Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

639 decisions
Mar 17 2026
6th Cir. 23-8018 Published

In re CHAVON MARIE LANDINGHAM Debtor DOUG WOODS

The Sixth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel affirmed the lower court's denial of a creditor's claim for non-dischargeability based on willful and malicious injury but vacated and remanded several other claims due to insufficient factual findings. The panel also upheld procedural rulings regarding default judgments and recusal motions while ordering further proceedings on the debtor's counterclaims for preferential transfers and attorney's fees.

Civil Social Security
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Mar 17 2026
4th Cir. 26-1193 Per Curiam

In re NICOLE HENRY

The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for a writ of mandamus, ruling that a district court has no obligation under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e) to evaluate a class settlement after denying class certification. The court further held that mandamus cannot serve as a substitute for an appeal when adequate appellate remedies exist.

Civil Contract
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Mar 17 2026
5th Cir. 25-10999 Per Curiam

In the Matter of Highland Capital Management, L.P. Debtor Dugaboy Investment Trust v. Highland Capital Management, L.P.; Highland Claimant Trust

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an adversary complaint seeking an accounting of assets from a bankruptcy claimant trust. The court held that the appellant, holding only a contingent and unvested trust interest, lacked standing to demand disclosure under the trust agreement's clear terms.

Bankruptcy Civil Motion to Dismiss
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Mar 17 2026
5th Cir. 25-40024 Published

Polaris Engineering, Incorporated v. Texas International Terminals, Limited

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court judgment finding Texas International Terminals liable for breaching a facility agreement by failing to issue a Notice of Stable Operations. The court held that the contract term stable operations possessed an ordinary meaning of steady, consistent operations, not a specific production rate.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment
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Mar 17 2026
3rd Cir. 25-1277 Panel Decision

ABDALLAH ABDULRAHEEM MOHAMMAD KHATER v. ATTORNEY GENERAL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Third Circuit denied in part and dismissed in part a petition challenging an Immigration Judge's rulings on administrative closure, continuance, and voluntary departure. The court held that the petitioner failed to show the first two rulings affected the outcome of his removal, while the third was barred from judicial review by statute.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Mar 17 2026
11th Cir. 1:24-cv-04406-VMC Per Curiam

Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC v. Wade Roberts

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the confirmation of a FINRA arbitration award in favor of Wells Fargo, ruling that the arbitrator acted within contractual authority despite the employee's res judicata defense. However, the court vacated the judgment and remanded the case to correct a procedural error where the arbitration award was accidentally omitted from the record.

Civil Contract Res Judicata
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Mar 17 2026
1st Cir. 25-1254 Panel Decision

ABDULKADIR ABDISALAM individually and for all others similarly situated v. STRATEGIC DELIVERY SOLUTIONS, LLC

The First Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to compel arbitration, holding that an individual courier could not be bound by a vendor agreement he signed only as the owner of a corporation. The court ruled that equitable estoppel theories failed because the benefits flowed to the corporate entity, not the individual, and the claims were not sufficiently intertwined with the agreement.

Civil Insurance
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Mar 16 2026
10th Cir. 2:25-CV-02151-JWL Panel Decision

Michael A. Hudson v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of Michael Hudson's claims against the Social Security Commissioner because the appellant failed to prosecute previous appeals and offered no arguments challenging the lower court's ruling. The court held it lacked jurisdiction to review prior district court decisions and found no legal basis for the requested FICA tax refunds or damages.

Civil Res Judicata Social Security
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