Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a prisoner's First Amendment retaliation claim. The court held that the plaintiff failed to raise a genuine dispute of material fact regarding the defendants' motives.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a sex-based wage discrimination case. The court held that the plaintiff failed to identify comparators performing substantially similar work for higher pay.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling regarding overtime pay calculations and FMLA leave notice at a retirement facility. The court held that unaccepted settlement checks did not moot the plaintiffs' claims and that the employer failed to provide adequate notice for foreseeable leave.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court dismissal of a whistleblower retaliation claim under Virginia law. The court held that the employee did not have an objectively reasonable belief that reported conduct by a non-employee guest violated workplace laws.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an employment discrimination lawsuit brought by a contractor employee with disabilities. The court held that in-person attendance was an essential function of the job and that the employer was not required to grant full-time telework as a reasonable accommodation.
The Fifth Circuit reversed a district court order denying qualified immunity to two prison officers accused of excessive force. The court held that the plaintiff failed to show the officers violated clearly established law given the specific facts of the incident.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a parent's civil rights claims against a school district. The court held that the plaintiff forfeited challenges to the district court's rulings by failing to adequately brief specific legal elements on appeal.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a plaintiff stopped at a Border Patrol checkpoint. The court held that the Federal Tort Claims Act bars claims for intentional torts committed during the detention of goods at a border inspection.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for jail officials in a civil rights suit alleging deliberate indifference to a pretrial detainee's suicide. The court held that the officers lacked subjective knowledge of a strong likelihood that the detainee would take his own life.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging federal student loan repayment suspensions. The court held that the Mackinac Center for Public Policy failed to establish Article III standing to sue.
