Correspondent
Federal courthouse correspondent, covers civil rights, employment discrimination, housing rights, and Second Amendment disputes.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a Mississippi school district violated an employee's procedural due process rights by failing to provide a hearing before non-renewing his contract. The court held that the employee's position required a state license, creating a property interest protected by state law and the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling enforcing a settlement agreement reached during mediation in a False Claims Act case. The court held that the parties had reached a binding oral agreement on all material terms despite the absence of a signed written document.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a district court dismissal of a pro se employment discrimination complaint. The court held the plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies because she did not name the defendant in her initial EEOC charge.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Section one thousand nine hundred eighty-three claim against Boone County, Illinois. The court held that a coroner who retained a murder victim's skull in violation of state law did not establish an official county policy under Monell.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a racial discrimination claim brought by a firefighter. The court held that the plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case because the promotion was based solely on test scores applied in a race-neutral manner.
The Eighth Circuit reversed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a disability accommodation case. The appellate court found genuine issues of material fact regarding whether the employer failed to engage in the interactive process and whether remote work was a reasonable accommodation.
The Eighth Circuit reversed a district court ruling that classified a delivery driver as an independent contractor. The appellate court held that the driver was an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act based on the economic realities of the working relationship.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a habeas corpus petition challenging a death sentence for murder and kidnapping. The panel held that the petitioner failed to develop the factual basis of his claims in state court and could not show prejudice from his trial counsel's performance.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the district court's denial of leave to file a Fourth Amended Complaint, holding that the proposed amendments regarding FMLA retaliation and Title IX discrimination were not futile.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a summary judgment ruling against plaintiffs alleging racial discrimination by a state environmental agency. The court held that the plaintiffs' claims were barred by the statute of limitations and failed to establish a pattern of discrimination.
