Justia Nebraska Supreme Court Opinion Summaries

The Supreme Court dismissed this exception proceeding brought by the State following a trial in which Defendant was acquitted of use of a weapon to commit a felony and second-degree assault, holding that the issues presented were not appropriate for resolution in this exception proceeding.During the underlying trial, the State objected to the district court's instructing the jury on self-defense and defense of property, but the district court instructed the jury on both affirmative defenses. The jury subsequently acquitted Defendant on all counts. The State applied for leave to docket an exception proceeding. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, holding that because there was no dispute that Defendant was "placed legally in jeopardy" in court for purposes of Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-2316, this Court had no power to alter the judgment of the district court. View "State v. Valadez" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the district court dismissing the underlying negligence complaint due to a lack of "solid evidence" as to the element of proximate cause, holding that Plaintiffs showed the existence of a material fact.Clay Block was killed when he fell from the balcony of his friend's second-story apartment. Block's estate and family (Plaintiffs) brought suit alleging that Defendants were negligent in failing to repair or replace the balcony railing despite notice that it was unsafe and in failing to warn Block that the railing was unsafe. The district court granted summary judgment for Defendants. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that Plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence to support their allegation of proximate cause to preclude summary judgment. View "Estate of Block v. Estate of Becker" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court reversed the order of the district court terminating Mother's parental rights, holding that the record did not contain clear and convincing evidence that termination of Mother's parental rights was in the children's best interests.After Mother and Father, the parents of three children, were divorced, Father received full legal and physical custody of the children. Mother later filed a complaint for modification of custody or parenting plan, alleging that Father had not complied with the divorce decree. Father filed a responsive pleading requesting termination of Mother's parental rights. The trial court found that, as to all three children, Father presented sufficient evidence to support three of the alleged statutory grounds for termination and that termination of Mother's parental rights was in the best interests of the children. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that there was not clear and convincing evidence that terminating Mother's parental rights was in the best interests of the children. View "Benjamin S. v. Crystal S." on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed as modified the decision of the court of appeals applying the active appreciation rule to agricultural land in a marital property division, holding that the rule applies to such land.After the district court divided the marital estate Wife appealed, challenging the district court's classification, valuation, and division of the marital estate. The court of appeals reversed the district court's determinations regarding five parcels of land, determining that the active appreciation rule applies to farmland. The Supreme Court affirmed as modified, holding (1) the court of appeals properly applied the active appreciation rule to agricultural land; and (2) the court of appeals' decision is modified to decrease the marital value of one parcel by $20,000. View "Parde v. Parde" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the sentencing court calculating, in this case, jail credit under Neb. Rev. Stat. 47-503, holding that there was no error in the sentencing court's jail credit calculation.On October 22, 2021, Defendant was arrested and detained on the subject felony charges (the Hall County case) and was released from custody. On October 26, 2021, in a related case, Defendant was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Hall County jail. Defendant was continuously detained in the Hall County jail until his sentencing on May 24, 2022. After sentencing, Defendant moved for an order nunc pro tunc requesting additional jail credit. The district court overruled the motion. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that there was no error in the district court's determination that Defendant was entitled to ninety-four days of jail credit. View "State v. Castillo-Rodriguez" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the trial court convicting Defendant, after a jury trial, of theft by deception, a Class IV, felony, and sentencing her to fourteen months' imprisonment, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on her allegations of error.Following jury deliberations, the jury found Defendant guilty of theft by deception. On the amended verdict form, the jury circled the final range of values finding that the property Defendant obtained had a value between $1,500 to $4,999.99, and Defendant was convicted accordingly. On appeal, Defendant argued that the jury must unanimously agree upon a single, specific number in determining the value of property obtained by theft. The Supreme Court disagreed and affirmed, holding (1) there was no prejudicial error in the supplemental instruction given by the district court or in supplying the amended verdict form; and (2) defense counsel did not provide ineffective assistance. View "State v. Fernandez" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed Defendant's convictions for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and for possession of a controlled substance without a tax stamp, holding that Defendant was not entitled to relief on his allegations of error.On appeal, Defendant argued, among other things, that the district court erred in overruling his motion in limine and admitting evidence including the controlled substance that had been in the possession and under the control of a state patrol evidence technician who was later indicted for theft of controlled substances under her control. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) there was sufficient evidence to establish foundation for admission of the challenged evidence; and (2) there was sufficient evidence to support Defendant's convictions. View "State v. Osborne" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court vacated the order of the district court establishing paternity of twin children in Apurba Chatterjee and ordering joint legal and physical custody of the children, holding that Apurba lacked standing to seek a finding of paternity.Apurba brought this complaint seeking to establish paternity, custody, and support, alleging that Indraja Chatterjee, who was married to Indraneel Chatterjee, was pregnant with twins and that he was the biological father of the children. Apruba's motion for genetic testing of the children was granted, and results were returned indicating that there was a 99.9-percent statistical probability that Apurba was the children's biological father. The district court entered a decree finding that Apurba was the children's biological father and ordered joint legal and physical custody of the children. The Supreme Court vacated the order below, holding that Nebraska's paternity statutes do not allow for an alleged father to establish paternity over a child born to a married couple. View "Chatterjee v. Chatterjee" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court overruling Defendant's motion for a new trial following her conviction of possession of a controlled substance, holding that the district court did not abuse its discretion by disregarding the parties' stipulation that there were sufficient grounds to sustain the motion for a new trial.Defendant appealed after she was convicted but then voluntarily dismissed her appeal upon being informed that an evidence technician who may have been responsible for drug-related evidence in her case had been criminally indicted. Together with the State, Defendant filed a joint motion and stipulation for new trial but did not support the motion with any evidence. The district court overruled the motion for not complying with the requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. 29-2102. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) due process was not implicated by the district court's decision to disregard the conclusory stipulation that a new trial should be granted for Defendant; and (2) the district court did not abuse its discretion finding that the facts did not support a new trial. View "State v. Blocher" on Justia Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court convicting and sentencing Defendant for use of an electronic communication device to commit sexual assault and enticement, holding that the district court did not err in its instructions to the jury or in imposing sentences.Defendant was convicted and sentenced to fifteen to twenty years for use of an electronic communication device to commit sexual assault and twenty-three to twenty-four months' imprisonment for enticement by an electronic communication device. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that, contrary to Defendant's arguments on appeal the district court did not err in either refusing to instruct the jury on entrapment or in imposing excessive sentences. View "State v. Hines" on Justia Law