Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

639 decisions
Apr 27 2026
4th Cir. 25-1940 Per Curiam

Miyuki Maureen Johnson, as Trustee MMJ Foreign Express Trust and DK Johnson Estate Trust v. Freedom Mortgage Corporation; LoanDepot.com, LLC; Brock & Scott, PLLC

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of nine consolidated civil actions filed by Miyuki Maureen Johnson, ruling that her claims were frivolous under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i). The court held that Johnson failed to prove the existence of any lawful trust and cannot proceed pro se on behalf of non-existent entities.

Civil Contract
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Apr 27 2026
8th Cir. 24-2159 Panel Decision

Berkley Regional Insurance Company, as subrogee of Schnoeckers, Inc., doing business as BI Worldwide, doing business as Berkley Technology Underwriters v. John Doe Battery Manuf...

The Eighth Circuit certified a novel question of law to the Minnesota Supreme Court regarding whether Amazon is strictly liable for defective products sold by third parties under its Fulfillment by Amazon program. The court determined that state law requires the highest state court to resolve this issue rather than allowing the federal court to make an Erie guess.

Civil Insurance
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Apr 27 2026
3rd Cir. 24-2210 Panel Decision

In re WHITTAKER CLARK & DANIELS INC. Debtor WHITTAKER CLARK & DANIELS INC; BRILLIANT NATIONAL SERVICES INC; L.A. TERMINALS INC.; SOCO WEST INC

The Third Circuit denied the petition for rehearing en banc in a bankruptcy appeal involving a settlement approved for talc claimants. The court found no compelling reasons to reconsider the panel's amended opinion, leaving the original judgments approving the reorganization plan in full force.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Apr 27 2026
10th Cir. 24-6132 Panel Decision

Devon Energy Production Company, et al. v. DOI

The Tenth Circuit held that the Office of Natural Resources Revenue acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to consider a prior settlement agreement when denying Devon Energy's cost deductions for gas production. The court remanded the case to the district court with instructions to vacate the agency's order and require a new determination consistent with the settlement terms.

Civil Securities
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Apr 27 2026
5th Cir. 25-40647 Per Curiam

White v. Fifth Third Bank, N.A.

The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in a foreclosure dispute, ruling that non-diverse defendants were improperly joined because the plaintiff could not state viable claims against them. The court further held that the plaintiff's challenges to the bank's authority to foreclose and his due process claims were meritless under Texas law.

Civil Contract Summary Judgment
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Apr 27 2026
4th Cir. 25-2441 Per Curiam

In re MARTINEZ ORLANDIS BLACK

The Fourth Circuit denied a pro se petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to compel North Carolina state courts to enforce a prior state order. The court held that federal courts lack jurisdiction to issue mandamus relief against state officials or to review final state court orders.

Admiralty / Maritime Civil
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Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 2:24-cv-01909-BJR Unpublished

WHISPER LAKE DEVELOPMENTS, INC. V. MAHAFFIE, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a developer's federal constitutional claims, holding that the plaintiff failed to allege a constitutionally protected property interest in the disputed land or contractual payments. The court reasoned that the plaintiff conveyed legal title to the property and that the contract language did not create a legitimate claim of entitlement to payment for a specific number of lots.

Civil Securities
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Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 2:24-cv-08947-CBM-JPR Unpublished

TSATRYAN V. FERNANDEZ, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Arthur Tsatryan's federal claims, ruling that his lawsuit functioned as an impermissible de facto appeal of prior state divorce judgments. The court held that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine barred federal review because the claims were inextricably intertwined with state court orders and lacked sufficient allegations of extrinsic fraud.

Civil Contract
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