Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a civil rights suit alleging illegal arrest. The court held that a valid arrest warrant shields the officer from liability even if the supporting affidavit contained allegedly false statements.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dismissed an appeal regarding qualified immunity in a civil rights case involving prison officials. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction because the defendants challenged factual determinations rather than pure questions of law.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's civil rights lawsuit alleging deliberate indifference to his safety. The court held that the action was time-barred because the plaintiff failed to file within the applicable statute of limitations and did not establish equitable tolling.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a Title VII religious accommodation case involving a COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The court held that accommodating the plaintiff's religious objection to vaccination would impose an undue hardship on the employer due to substantial health and safety risks to patients and staff.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a sheriff's deputy and a county in a civil rights suit arising from a decedent's death after being dropped off near a train. The court held that the deputy's actions did not clearly establish a constitutional violation and that the county lacked a longstanding custom of unconstitutional conduct.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for rehearing en banc regarding a Federal Tort Claims Act suit involving an improper removal to Mexico.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a habeas corpus petition filed by a Florida prisoner. The court held that defense counsel's opening statements did not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel under the Strickland standard.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in a civil rights action brought by the mother of a man killed after being dropped off by a deputy. The court held that the deputy was entitled to qualified immunity and that no municipal custom or state-created danger was clearly established.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a self-represented litigant before the district court entered a final order. The court held that it lacked jurisdiction because the appeal was premature and did not meet statutory requirements for interlocutory review.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit clarified that the standard for adverse employment actions in retaliation claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act aligns with Title VII. The court vacated summary judgment regarding a 2020 bonus reduction but affirmed summary judgment regarding a 2021 bonus reduction.
