Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

Engellant v. Crowley Fleck (Mont. 2026): Validity of a Later Will as a “Negative Defense” Defeating Causation/Damages in Estate-Planning Malpractice

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Engellant v. Crowley Fleck (Mont. 2026): Validity of a Later Will as a “Negative Defense” Defeating Causation/Damages in Estate-Planning Malpractice 1. Introduction Case: Engellant v. Crowley Fleck,...

State v. Maas (Mont. 2026): Ongoing-Emergency Confrontation Rule for Post-Shooting Hospital Statements; Remoteness Limits on Juvenile Character Rebuttal

Date: Sep 18, 2026

State v. Maas (Mont. 2026): Ongoing-Emergency Confrontation Rule for Post-Shooting Hospital Statements; Remoteness Limits on Juvenile Character Rebuttal 1. Introduction In State v. Maas, the Supreme...

Wealth and NDAs Do Not Justify Closing Civil Trials or Proceeding Pseudonymously at Trial: Reaffirming the Presumption of Open Courts

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Wealth and NDAs Do Not Justify Closing Civil Trials or Proceeding Pseudonymously at Trial: Reaffirming the Presumption of Open Courts Case: Doe v. Smith (1st Cir. Sept. 15, 2026) | Court: U.S. Court...

MDLEA Stateless-Vessel Jurisdiction: A “Request” for Nationality Need Not Use Magic Words, and U.S. Coast Guard Operations May Be Conducted from a Partner Nation’s Ship

Date: Sep 18, 2026

MDLEA Stateless-Vessel Jurisdiction: A “Request” for Nationality Need Not Use Magic Words, and U.S. Coast Guard Operations May Be Conducted from a Partner Nation’s Ship 1. Introduction This...

Certified Conflict Accepted on Whether the Pre‑Amendment Home Construction Service Suppliers Act Covers Repairs and Renovations

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Certified Conflict Accepted on Whether the Pre‑Amendment Home Construction Service Suppliers Act Covers Repairs and Renovations Introduction 09/16/2026 Case Announcements, 2026-Ohio-3595 is the...

Ohio Sales-Tax Refund Appeals: BTA Must Make Clear ADP/True-Object Findings and Separately Evaluate Invoiced Ancillary Services

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Ohio Sales-Tax Refund Appeals: BTA Must Make Clear ADP/True-Object Findings and Separately Evaluate Invoiced Ancillary Services Case: CheckFree Servs. Corp. v. Harris, Slip Opinion No. 2026-Ohio-3555...

Unavailability Under Minn. R. Evid. 804(a)(5) Requires Use of Compulsory Process Before Admitting a Co-Defendant’s Statement Against Interest

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Unavailability Under Minn. R. Evid. 804(a)(5) Requires Use of Compulsory Process Before Admitting a Co-Defendant’s Statement Against Interest I. Introduction In State of Minnesota v. Derrick Lamon...

Eleventh Circuit Recognizes Claim-by-Claim Supplemental Jurisdiction After Federal Claims Are Dismissed

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Eleventh Circuit Recognizes Claim-by-Claim Supplemental Jurisdiction After Federal Claims Are Dismissed I. Introduction In T. Mueller v. Walmart Corporation (11th Cir. Sept. 16, 2026), plaintiff Todd...

Rule 60(b)(6) Relief Requires True Attorney Abandonment and Client Diligence; Strategic Non-Opposition to Summary Judgment Is Not “Extraordinary”

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Rule 60(b)(6) Relief Requires True Attorney Abandonment and Client Diligence; Strategic Non-Opposition to Summary Judgment Is Not “Extraordinary” I. Introduction In Shannon Olson v. Takeda...

“Good Cause” in Montana Protective-Order Hearings Requires Proof by a Preponderance of Substantial, Credible Evidence

Date: Sep 18, 2026

“Good Cause” in Montana Protective-Order Hearings Requires Proof by a Preponderance of Substantial, Credible Evidence 1. Introduction In A. Nelson v. S. Frisk, 2026 MT 220, the Supreme Court of...

