(The title has been corrected. This is not a post from the future. We regret the error.)
The Mississippi Court of Appeals handed down five opinions today. There are two of direct criminal appeals, a real property case with a punitive damages issue, a PCR case, and an public employment termination case. That last one turned on procedural issues related to the appeal to chancery court.
(Photo from my morning in court in Lincoln County, Mississippi)
Griste v. State, 2024-KA-01423-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of manslaughter, holding that the trial court did not err in denying a motion for directed verdict, that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in granting the state’s motion in limine to exclude evidence of other bad acts of the victim, and that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in instructing the jury.
(10-0: Emfinger for the Court)
Snowden v. State, 2025-CA-00064-COA (Civil – PCR)
Affirming the denial of a PCR motion, holding that it was barred by the statute of limitations and no statutory exceptions applied.
(10-0: Emfinger for the Court)
Richardson v. Jackson Public School District, 2025-CA-00695-COA (Civil – Other)
Reversing the chancery court’s decision upholding the school board’s decision to terminate employment, holding that remand was required because the record filed on appeal with the chancery court was not a complete record and therefore did not comply with the statutory requirements for a review in the Chancery Court.
(6-3-0: Lawrence for the court; Lassitter St. Pe’, specially concurred, joined by McCarty; Wilson and McCarty concurred and pardoned in the result without writing; McDonald did not participate)
Ocean Blue Land & Timber Co., LLC v. Marsolais, 2024-CA-00154-COA (Civil – Report Property)
Affirming in part and reversing in part the Chancellor’s ruling in a case alleging that real property was fraudulently obtained, affirming the Chancellor’s finding of a fraud but reversing the punitive damages award against the individual and rendering judgment on that issue.
(10-0: McDonald for the Court)
Collins v. State, 2024-KA-01333-COA (Criminal – Felony)
Affirming conviction of second degree murder, holding that the trial court did not err by denying a directed verdict of acquittal under the Weathersby rule because the rule did not apply and declining to address the ineffective assistance of counsel claims on direct appeal.
(6-1-3: Lassitter St. Pe’ for the Court; McDonald concurred in part and in the result without writing. Emfinger dissented, joined by Barnes and McCarty)
Other Orders
- Taylor v. State, 2024-KA-00280-COA (denying rehearing)
- Bridgman v. SBC Internet Services, Inc., 2024-WC-01199-COA (denying rehearing)
- Vanaman v. American Pride Properties, LLC, 2024-CA-01434-COA (denying rehearing)
- Ryland v Regions Bank, 2025-CP-00178-COA (denying rehearing)
Mississippi Appeals Blog 