Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Fourth Amendment excessive-force claim against a paramedic who restrained a man in traffic. The court held that the plaintiff failed to show the right was clearly established under qualified immunity.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Florida's constitutional challenge to the federal government's reliance on private educational accreditors for disbursing student aid. The court held that private accreditors do not exercise governmental power and that the accreditation requirement is an ascertainable condition under the Spending Clause.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pre-trial detainee's Eighth Amendment claims against a county and its sheriff. The court held that the plaintiff failed to allege facts demonstrating a pattern of constitutional violations or an obvious need for additional medical training.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a pro se prisoner's civil rights complaint without prejudice. The court also denied the appellant's motion to proceed in forma pauperis due to a lack of good faith.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to the City of Miami in a case involving race discrimination and retaliation claims by a police officer. The court held that the plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence to create a genuine dispute of material fact regarding causation or comparators.
The Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by Tennille Decoste against the City of Boynton Beach. The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction because the underlying district court order was not final.
The Fourth Circuit reversed a federal district court order granting habeas corpus relief to a South Carolina prisoner. The appellate court held that the state courts did not unreasonably apply federal law in rejecting the petitioner's speedy trial and ineffective assistance of counsel claims.
The First Circuit granted a motion to stay a district court order that had halted a federal directive regarding interpretive materials at national parks. The appellate court found the Department of the Interior likely to succeed on appeal because the lower court erred in finding irreparable harm to the plaintiffs.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's second amended complaint as an impermissible shotgun pleading. The court held that the complaint failed to provide defendants adequate notice of claims and contained frivolous allegations.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for two detention officers who delayed checking on an inmate for twenty minutes to avoid extra paperwork. The court held that the officers violated clearly established law by consciously disregarding a substantial risk of serious harm after hearing sounds of distress.
