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Griffin v. DSCYF
Supreme Court of Delaware · 2023-04-21
The case involved a mother's appeal from a Family Court order terminating her parental rights over two young children who had been placed in state custody due to injuries sustained by one child and subsequent removal of the other. The mother argued that the court erred in finding statutory grounds for termination based on her failure to plan and that termination was not in the children's best interests, particularly regarding housing stability and bonds with family. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the termination, holding that clear and convincing evidence supported the failure to plan after the children had been in DSCYF custody for over a year and that the best interest factors under Delaware law weighed against the mother.
family law
Jones v. State
Supreme Court of Delaware · 2023-03-20
The case involved Gary Jones appealing from rulings by the Superior Court of Delaware in two criminal matters under Cr. ID Nos. 1706012725 and 1708022021. The Delaware Supreme Court reviewed the appeal on the parties' briefs and affirmed the Superior Court's final judgment. The court's decision rested entirely on the reasons provided in the Superior Court's order dated July 20, 2022, without additional analysis. This affirmance upheld the lower court's outcome in the criminal proceedings.
criminal lawprocedure
Coronado Coal II, LLC v. Blackhawk Land and Resources, LLC
Supreme Court of Delaware · 2023-03-03
The case involved a dispute between Coronado Coal II, LLC and Blackhawk Land and Resources, LLC over a sub-sublease agreement for coal mining rights in the Powellton “A” seam in West Virginia. Coronado alleged that Blackhawk breached the agreement by rejecting its plans for retreat mining, which Coronado claimed violated its rights under the lease terms, including Article Six of the underlying 1937 Lease. The Superior Court dismissed the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, finding that an arbitration clause in the lease required the claims to be resolved through arbitration. On appeal, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal, reasoning that the dispute directly concerned Coronado’s performance under Article Six—specifically, whether its proposed mining operations might injure other seams or violate mining standards—and thus fell within the scope of the arbitration provision. The court rejected arguments that the clause was ambiguous or applied only to completed actions rather than proposed performance.
business & regulatoryproperty
Hopkins v. State
Supreme Court of Delaware · 2023-02-20
In Hopkins v. State, the defendant appealed his Superior Court convictions for drug dealing, disregarding a police signal, conspiracy, resisting arrest, and multiple traffic and drug possession offenses arising from a 2020 traffic stop and chase during which police found cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and cash in his possession. He argued that the trial court abused its discretion by rejecting a last-minute plea agreement, erred by denying his motion for judgment of acquittal on the drug-dealing charge, and that cumulative errors required reversal. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the convictions, holding that the plea was untimely under the court's scheduling order and emergency procedures, that the evidence including an officer's expert testimony on drug quantity and packaging was sufficient to support the drug-dealing conviction under the deferential standard for acquittal motions, and that no cumulative error occurred. A concurring opinion expressed reservations about the strength of the intent evidence but agreed the convictions should stand given the lack of objection to the testimony.
criminal lawprocedure
Downs v. State
Supreme Court of Delaware · 2023-02-14
The case involved Pierre Downs's appeal from a Superior Court sentence order declaring him an habitual criminal under 11 Del. C. § 4214(c) following his convictions for robbery in the first degree and related offenses. After prior proceedings vacated some convictions and remanded for resentencing, the Superior Court continued a scheduled hearing sua sponte to allow the State to file a revised habitual offender motion under subsection (c) rather than (d). The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the judgment, holding that the trial court acted within its discretion by exercising its inherent authority to manage proceedings and ensure a full record. The court noted that both parties had notice of the habitual offender issue, the defendant received an opportunity to contest the motion, and he qualified as an habitual offender under the applicable statute. The decision found no violation of procedural rules or unfair prejudice to the defendant.
criminal lawprocedure
Booth v. Garvin
Supreme Court of Delaware · 2023-01-27
The case concerned the liability of Joseph and Margaret Booth, owners of a Georgetown, Delaware property that had hosted a dry-cleaning business, for environmental contamination cleanup costs incurred by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). DNREC sued under the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act (HSCA) to recover costs including those from a Brownfield Development Agreement, after the Booths withdrew an administrative appeal of a Secretary's order finding them in violation. The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court's grant of summary judgment on liability, holding the Booths strictly liable for $105,464.87 in remedial and administrative costs. The court reasoned that the Booths' failure to exhaust administrative remedies made the Secretary's findings binding via issue preclusion, that Brownfield grants qualified as recoverable public funding under the HSCA, and that causation need not be separately proven for cost recovery.
environmentproperty