Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
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.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a tribe's claim for liquidated damages against the Governor of Oklahoma based on Eleventh Amendment immunity. The court reversed the lower court's ruling on the tribe's claim to be excused from exclusivity fees, finding the relevant compact provision ambiguous and remanding for further proceedings.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court order granting summary judgment to the City of Seattle and Seattle City Light in a case involving a pro se plaintiff's termination claims. The panel held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding expert testimony and that the plaintiff failed to create a genuine dispute of material fact regarding her public policy tort claim.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a municipal taxpayer's federal and state law claims challenging land transactions by the City of Guntersville. The court held that the federal claims were time-barred and that the state law challenges were precluded by prior Alabama Supreme Court rulings.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit reversed the dismissal of a Federal Tort Claims Act claim alleging common law assault. The court held that the alleged conduct by a State Department officer was sufficient to state a plausible claim of assault against the plaintiff and his family members under Virginia law.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a civil rights action for failure to comply with a court order. The court held that the plaintiff failed to rebut the presumption that he received the order despite his claim of a prison transfer.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court ruling that an employment arbitration agreement was unconscionable, holding that the agreement's scope and terms were distinguishable from precedent and that any invalid provisions were severable.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a state agency satisfied a federal judgment against a prisoner when it diverted the funds to pay the prisoner's restitution debts. The court held that ancillary jurisdiction ended once the judgment was satisfied, regardless of the state procedures used to redirect the payment.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal sua sponte due to a lack of jurisdiction. The court held that the district court's remand order was not appealable because it was based on a lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's employment discrimination claims. The court held that the plaintiff failed to allege facts showing her termination was based on a protected characteristic under Title Seven of the Civil Rights Act of nineteen sixty-four.
