The Supreme Court dismissed for lack of appellate jurisdiction. Finality depends on whether the trial court has ended the proceedings and resolved the issues before it, not merely on whether an earlier judgment was final. The order on the amended Rule 60 motion left substantive property-transfer questions pending and therefore did not put an end to the controversy.
The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed the dismissal because Banks did not develop a cogent appellate argument showing reversible error. The Court emphasized that an appellant must identify the challenged ruling, explain why it is wrong, and support the position with relevant authority. General disagreement and undeveloped assertions do not preserve an issue for merits review, even when the appellant is self-represented.
The Alabama Supreme Court held that Rule 26 permits limited discovery sharing, but ordered four safeguards for confidential material used in related State Farm roof-claim cases.
The Alabama Supreme Court ordered a trial court to proceed with an insurer’s duty-to-defend dispute while allowing indemnity issues to remain stayed.