guardian-ad-litem&amp Case Commentaries

“Private Words, Public Peace” – State v. Baertsch and the Public-Disturbance Threshold for Disorderly Conduct

Date: Jul 10, 2025

“Private Words, Public Peace” – State v. Baertsch and the Public-Disturbance Threshold for Disorderly Conduct 1. Introduction State v. Douglas Baertsch, 2025 MT 143, is a high-profile decision of the...

Schultz and the “Fictional Victim” Rule: Mandatory-Minimum Enhancements Require an Actual Child Victim

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Schultz and the “Fictional Victim” Rule: Mandatory-Minimum Enhancements Require an Actual Child Victim Introduction State v. Schultz, 2025 MT 142, arises from an Internet sting in which David Ray...

“Failing the PSI”: How Non-Compliance with Presentence Investigation Requirements Constitutes a Material Breach that Releases the State from Its Plea-Agreement Sentencing Recommendation — Commentary on State v. N. Huff, 2025 MT 152N

Date: Jul 10, 2025

“Failing the PSI”: How Non-Compliance with Presentence Investigation Requirements Constitutes a Material Breach that Releases the State from Its Plea-Agreement Sentencing Recommendation — Commentary...

“Two Paths for Victim-Violence Evidence”: Clarifying Rule 404(a)(2) & 405(a) After State v. Donahue (2025 MT 144)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

“Two Paths for Victim-Violence Evidence” Clarifying Rule 404(a)(2) & 405(a) in Self-Defense Cases — Commentary on State v. R. Donahue, 2025 MT 144 1. Introduction In State v. Donahue the Montana...

Illustrative Evidence vs. Testimonial Content: The Montana Supreme Court’s Clarification on Jury Access to Child-Witness Drawings in State v. Walks (2025 MT 147)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Illustrative Evidence vs. Testimonial Content: The Montana Supreme Court’s Clarification on Jury Access to Child-Witness Drawings in State v. Walks (2025 MT 147) Introduction State v. Stephen Eric...

“Restoring the Road”: Stephenson v. Lone Peak – 2025 MT 148 and the Refined Status-Quo Test for Preliminary Injunctions in Easement Disputes

Date: Jul 10, 2025

“Restoring the Road”: Stephenson v. Lone Peak – 2025 MT 148 and the Refined Status-Quo Test for Preliminary Injunctions in Easement Disputes Introduction Stephenson v. Lone Peak, 2025 MT 148, is the...

Specificity as the Keystone: New Jersey Supreme Court Clarifies When Habit Evidence Creates a Rebuttable Presumption (Fazio v. Altice USA, 2025)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Specificity as the Keystone: New Jersey Supreme Court Clarifies When Habit Evidence Creates a Rebuttable Presumption Commentary on Gerald Fazio Jr. v. Altice USA, 256 N.J. ___ (2025) 1. Introduction...

Exhaustion of CBA Remedies Applies to Non‑Signatory Residency Directors; No Tortious Interference Without an Existing Contract — Commentary on Golia v. Vieira (2025 NY Slip Op 04087)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Exhaustion of CBA Remedies Applies to Non‑Signatory Residency Directors; No Tortious Interference Without an Existing Contract Commentary on Golia v. Vieira, 2025 NY Slip Op 04087 (App Div, 2d Dept)...

Equal Division Clarifies: Mass-Market Short‑Term Rentals Breach “Single Family Residence Purposes,” But Summer Homes Can Still Be “Residences”

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Equal Division Clarifies: Mass-Market Short‑Term Rentals Breach “Single Family Residence Purposes,” But Summer Homes Can Still Be “Residences” Introduction In Melvin R. Berlin Revocable Trust v....

ER Admission Creates Reliance for Ostensible Agency Unless Effectively Disclaimed: The Michigan Supreme Court’s Clarification in Markel v. William Beaumont Hospital

Date: Jul 10, 2025

ER Admission Creates Reliance for Ostensible Agency Unless Effectively Disclaimed: The Michigan Supreme Court’s Clarification in Markel v. William Beaumont Hospital Introduction This commentary...

