Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

639 decisions

Mar 25 2026

5th Cir. 25-60279 Per Curiam

Summary Calendar Sher Bahadur KC v. Pamela Bondi, U.S. Attorney General

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection to a Nepalese citizen who failed to appear at his immigration hearing. The court held that the petitioner's erroneous assumptions about prior notices and venue motions did not constitute the 'exceptional circumstances' required to vacate an in absentia removal order.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

5th Cir. 24-10788 Panel Decision

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Timothy Barton

The Fifth Circuit dismissed Timothy Barton's appeal regarding specific receivership orders for lack of jurisdiction while affirming the district court's approval of a property sale. The court clarified that while receiverships have broad powers to manage assets, interlocutory appeals are limited to orders appointing receivers or refusing to wind them up.

Bankruptcy Civil

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

9th Cir. 8:23-cv-01045-HDV-KES Unpublished

Hageman v. Hyundai Motor America, Inc.

The Ninth Circuit held that a clickwrap agreement for Hyundai's Connected Services did not clearly and unmistakably delegate arbitrability questions to an arbitrator in a class action. The court further ruled that the arbitration clause did not cover product defect claims unrelated to the Connected Services, as such an interpretation would lead to absurd results.

Civil Intellectual Property

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

United States Court… 25-5458 Panel Decision

Harold Jean-Baptiste v. United States Department of Justice, et al.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of leave to file a new complaint, ruling that the proposed filing failed to meet Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) standards and contained frivolous claims previously enjoined. The court further held that challenges to the underlying pre-filing injunction were barred by prior failure to appeal, and rejected allegations of judicial bias as meritless.

Civil Other Civil

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

United States Court… 25-5399 Panel Decision

J.E. Pendleton v. United States of America, et al.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of the appellant's complaint, ruling that certain claims were patently insubstantial and failed to present a federal question. The court further held that sua sponte dismissal was proper under the Twombly pleading standard because the amended complaint lacked the required short and plain statement of claim.

Civil Other Civil

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

4th Cir. 25-1396 Panel Decision

HAYWARD INDUSTRIES, INC v. BLUEWORKS CORPORATION

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict holding four companies liable for falsely advertising aftermarket saltwater pool chlorination products. The court rejected arguments that the district court erred by admitting previously undisclosed evidence and by directing a verdict on alter ego liability.

Civil Intellectual Property

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

4th Cir. 25-1004 Panel Decision

Rouse v. Fader

The Fourth Circuit held that servicemembers suing over alleged Servicemembers Civil Relief Act violations lacked Article III standing because their injuries were not traceable to the acts of the Governor or state judges. The court vacated the lower court's judgment and remanded with instructions to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

Bankruptcy Civil

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

11th Cir. 0:21-cv-61032-RKA Per Curiam

Block v. Matesic

The Eleventh Circuit dismissed appeals from a district court summary judgment order because the case was not yet final. The court held that an unresolved third-party claim prevented the litigation from ending on the merits.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Other Civil Summary Judgment

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

1st Cir. 25-1304 Panel Decision

Manzo v. Wohlstadter

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a securities fraud lawsuit, holding that the claims arose out of promissory notes containing a valid forum selection clause. The court rejected arguments that the clause was unenforceable under Massachusetts public policy or that the suit fell outside its scope.

Bankruptcy Civil

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

Fed. Cir. 24-1818 Panel Decision

ERIC J. SUTULA v. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 2024-1818

The Federal Circuit reversed the Merit Systems Protection Board's dismissal of a federal employee's termination appeal, holding that the petitioner non-frivolously alleged he was not serving a probationary period. The court remanded the case for a full jurisdictional hearing because the Board improperly weighed conflicting evidence without resolving the factual dispute.

Civil Securities

Read summary →