Justia Nebraska Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

Defendant was charged with motor vehicle homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs causing serious bodily injury, and other charges arising out of an accident in which the driver of another vehicle was killed by a vehicle driven by Defendant. Before trial, the district court granted Defendant’s motion to suppress blood and urine samples taken from him. After the State unsuccessfully appealed the denial of the motion to suppress, Defendant filed a motion for absolute discharge, arguing that his statutory right to a speedy trial had been violated. The Supreme Court denied Defendant’s motion, concluding that the time during which the appeal was pending was excludable from the statutory speedy trial calculation. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the district court correctly denied the motion for absolute discharge because the speedy trial clock was tolled while the State pursued the appeal. View "State v. Hood" on Justia Law

Appellant, an inmate, sent his typewriter out of the prison for repairs, but the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services refused to return the typewriter to him. After unsuccessfully filing a grievance with the Department, Appellant filed a petition for review before the district court seeking review under the Administrative Procedure Act and a declaratory judgment. The district court ultimately dismissed the action for failure to state a claim. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Appellant failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and that the court did not err in sustaining the Department’s motion to dismiss Appellant’s claim. View "Jacob v. Neb. Dep’t of Corr. Servs." on Justia Law

Still images from a video of Plaintiff conducting a legitimate transaction at an ATM were placed on the Lincoln-Lancaster County Crime Stoppers (Crime Stoppers) Web site with text stating that Plaintiff had used someone’s stolen credit card. Plaintiff sued the Crime Stoppers and the City of Lincoln, alleging that the postings on the Web site constituted libel, slander, and defamation and that Plaintiff’s right to privacy was violated because the postings placed her in a false light. After a jury trial, the district court found in Plaintiff’s favor and awarded her injunctive relief and damages in the amount of $259,217. The City appealed. The Supreme Court (1) affirmed the district court’s findings that the communication was not made pursuant to a qualified privilege and that Plaintiff was entitled to both general and special damages; (2) affirmed the district court’s monetary award; but (3) vacated the district court’s award of injuctive relief because such relief was not requested in Plaintiff’s complaint. View "Funk v. Lincoln-Lancaster County Crime Stoppers" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of two counts of robbery. The district court found Defendant to be a habitual criminal and sentenced her to consecutive prison terms of thirty to fifty years on each robbery count. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the district court did not err in overruling Defendant’s motion to suppress cell phone records acquired by the State from Defendant’s service provider; (2) the district court did not err in admitting photographs of a gruesome nature; (3) the district court did not err in overruling Defendant’s motion for new trial; (4) the evidence at trial was sufficient to support Defendant’s convictions; and (5) the district court did not err in finding Defendant to be a habitual criminal. View "State v. Jenkins" on Justia Law

In case No. CR11-12 Defendant was convicted and sentenced for the crime of theft by receiving stolen property. In case No. CR11-29, Defendant was convicted and sentenced with burglary and habitual criminal. Defendant petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus alleging that the sentence imposed for habitual criminal was a void sentence. The district court granted the writ of habeas corpus, concluding that Defendant was being held on a void sentence. As of the date of this opinion, Defendant remained in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services because he was unable to meet the conditions of his bond imposed by the district court. The Director of the Department appealed. The Supreme Court sustained Defendant’s motion for summary affirmance and directed that Defendant be released from custody, holding that Defendant was being unlawfully imprisoned on a void sentence and was entitled to be released and discharged forthwith. View "Meyer v. Frakes" on Justia Law

In 2012, Dennis Nichols injured his back while operating a forklift in the course of his employment. Nichols later underwent three surgeries on his back. Nichols filed a workers’ compensation claim for low-back and psychological injuries sustained as a result of the workplace accident. After a trial, the Workers’ Compensation Court entered judgment in favor of Nichols, finding that Nichols was permanently and totally disabled as a result of his workplace injury. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the compensation court but modified the award of temporary total disability to reflect a total of 81.854 weeks of temporary total disability, in accordance with the periods and amounts stipulated by the parties. View "Nichols v. Fairway Bldg. Prods., LP" on Justia Law

