Browse recent court opinions from the Alabama Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
Alabama Supreme Court: City's Sunshine Law notice substantially complied
Barbara Moore, Vanessa Reed, and Christine Burrell v. State of Alabama ex rel. Mayor Robin Sims, as informant, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. ...
Court Affirms DHR's Termination Decision Against Employee
Barbara Tanzer v. Alabama Department of Human Resources, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Barbara Tanzer, sued the Alabama Depart...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment in Retaliation Case
In re: Steve Williams v. Calhoun County Commission and Kim McCarson, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a former employee's cla...
Town's PFAS claim against 3M dismissed due to its own water system management
In re: Town of Pine Hill v. 3M Company, Inc., decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved whether the Town of Pine Hill could rec...
Trustee's discretionary distributions upheld; beneficiaries' claims dismissed
Laurie Ibach and Mark Stewart v. Bruce Stewart, individually, as Trustee of the Betty L. Stewart Living Trust, and as Trustee of the Edward T. Stewart Living Trust, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on...
Contractor's abandonment invalidates lien under Alabama law
TAMKO Building Products, LLC v. Mike Patterson and Lisa Patterson, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Alabama Supreme Court addressed whether ...
Court Affirms Self-Defense Verdict in Assault and Battery Case
B.S.H., as mother and next friend of F.W.H., a minor v. Grady Scott Humphryes, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, B.S.H., sued the ...
Court Affirms Judgment for Construction Company in Contract Dispute
Shirley R. Hulsey v. Build Art, LLC, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Shirley R. Hulsey, sued Build Art, LLC, alleging breach of ...
Defamation claim fails due to lack of proven malice
William Welch v. Julie Jones, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, William Welch, sued the defendant, Julie Jones, for defamation. We...
Court finds statements not defamatory as a matter of law
Frederick Van Diver v. Anietra Mays, decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 10, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Frederick Van Diver, sued the defendant, Anietra Mays, for ...
Alabama court protects journalist's source from disclosure
The New York Times Company v. Kai Spears (Certified Question from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama: 7:23-cv-00692-ACA)., decided by Alabama Supreme Court on April 10, 2026,...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms Ruling Against Plaintiff in Will and Deed Dispute
This case involves a dispute over a will and a deed. Carolyn Glenn, the plaintiff, sued the personal representatives of Bonnie Quinton Caldwell, Jr.'s estate and Dorothy J. Caldwell. Glenn claimed tha...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms Ruling Against Real Estate Company Seeking Specific Performance
This case involves a dispute over a real estate transaction where Highland Rim Investments, LLC (Highland Rim) sued Kindra Cooper for specific performance of a contract to purchase real estate. Cooper...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms No Valid Contract Existed for Property Sale Due to Unaccepted Counteroffer
This case involves a dispute over a real estate transaction where Highland Rim Investments, LLC, and Monique Dollonne (the buyers) sued Kindra Cooper (the seller) for specific performance of a contrac...
Appeals Court Reverses Grandparents' Custody Award, Citing Incorrect Legal Standard for Non-Parent Custody Disputes
This case involves a dispute over child custody and visitation rights between B.F. (the mother) and C.D. and A.D. (the paternal grandparents). The initial divorce decree between B.F. and the child's f...
Former Walmart Employee Loses Retaliation and Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Against Walmart and Supervisor
This case involves Phillip Duke, a former Walmart employee, who sued Walmart and his former supervisor, Qeon Gray, alleging wrongful termination and other claims. Duke claimed he was fired in retaliat...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Hospital, Finding Nurse Was At-Will Employee and Failed to Prove Discrimination
Rhonda Kay Armour sued Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) alleging that SAMC breached her employment contract and discriminated against her based on her age and disability. Armour, a registered n...
Former Employee Ryan Hess Wins Breach of Contract and Unpaid Wages Lawsuit Against Will Pecue
This case involves Ryan Hess, a former employee of Will Pecue, who sued Pecue for breach of contract and unpaid wages. Hess claimed that Pecue failed to pay him for work performed and did not adhere t...
Alabama Supreme Court Reverses and Remands Promissory Note Case, Citing Insufficient Factual Findings by Trial Court
This case involves a dispute between Cynthia and Elkton S. Gerhard III (the plaintiffs) and Elkton S. Gerhard, Jr. (the defendant) concerning a promissory note and a mortgage. The plaintiffs sued the ...
Alabama Supreme Court Reverses Judgment for Buyers in Property Dispute, Finding Insufficient Evidence of Fraud and Breach of Contract
This case involves a dispute over a real estate transaction and a subsequent lawsuit for breach of contract and fraud. Austin Moore, Adam Day, and A&A Investment Property, LLC (the buyers) entered int...
Alabama Appeals Court Affirms Suppression of Drug Evidence Due to Lack of Reasonable Suspicion for Extended Traffic Stop
This case involves the State of Alabama's appeal of a trial court's decision to grant Brooklyn Paige Grimes's motion to suppress evidence. Grimes was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and ...
Alabama Appeals Court Affirms Suppression of Marijuana Evidence Due to Lack of Credible Probable Cause
This case involves the State of Alabama's appeal of a lower court's decision to grant Mason John Grimes's motion to suppress evidence. Grimes was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and drug...
Alabama Supreme Court Rules Police Use of Deadly Force is a Discretionary Function, Granting Potential State-Agent Immunity
This case involves a certified question from a federal court to the Alabama Supreme Court regarding the interpretation of Alabama's state-agent immunity law. Michael Jerome Jennings sued several polic...
Alabama Supreme Court Reinstates Original Judgment for Ex-Wife in Breach of Settlement and Unjust Enrichment Case
This case involves a dispute between Tara Grall and her ex-husband, William Grall, and his company, G-Team, P.C. Tara sued William and G-Team, alleging that William breached a settlement agreement fro...
Alabama Supreme Court Reverses Reduced Attorney Fee Award in Promissory Note Dispute, Citing Abuse of Discretion
This case involves a dispute between Tara Grall and her ex-husband, William Grall, and his company, G-Team, P.C., regarding a promissory note. Tara loaned William $250,000, secured by a promissory not...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Defendants in Lake Martin Real Estate Dispute
This case involves a dispute over a real estate transaction and related agreements concerning property on Lake Martin, Alabama. The plaintiffs, Brian Smith and several LLCs, sued ARC Realty, Joy Dill,...
Alabama Supreme Court Reverses Summary Judgment, Allowing Undue Influence and Incapacity Claims Against Estate to Proceed
This case involves a dispute over the will and trust of Alton Hamric Wallace (the decedent). The decedent's daughter, Holly Wren Wallace Schumpert (the plaintiff), challenged the will and trust, alleg...
Alabama Supreme Court Reverses Dismissal of Real Estate Commission Dispute, Allowing Case to Proceed
This case involves a dispute over real estate commissions related to the sale of property in Alabama. The plaintiffs, various real estate entities and individuals, sued the defendants, also real estat...
Alabama Supreme Court Rules United Methodist Conference Owns Local Church Property, Reversing Lower Court
This case involves a dispute between Armstrong Methodist Church (AMC) and the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, Inc. (Conference) regarding the ownership and control of A...
Alabama Supreme Court Affirms Denominational Ownership of Local Church Property Under United Methodist Church Trust Clause
This case involves a dispute between Baggett Chapel United Methodist Church (Baggett Chapel) and the Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church (AWF Conference) over the ownership ...