Brandon J. Huffman

Brandon is the founder of Odin Law and Media. His law practice focuses on transactions and video games, digital media, entertainment and internet related issues. He serves as general counsel to the International Game Developers Association and is an active member of many bar associations and community organizations. He can be reached at brandon at odin law dot com.

North Carolina Supreme Court Opinions for September 25, 2015

The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued this month’s opinions: State v. Taylor, (1A15). Whether the trial court committed plain error by admitting testimony from a detective that vouched for the credibility of the alleged victim. State v. Pendergraft, (49A15). Whether an indictment charging defendant with obtaining property by false pretenses was fatally defective because it …

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No Warrant Required for Two Days of Cell Site Data – NC Court of Appeals

State v Perry. In a decision reminiscent of the Fourth Circuit’s recent holding in US v. Graham (that access to extended cell site data requires a warrant), the North Carolina Court of Appeals has come to some… interesting conclusions. First, the Court of Appeals rejected an argument that cell site information sent to an officer by …

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N.C. Court of Appeals Opinions for September, 2015

The North Carolina Court of Appeals has released this month’s opinions: A & D Envtl. Servs., Inc. v Miller, (14-1397). Interlocutory appeal, substantial right, venue, NCGS § 1-294 Brittian v Brittian,  (15-139). Wills, declaratory judgment action, caveat Credit Union Auto Buying Serv., Inc. v Burkshire Props. Grp. Corp., (15-187). Personal jurisdiction; quasi in rem Ehrenhaus v Baker, (14-1201). Attorneys’ …

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Fourth Circuit in Raleigh this Week

The Fourth Circuit will hear oral arguments this week at Campbell Law School here in Raleigh. They’ll hear three cases at the school. Among them, Melanie Lawson v. Union County Clerk, which asks the question: Does a government official’s termination of a deputy court clerk for campaigning for office of clerk violate the First Amendment? Argument will …

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Employers’ Incidental Observance of Organizing Activity During Leafleting is Not Unlawful Surveillance – Fourth Circuit

NLRB v. Intertape Polymer Corp. This is a labor case, an appeal from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). But, this is also a First Amendment case, and hence its inclusion here. The NLRB concluded Intertape had violated the Naitonal Labor Relations Act (NLRA). There were three supposed violations: unlawful interrogation of an employee, unlawful …

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Friendly Reminder: Make Objections – Fourth Circuit

Riley v. Bartlett. In this unpublished opinion, the Fourth Circuit gives us all a nice reminder that you have to object to a magistrate’s recommendation to later have it reviewed on appeal. This is not a remarkable order, really. But, it’s a good reminder: The timely filing of specific objections to a magistrate judge’s recommendation is …

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Database of Court Records is not a Public Record – N.C. Supreme Court

LexisNexis Risk Data Management Inc., and LexisNexis Risk Solutions Inc. v. North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts A database of North Carolina court records is not a public record, according to the state Supreme Court. In 2011, Lexis requested a copy of the AOC’s Automated Criminal/Infraction System (ACIS) under the Public Records Act. When …

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N.C. Supreme Court Opinions for August 21, 2015

The North Carolina Supreme Court has released this month’s published opinions: In re Burke, (410A14).  Appeal from decision of N.C. Board of Bar Examiners denying petitioner’s application to take the N.C. bar exam. State ex rel. Util. Comm’n v. Cooper, Att’y Gen., (347A14). Appeal from portion of ratemaking order approving an accelerated cost recovery mechanism for …

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Access to Extended Cell-Site Records Requires Warrant – Fourth Circuit

US v. Graham. The Fourth Circuit ruled that when the government inspects a cell phone user’s historical cell-site location information for an extended period pf time, it must get a warrant under the Fourth Amendment. The Circuit Court split with the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, which have said that no warrant is required, paving the way …

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