After a jury trial, Raymond Frank Gonzales, Jr. (Defendant) was convicted of first degree murder and use of a firearm to commit a felony in connection with the death of Bonnie Baker. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) the prosecutor’s statements during closing arguments did not constitute misconduct, and, in any event, the statements at issue in this appeal were not unfairly prejudicial; (2) the trial court did not err in instructing the jury on the definition of sudden quarrel or first degree murder; and (3) the evidence was sufficient to support the verdict. View "State v. Gonzales" on Justia Law

Jeremy and Kimberly Klein, and Robert and Elaine Lynch, (collectively, appellees) purchased a trust deed at a trustee’s sale for certain real estate. Prior to the trustee’s sale, treasurer’s tax deeds for the same real estate had been issued to a third party. By operation of law, a treasurer’s tax deed passed title free and clear of all previous liens and encumbrances, and therefore, the treasurer’s tax deeds had divested the trust deed of title. The treasurer’s tax deeds were recorded prior to the trustee’s sale, but appellees failed to examine the record prior to the trustee’s sale. Appellees brought this action in equity against appellant Oakland/Red Oak Holdings, LLC (Oakland), which was the beneficiary of the trust deeds, seeking to set aside the sale and to be reimbursed the purchase price of $40,001. The district court determined that the trustee’s sale was void and ordered that Oakland return the purchase price to the appellees. Oakland appealed. The Supreme Court determined that the district court erred in its determination, reversed, and remanded. View "Klein v. Oakland/Red Oak Hold." on Justia Law

In a direct appeal, Tracy Parnell challenged his convictions by jury of first degree murder, attempted first degree murder, two counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. His two primary arguments attacked denials of his motions to continue the trial and for a new trial. These arguments were premised upon untimely disclosures of opinions of a cellular analyst and relied on "Brady v. Maryland," and a discovery statute. He also argued the trial court erred: (1) in admitting his threats toward one of the victims were admitted in evidence by error; (2) his requested instruction on accomplice testimony was refused; and (3) his trial counsel provided ineffective assistance. Finding no merit in his arguments, the Supreme Court affirmed. View "Nebraska v. Parnell" on Justia Law

In 2013, Wilmer Interiano-Lopez was living in Sioux City, Iowa, and working for Tyson at a meatpacking plant in Dakota City, Nebraska. One of his jobs involved cutting the stomach or “paunch” of cows to allow the contents to fall out as they were processed on the “dump paunch line.” One day, Interiano-Lopez was working with a trainee who was hanging meat incorrectly and it was falling off the hooks as it passed down the dump paunch line. Interiano-Lopez had to lift and place the meat back on the hooks to complete his work, and his hands and arms became increasingly fatigued. At one point, a paunch fell from the hook and hit Interiano-Lopez on the right shoulder. He felt a pop in his shoulder and began experiencing severe pain and loss of strength in his arm. Interiano-Lopez was taken to the plant infirmary and thereafter to a hospital emergency room. He was diagnosed with a shoulder separation and was referred for orthopedic evaluation and treatment. In March 2014, Interiano-Lopez, through counsel, filed a petition in the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court seeking a determination of the rights and liabilities of the parties regarding the dump paunch line. Interiano-Lopez sought to be declared permanently and totally disabled or, in the alternative, to be awarded temporary total disability benefits, ongoing medical benefits, and vocational rehabilitation training. Tyson answered, including what it characterized as a counterclaim. Tyson denied liability, alleged Interiano-Lopez’ physical problems were caused by a preexisting condition, and alleged Interiano-Lopez had “received some workers’ compensation benefits for which [Tyson] is entitled to a credit.” The compensation court dismissed the petition but proceeded to trial on Tyson’s counterclaim and found Interiano-Lopez had failed to prove a workplace injury. Interiano-Lopez appealed. Because the Supreme Court concluded the compensation court acted without authority and in excess of its powers by proceeding to trial rather than dismissing the cause, the Supreme Court vacated the judgment of the court and remanded the case with directions to dismiss. View "Interiano-Lopez v. Tyson Fresh Meats" on Justia Law