Removal by Participation: Dissolution Courts May Assume and Permanently Resolve Protection-Order Proceedings Under § 40-15-301(3), MCA

Date: Sep 18, 2026

Removal by Participation: Dissolution Courts May Assume and Permanently Resolve Protection-Order Proceedings Under § 40-15-301(3), MCA Case: Marriage of Cordeiro (Mont. 2026 MT 219) Court: Supreme...

Fraud-Based Rescission for Misrepresented Lease Term & Waiver of Affirmative Defenses Not Raised at Bench Trial (Shepard v. Bickham)

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Fraud-Based Rescission for Misrepresented Lease Term & Waiver of Affirmative Defenses Not Raised at Bench Trial (Shepard v. Bickham, 2026 MT 221N) Nonprecedential status. The Court designated this...

Jury Determinations Required for Unjust Enrichment “Rent,” Pritchard Setoff, and Reasonable Rental Value on Remand (Taylor v. Taylor)

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Jury Determinations Required for Unjust Enrichment “Rent,” Pritchard Setoff, and Reasonable Rental Value on Remand (Taylor v. Taylor) Introduction Case: Taylor v. Taylor, 2026 MT 223N (Mont. Sept....

One Chance to Replead: With-Prejudice Dismissal of Pro Se “Shotgun” Pleadings That Fail to Tie Counts to Defendants

Date: Sep 17, 2026

One Chance to Replead: With-Prejudice Dismissal of Pro Se “Shotgun” Pleadings That Fail to Tie Counts to Defendants Introduction In St. Claire Dreka v. Florida Department of Children and Families...

MDLEA Jurisdiction: No “Magic Words” Needed for a Nationality Request; Use of a Foreign Vessel Does Not Defeat U.S. Jurisdiction

Date: Sep 17, 2026

MDLEA Jurisdiction: No “Magic Words” Needed for a Nationality Request; Use of a Foreign Vessel Does Not Defeat U.S. Jurisdiction I. Introduction This consolidated Eleventh Circuit decision concerns...

MDLEA “Request” for Nationality Requires No Magic Words; Joint/Foreign-Platform Interdictions Do Not Defeat Jurisdiction

Date: Sep 17, 2026

MDLEA “Request” for Nationality Requires No Magic Words; Joint/Foreign-Platform Interdictions Do Not Defeat Jurisdiction Case: United States v. Manuel Melo (consolidated with codefendants Yesid...

MDLEA in a Foreign EEZ Treated as “High Seas”; Rule 5 Delay Remedies Limited to Suppression (Not Dismissal)

Date: Sep 17, 2026

MDLEA in a Foreign EEZ Treated as “High Seas”; Rule 5 Delay Remedies Limited to Suppression (Not Dismissal) Case: United States v. Silverio Henriquez (with codefendant Victor Manuel Pena-Abreu)...

Withdrawal of Deemed Admissions Required When Merits Are Subserved and No Prejudice Exists—Especially Where New Counsel Lacked Notice

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Withdrawal of Deemed Admissions Required When Merits Are Subserved and No Prejudice Exists—Especially Where New Counsel Lacked Notice Introduction In THOMAS & GOZA v. LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE...

Municipal Authority to Choose Paper or Electronic Polling Place Rosters for Any Election Under Minn. Stat. § 201.225

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Municipal Authority to Choose Paper or Electronic Polling Place Rosters for Any Election Under Minn. Stat. § 201.225 1. Introduction In City of Oak Grove v. Steve Simon, in his official capacity as...

Reciprocal Discipline in Oklahoma: Suspension Timing Tied to RGDP Rule 9.1 Affidavit and Denial of Hearing Absent Disputed Facts

Date: Sep 17, 2026

Reciprocal Discipline in Oklahoma: Suspension Timing Tied to RGDP Rule 9.1 Affidavit and Denial of Hearing Absent Disputed Facts Case: STATE OF OKLAHOMA, ex rel. OKLAHOMA BAR ASSOCIATION v. COBB,...