4th Cir.

FALINE ARNOLD v. HUNTINGTON INGALLS INCORPORATED

April 27, 2026 ·25-2043 ·Per Curiam · By Aisha Johnson

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order granting summary judgment in an employment discrimination case. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's decision to dismiss the plaintiff's claims under federal civil rights statutes.

Background

Faline Arnold, proceeding pro se, appealed the district court’s orders adopting a magistrate judge’s recommendation to grant summary judgment to Huntington Ingalls Incorporated. The underlying claims were brought pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of nineteen sixty-four and the Family and Medical Leave Act. The district court also denied Arnold’s motion to vacate or modify the judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure sixty-one B.

The court’s reasoning

The court reviewed the record in conjunction with the issues raised in Arnold’s informal brief. Citing Fourth Circuit rules, the court noted that its review is limited to issues preserved in that brief. Having found no reversible error, the court affirmed the district court’s orders.

What it means going forward

The decision upholds the dismissal of the employment discrimination claims, leaving the summary judgment in favor of the employer in place.