Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Ninth Circuit reversed summary judgment in an employment discrimination case involving two flight attendants fired for posting comments on an internal company network. The panel held that genuine disputes of material fact existed regarding whether the airline and union discriminated against the plaintiffs based on their religious beliefs.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Munther Qader's employment discrimination and negligence claims against Freddie Mac. The court held that Qader's own allegations provided a non-discriminatory reason for his termination and that the defendants owed no legal duty of care.
The Ninth Circuit denied petitions for review of Board of Immigration Appeals orders denying asylum and withholding of removal. The court also dismissed a petition challenging a motion to reopen removal proceedings.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of qualified immunity to prison officials who conducted repeated visual strip searches of an inmate. The court assumed the searches were unconstitutional but found the law was not clearly established at the time.
The Ninth Circuit dismissed a petition for review regarding a motion to reopen removal proceedings and denied a petition challenging asylum and withholding of removal orders. The court found no legal or constitutional error in the Board of Immigration Appeals' decisions and rejected the petitioners' equal protection claims.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a mixed ruling on Starbucks Corporation's petition to review an order from the National Labor Relations Board. The court granted enforcement of some findings regarding coercive threats and interrogation while denying enforcement of others and dismissing the request for a new election.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of unlawful search and seizure claims against three officers but reversed the dismissal of a false arrest claim against the arresting officer. The court vacated the dismissal of failure to intervene and malicious prosecution claims, remanding them for consideration on the merits.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed a district court dismissal, holding that federal courts may review presidential actions under the Antiquities Act when plaintiffs allege the President exceeded statutory limits. The court remanded the case for further proceedings to determine if the President's designation of national monuments and land reservations exceeded his delegated authority.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict finding Michigan Technological University liable for pregnancy discrimination under state law. The court rejected appeals challenging summary judgment on federal discrimination claims and affirmed qualified immunity for the university dean.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict finding Michigan Technological University liable for pregnancy discrimination under state law. The court also upheld summary judgment dismissing federal discrimination, retaliation, and Equal Pay Act claims against the university and its dean.
