—Affirmative Encouragement, Not Possible Reader Inferences

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Hikma v. Amarin: Pleading “Active Steps” for §271(b) Inducement—Affirmative Encouragement, Not Possible Reader Inferences 1. Introduction Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc. (608 U....

Good-Faith Reliance Upheld Despite Conceded Lack of Probable Cause Where Affidavit Shows a “Minimally Sufficient Nexus” and No Evidence of Systemic Negligence

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Good-Faith Reliance Upheld Despite Conceded Lack of Probable Cause Where Affidavit Shows a “Minimally Sufficient Nexus” and No Evidence of Systemic Negligence I. Introduction In United States v....

Forum-Rate Presumption in TILA Fee Awards: Laffey Rates Require a Specific Necessity Showing (Except for Necessary Out-of-Town Specialists)

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Forum-Rate Presumption in TILA Fee Awards: Laffey Rates Require a Specific Necessity Showing (Except for Necessary Out-of-Town Specialists) I. Introduction In William Klopfenstein v. Fifth Third Bank...

Probable-Cause Presumption Bars Malicious Prosecution Absent Improper Evidence, and Prosecutor’s Later Charge Amendment Is Not Attributable Without Defendant Involvement (Billewicz v. Humphries)

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Probable-Cause Presumption Bars Malicious Prosecution Absent Improper Evidence, and Prosecutor’s Later Charge Amendment Is Not Attributable Without Defendant Involvement Introduction In Johnathan...

Recipient Testimony Plus Distinctive Context Can Authenticate Messenger Messages and Sustain an RFA-Violation Conviction

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Recipient Testimony Plus Distinctive Context Can Authenticate Messenger Messages and Sustain an RFA-Violation Conviction 1. Introduction State v. Jeremy Amidon (Vt. Sup. Ct., June 5, 2026) arises...

Monthly-Rent Residential Leases Are Not “Agreements to Defer Payment” Under WIS. STAT. § 427.104; § 100.20(5) Requires Proved, Causally Linked Pecuniary Loss

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Monthly-Rent Residential Leases Are Not “Agreements to Defer Payment” Under WIS. STAT. § 427.104; § 100.20(5) Requires Proved, Causally Linked Pecuniary Loss 1. Introduction Case: Koble Investments...

In re W.M.: Termination Affirmed Despite Mental-Health Medication Nonadherence Where Services Were Extensive and Parenting Capacity Stagnated

Date: Jun 6, 2026

In re W.M.: Termination Affirmed Despite Mental-Health Medication Nonadherence Where Services Were Extensive and Parenting Capacity Stagnated 1. Introduction Case: In re W.M., Juvenile (C.M.,...

Maintenance Must Be Based on Accurate, Current Income Findings; Clearly Erroneous Income Findings Require Remand and May Reopen Property Division

Date: Jun 6, 2026

Maintenance Must Be Based on Accurate, Current Income Findings; Clearly Erroneous Income Findings Require Remand and May Reopen Property Division Anne Goodrich v. Jeffrey Goodrich, Vermont Supreme...