25 court opinions authored by Judge Lavenski R Smith. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
25 opinions analyzed.
Eighth Circuit: No privacy in cell phone location data after seizure
United States v. Alex Johnson, decided by Eighth Circuit on February 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Alex Johnson's motion to ...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Warrantless Cell Phone Search Under Exigent Circumstances
United States v. Benjamin Higgerson, decided by Eighth Circuit on February 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Benjamin Higgerson's...
All-risk policy doesn't cover gradual, hidden water leak damage
Auto-Owners Mutual Insurance Company v. Beverly Granger, decided by Eighth Circuit on January 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of s...
Eighth Circuit: No reasonable expectation of privacy in cell phone location data
United States v. Robbie Fetters, decided by Eighth Circuit on January 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Robbie Fetters' motion to...
Eighth Circuit: "All Sums" Allocation Not Applicable to Claims-Made-And-Reported Policies
Roland Pour, Sr. v. Liberty Mutual Pers. Ins. Co., decided by Eighth Circuit on December 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary...
Eighth Circuit: "All-Risk" Policy Exclusion for Mold Upheld
Maxus Metropolitan, LLC v. Travelers Property Casualty Co., decided by Eighth Circuit on November 17, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant ...
Eighth Circuit: Home Depot's volunteer program not unlawful employer-dominated union
Home Depot U.S.A. v. NLRB, decided by Eighth Circuit on November 6, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit reviewed the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) order finding Hom...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claim Against Bank
PACK Private Capital, LLC v. Associated Bank, N.A., decided by Eighth Circuit on October 10, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a ...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Tax Court on Medtronic's Intercompany Intangible Transfers
Medtronic, Inc, etc. v. CIR, decided by Eighth Circuit on September 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's decision regarding the tax treatment of ce...
Eighth Circuit: Immigration advocacy group lacks standing to challenge state law
Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Le v. Kristi Noem, decided by D.C. Circuit on August 1, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Leg...
Eighth Circuit: Probable Cause Justified Vehicle Search Despite Marijuana Odor
United States v. Waun Ivory, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 30, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence s...
Arkansas's 'dishonest conduct' law for charities ruled unconstitutional
Arkansas United v. John Thurston, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 28, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed whether Arkansas's "dishonest conduct" ...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Minnesota's Ban on Feeding Wild Deer
MN Deer Farmers Assoc. v. Sarah Strommen, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a lawsuit broug...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Title VII Discrimination Case
Robert Zeidman v. Lindell Management LLC, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 23, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Discrimination Case
Jessica Vanicek v. Lyman-Richey Corporation, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 22, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment...
Eighth Circuit: City park leafleting ban violates First Amendment
Christian Labor Association v. City of Duluth, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 10, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals considered whether the City of Dulut...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in FELA Case Due to Lack of Proximate Cause
Joe Whatley, Jr. v. Canadian Pacific Railway Co., decided by Eighth Circuit on July 3, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judg...
Reinsurer Wins: Hartford's Breach of Contract Claim Fails Due to Lack of Notice
Hartford Fire Insurance Company v. Chubb Custom Insurance Company, decided by Eighth Circuit on July 2, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's gran...
Eighth Circuit Affirms University's Summary Judgment in Discrimination Case
Matthew Mungai v. University of Minnesota, decided by Eighth Circuit on June 26, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment t...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Vehicle Search Based on Marijuana Odor and Paraphernalia
United States v. Jacob McWaters, decided by Eighth Circuit on June 9, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Jacob McWaters' motion to su...
Eighth Circuit Denies Habeas Corpus for Death Row Inmate
Rony Soto Santos v. Pamela Bondi, decided by Eighth Circuit on May 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Rony Soto Santos's petition...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Vehicle Search Based on Probable Cause
United States v. Justin Fuget, decided by Eighth Circuit on May 12, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Justin Fuget's motion to suppr...
Eighth Circuit Upholds Warrantless Vehicle Search Based on Informant Tip
United States v. Anthony Unocic, decided by Eighth Circuit on April 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Anthony Unocic's motion to...
Eighth Circuit Affirms Pipeline Easement Condemnation
WBI Energy Transmission, Inc. v. 189.9 rods in Twsp. 149, decided by Eighth Circuit on March 24, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of su...
Eighth Circuit: "All-Risk" Policy Excludes Gradual Water Leak Damage
Bob Robison Commercial Floor v. RLI Insurance Company, decided by Eighth Circuit on March 19, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summa...