Browse recent court opinions from the Missouri Supreme Court. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis of 30 cases. State Supreme Court.
Appellate Court Upholds Block on Missouri Law Defunding Planned Parenthood
This case involves a dispute over a Missouri law that aimed to defund Planned Parenthood. The state of Missouri passed a law that would prevent state funds from going to any organization that performs...
Missouri Department of Corrections did not wrongfully terminate employee with disability, court rules
This case involves a dispute over whether the Missouri Department of Corrections (MDOC) wrongfully terminated David Carter's employment. Carter, who was employed by MDOC, was diagnosed with a serious ...
Court Reverses Summary Judgment, Allows Retaliation Claim to Proceed
This case involves a dispute between Kevin Rhodes and the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission (MHTC). Rhodes, a former employee, sued the MHTC alleging he was wrongfully terminated. He cla...
Appellate Court Upholds Meth Possession Conviction After Reviewing Evidence and Jury Instructions
This case involves Dustin Curtis Winter, who was convicted of felony possession of methamphetamine. He appealed his conviction, arguing that the trial court made several errors. Specifically, Winter c...
Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Felony Murder Rule Against Due Process Challenge
This case involves two separate appeals, Jessie L. Nelson v. State of Missouri and Cameron D. Woods v. State of Missouri, which were consolidated by the court. Both appellants were convicted of felony...
Court rules against former employee's discrimination claims against Missouri State Highway Patrol and Lafayette Prosecuting Attorney.
This case involves a former employee, C.S., who sued the Missouri State Highway Patrol Criminal Justice Information Service and the Lafayette Prosecuting Attorney. C.S. alleged that they wrongfully te...
Missouri Court of Appeals Upholds Drug Conviction, Finding Traffic Stop Lawful
This case involves Cedric Dewayne Mack appealing his conviction for possession of a controlled substance. Mack argued that the evidence found during a traffic stop should have been suppressed because ...
Court rules against former employee alleging retaliatory termination by the State of Missouri
This case involves a former employee, Christopher A. Scott, who sued the State of Missouri after his employment was terminated. Scott alleged that his termination was a result of retaliation for repor...
Missouri Supreme Court Permanently Disbars Attorney Ryan Christopher McCarty for Professional Misconduct
This case involves Ryan Christopher McCarty, who was disbarred by the Missouri Supreme Court. The disbarment stemmed from multiple instances of professional misconduct, including mishandling client fu...
St. Louis County zoning ordinance prevents medical marijuana dispensary from opening in prohibited zone
This case involves a dispute between Robust Missouri Dispensary 3, LLC (the "Dispensary") and St. Louis County, Missouri (the "County"). The Dispensary sought to open a medical marijuana facility in t...
Court rules former employee failed to prove wrongful termination due to whistleblowing
This case involves a former employee, Christopher Cole, who sued his former employer, The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, alleging that he was wrongfully terminated. Cole claimed that the compan...
School district's "no contact" rule upheld; student's expulsion for violation affirmed.
This case involves a student, R.M.A., who was expelled from Blue Springs R-IV School District for allegedly violating the district's "no contact" rule. The student claimed the rule was unconstitutiona...
Missouri Court Upholds Rejection of Incarcerated Felon's Ballot
This case involves Raymond McCarty's challenge to the Missouri Secretary of State's decision to reject his ballot for the 2020 general election. McCarty, who was incarcerated at the time, argued that ...
Missouri Court Dismisses Inmate's Lawsuit Against Correctional Center Warden
This case involves Robert J. Branson, an inmate, who filed a lawsuit against Michael Shewmaker, the Warden of the South Central Correctional Center. Branson alleged that his constitutional rights were...
Missouri inmate's lawsuit alleging inadequate medical care while incarcerated is denied
This case involves a former inmate, Trent Berhow, who sued the State of Missouri. Berhow alleged that the state violated his rights by failing to provide him with adequate medical care while he was in...
Second Injury Fund Not Liable for Additional Compensation in Job Injury Case
This case involves James Eckardt, who was injured on the job and sought compensation from the Second Injury Fund. The Fund is designed to help employers by covering a portion of the costs for employee...
Second Injury Fund must pay benefits to injured employee
This case involves a dispute over whether Diana Penney, an employee who suffered a work-related injury, was entitled to benefits from Missouri's Second Injury Fund. The Fund is designed to help employ...
Missouri Supreme Court Rules Judges Cannot Compel Prosecutors to Bring Charges
This case involves a dispute over whether the Circuit Attorney of St. Louis, Missouri, could be compelled to prosecute certain cases. The Circuit Attorney's office had a policy of declining to prosecu...
Missouri Supreme Court rules city cannot collect sales tax from businesses on federal land
This case involves a dispute between the City of Normandy and the Governor of Missouri regarding the city's ability to collect sales taxes from businesses operating on federal land within its boundari...
Missouri Supreme Court Upholds State's Termination of Employee Accused of Retaliation
This case involves a dispute over whether David Thompson, a former employee of the State of Missouri, was wrongfully terminated. Thompson claimed he was fired in retaliation for reporting illegal acti...
Missouri Supreme Court Upholds Vehicle Search Based on Furtive Movements and Marijuana Odor
State of Missouri v. Anthony Tate, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on April 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision to deny Antho...
No-Trespass Notice Insufficient for Probable Cause in Trespass Arrest
Ethel Barry Masters v. Jacob Dawson, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on April 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether a "no-trespass" notice posted on a pr...
Missouri Supreme Court: Consent Decree Not Final Agency Decision
State ex rel. State of Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Relator v. The Honorable Kevin Crane, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Mis...
Fitness company wins harassment suit; employee's claims dismissed
Melissa Moody v. Dynamic Fitness Management, LTD., decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Melissa Moody, sued Dynamic Fitness Manageme...
Missouri appeals court allows warrantless vehicle search based on informant tip
State of Missouri v. Brian V. Milazzo, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The State of Missouri appealed the trial court's suppression of evidenc...
Missouri appeals court allows cell phone search under automobile exception
State of Missouri v. Brian K. Heathcock, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 18, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The State of Missouri appealed the trial court's suppression of evide...
Auto dealer liable for fraud and breach of contract in undisclosed vehicle defects.
Connie Lange v. GMT Auto Sales, Inc., decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 18, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The plaintiff, Connie Lange, sued GMT Auto Sales, Inc. for breach of con...
Trampoline park liability waiver bars negligence claim
Presley Karlin v. UATP Springfield, LLC d/b/a Urban Air Springfield, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The plaintiff, Presley Karlin, sued the de...
Appellate Court Affirms Denial of Bankruptcy Discharge Due to Fraud
In re: Paul Eric Petruska, decided by Missouri Supreme Court on March 4, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute centered on whether the bankruptcy court erred in denying the debto...
Bus driver negligence not ADA disability discrimination; state tort claim allowed
D.J., by and through his Next Friend, R.J. v. First Student, Inc., decided by Missouri Supreme Court on February 28, 2025, resulted in a mixed outcome. The core dispute involved whether a school bus d...