No Per Se OV 19 Score for Drug Possession During Jail Intake: Particularized Security‑Threat Findings Required

Date: Jul 10, 2025

No Per Se OV 19 Score for Drug Possession During Jail Intake: Particularized Security‑Threat Findings Required Introduction In People of Michigan v. Curtis Allen Morris (Mich. July 9, 2025), the...

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies §523(a) Non-Dischargeability for Corporate Debtors Under Subchapter V

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies §523(a) Non-Dischargeability for Corporate Debtors Under Subchapter V Introduction In Benshot, LLC v. 2 Monkey Trading, LLC, the United States Court of Appeals for the...

The Coletta Threshold: Rhode Island’s New Standard for Admitting False-Confession Expert Testimony

Date: Jul 10, 2025

The Coletta Threshold: Rhode Island Supreme Court Clarifies the Foundation Required to Admit False-Confession Expert Testimony 1. Introduction State v. Joseph Coletta (R.I. Sup. Ct. July 9 2025) is a...

Strict Defamation Pleading and Litigation Privilege; NIED Duty Limits; and Timely CPLR 3211 Motions After Substituted Service — Orrego v. Knipfing (2025)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Strict Defamation Pleading and Litigation Privilege; NIED Duty Limits; and Timely CPLR 3211 Motions After Substituted Service — Orrego v. Knipfing (2025) Introduction In Orrego v. Knipfing (2025 NY...

Eleventh Circuit Narrows Grable: State-Law Contract Claims Alleging Unregistered Broker-Dealer Activity Do Not “Substantially” Raise a Federal Question

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Narrows Grable: State-Law Contract Claims Alleging Unregistered Broker-Dealer Activity Do Not “Substantially” Raise a Federal Question Introduction AST & Science LLC (“AST”), a...

CPLR 306-b “Interest of Justice” Extensions After Defective Foreclosure Service; Borrower/Fee Owner’s Jurisdictional Absence Requires Dismissal of Remaining Parties

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Interest-of-Justice Extensions After Defective Foreclosure Service: Second Department Confirms CPLR 306-b Relief Absent Judgment and Reaffirms Necessity of Joining the Borrower/Fee Owner Introduction...

Temporal Proximity Alone Cannot Sustain a Pregnancy Discrimination Claim at the Pleading Stage When Employer Shows Contemporaneous Layoffs: Margarita v. Mountain Time Health, LLC

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Temporal Proximity Alone Cannot Sustain a Pregnancy Discrimination Claim at the Pleading Stage When Employer Shows Contemporaneous Layoffs: Margarita v. Mountain Time Health, LLC Introduction This...

Notice-of-Claim Prerequisite Extends to Economic Torts Against Village Officials Acting Within Scope; Donnelly Act and Tortious Interference Pleading Standards Reaffirmed — Commentary on Dibble v. Schroedel (2025 NY Slip Op 04083)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Notice-of-Claim Prerequisite Extends to Economic Torts Against Village Officials Acting Within Scope; Donnelly Act and Tortious Interference Pleading Standards Reaffirmed Commentary on Dibble v....

Anti‑SLAPP Is No Shield to Reciprocal Attorney Discipline; Non‑Relitigation and Rule 8.2(a) Reaffirmed — Matter of Jacobs (2025 NY Slip Op 04093)

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Anti‑SLAPP Is No Shield to Reciprocal Attorney Discipline; Non‑Relitigation and Rule 8.2(a) Reaffirmed — Matter of Jacobs (2025 NY Slip Op 04093) Introduction Matter of Jacobs is a reciprocal...

Recasting Claims Cannot Evade Res Judicata: Dismissal With Prejudice Bars Later Money‑Had‑and‑Received, Conversion, and Interference Theories; No Fiduciary Duty Owed by Opposing Escrow Agent

Date: Jul 10, 2025

Recasting Claims Cannot Evade Res Judicata: Dismissal With Prejudice Bars Later Money‑Had‑and‑Received, Conversion, and Interference Theories; No Fiduciary Duty Owed by Opposing Escrow Agent Case:...

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