The Right to Be Judged by What You Do, Not Who You Are

SHERRY F. COLB

Cornell law professor Sherry F. Colb considers the case for occasionally including status—“who you are”—in assigning blame in criminal matters. Colb explains that generally, our penal system prohibits “status offenses,” but sometimes, such as in the case of psychopaths, we are comfortable deciding how to punish a person based at least in part on who they are.

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State ex rel. Tina K. v. Adam B.

Citation: 307 Neb. 1

Opinion Date: September 4, 2020

Judge: William B. Cassel

Areas of Law: Family Law

The Supreme Court reversed the order of the district court awarding custody of a child to an individual standing in loco parentis and, in this opinion, refined the standard for an exceptional case where a child's best interests can negate the parental preference principle. Father was awarded physical custody of Child. Mother later filed a complaint to modify child custody seeking to be awarded sole physical custody. After being allowed to intervene, Jo filed a complaint alleging that she was Child's primary caretaker and that she stood in loco parentis over Child. After a trial, the court placed legal and physical custody with Jo. Mother appealed, arguing that the court abused its discretion by awarding custody to Jo rather than to Mother. The Supreme Court reversed and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion, holding (1) when a fit parent has not forfeited her or his superior right to custody, the best interests of the child will negate the parental preference principle only in an exceptional case; and (2) an exceptional case requires proof of serious physical or psychological harm or a substantial likelihood of such harm.

AVG Partners I, LLC v. Genesis Health Clubs of Midwest, LLC

Citation: 307 Neb. 47

Opinion Date: September 4, 2020

Judge: William B. Cassel

Areas of Law: Landlord - Tenant, Real Estate & Property Law

The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the district court granting a money judgment for Landlord after Tenant breached its leases on two commercial properties, holding that there was no merit in Tenant's arguments on appeal. After a trial, the jury returned a special verdict in Landlord's favor, finding that Landlord met its burden of proving that Tenant breached the lease agreement, causing Landlord damages of $1,657,800 for unpaid rent and late fees and for unpaid taxes. The court entered judgment on the verdict and further awarded prejudgment interest. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) Landlord had standing in this action and was not required to produce the actual assignment of the leases; (2) there was no error in the award of prejudgment interests or in the special verdicts awarding late fees; and (3) the court had inherent authority to award Landlord its actual expenses as a condition of sustaining Tenant's motion for continuance of trial.

Moser v. State

Citation: 307 Neb. 18

Opinion Date: September 4, 2020

Judge: Michael G. Heavican

Areas of Law: Personal Injury

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the district court dismissing Appellant's personal injury suit, albeit under different grounds for immunity than those relied upon by the district court, holding that the State had immunity from suit under the intentional tort exception. Terry Berry was fatally strangled by another prison inmate. Appellant, the personal representative of Berry's estate, filed this suit against the State alleging negligence and wrongful death on the part of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Specifically, the complaint alleged that Berry's death was negligently caused by the State's violation of its duties and its formal regulations. The district court dismissed the complaint, concluding that Neb. Rev. Stat. 81-8,219(4) barred Plaintiff's claim. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that the State had immunity under the intentional tort exception to the STCA, as set forth in section 81-8,219(4).