Appellate Law News and Insights

On April 17, 2025, the New York Court of Appeals issued a landmark ruling in Flanders v. Goodfellow, fundamentally changing how the state handles dog bite liability. In a unanimous decision, the court eliminated the long-standing, so-called "one free bite" rule, allowing victims to bring negligence claims even if the dog...

Read More

Securing Court Approval of an Appeal Bond in an Amount Less than Full Judgment under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 305(a) In Illinois, when a jury awards damages to the plaintiff, the trial court enters a judgment in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant in the amount of the...

Read More

On June 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court held unanimously, in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, that the gun-manufacturer and gun-distributor defendants sued by Mexico for negligence and related torts were immune from suit under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) because the defendants'...

Read More