December 10, 2025, Oral Arguments
Smith (Sophia) vs. State
Carson City – 10:00 a.m. – Panel A25
Lennar Comm. Nev,, LLC vs. Whalen (Civil)
Carson City – 10:30 a.m. – Panel A25
Smith (Sophia) vs. State
Docket No. 88095
Carson City – 10:00 a.m. – Panel A25
Sophia Smith appeals convictions of elder exploitation, theft, and credit card fraud. Over several years, Smith received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the victim, a retired businessman, as well as a house and use of his credit card. The victim’s sons believed their father was being taken advantage of and filed suit in probate court seeking control over the victim’s trust. Right before the probate case concluded, the State filed charges against Smith. Smith was convicted by a jury of nine counts. On appeal, Smith claims that she should have only been charged with, much less convicted of a single count of elder exploitation. She also argues that the State improperly waited for the civil case to produce incriminating evidence and challenges the fairness of the trial on several other grounds.
Lennar Comm. Nev,, LLC vs. Whalen (Civil)
Docket No. 88946
Carson City – 10:30 a.m. – Panel A25
Respondent tripped over a utility box located on premises owned and maintained by appellants. Respondent sued for negligence in 2022. The parties conducted discovery until 2024, when appellant filed a motion to compel arbitration under a Purchase and Sale Agreement that bound appellants and respondent. The district court denied the motion. Appellant appealed. ISSUES: (1) Did appellant waive its right to compel arbitration, (2) Did appellant seek arbitration too late under the statute of limitations provision within the arbitration clause, (3) Did the arbitration clause cover the type of injury respondent suffered.