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 16 2026
9th Cir. 2:24-cv-00373-MWF- Unpublished

CHRISTINE FORRESTER v. MOHAMAD A. RESHAD, D.D.S.; ARTLAB DENTISTRY, Dental Office of Dr. Reshad, a California Corporation; TED CONLEY

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's civil action alleging federal and state law claims arising from dental treatment. The court held that the plaintiff failed to state a plausible claim under federal law and that the district court properly declined supplemental jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims.

Civil Motion to Dismiss Tort / Personal Injury
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
9th Cir. 2:23-cv-10363-RGK-RAO Unpublished

Keyubba Bowman; Rashon Bowman v. Novad Management Consulting, LLC; ISN Corporation; United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; Does, 1 through 50, inclusive

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of the Bowmans' claims under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The appellate panel held that the lower court properly denied the plaintiffs' motions for default judgment and a continuance based on the specific legal standards governing those requests.

Civil Consumer Protection Contract
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
9th Cir. 24-7446 Unpublished

Curtis v. Ammec Investments, II

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a bankruptcy court ruling that real property transfers made to pay an attorney's fees were void due to professional conduct violations. The court held that the attorney could not claim bona fide purchaser status to defend the transfers against the original property owner.

Bankruptcy Civil Real Property
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
1st Cir. 25-1236 Panel Decision

State of New York v. Trump

The First Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction blocking the federal government's categorical freeze on obligated financial assistance to states, ruling the action arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The court vacated the portion of the injunction requiring direct monetary payments, citing the Supreme Court's recent rulings on the Tucker Act and sovereign immunity.

Civil Labor Standing
Read summary →
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
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
5th Cir. 25-20056 Published

U.S. Bank National Association, As Trustee for CSMC Mortgage-Backed Trust 2007-3; PHH Mortgage Corporation v. Josef M. Lamell

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a foreclosure judgment, ruling that a borrower waived his statute of limitations defense by signing a broad settlement release. The court further held that unpaid property taxes advanced by the lender constitute secured debt under the Deed of Trust's contractual subrogation clause.

Bankruptcy Civil Statute of Limitations
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
3rd Cir. 25-1810 Panel Decision

In re: ALLONHILL, LLC, f/k/a Allon Hill, LLC; f/k/a Allon Financial, LLC; f/k/a The Murrayhill Company, LLC Debtor ALLONHILL, LLC v. STEWART LENDER SERVICES, INC

The Third Circuit reversed the District Court's ruling that a debtor was insolvent at the time of certain transfers, holding that the lower court erred by using a post-transfer settlement amount to value a disputed claim. The appellate court clarified that while the Bankruptcy Court's methodology was permissible, the District Court's rejection of that approach based on settled expectations was legally incorrect.

Bankruptcy Civil
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
7th Cir. 25-1824 Panel Decision

PATRICK M. HARTNETT and DANIEL J. HARTNETT as Successor Trustees of the Lorrayne B. Hartnett Trust dated June 27, 1984 v. JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for an insurance company, holding that a Nursing Care Policy does not provide home health care benefits under Illinois regulations. The court ruled that the policy's alternative plan of care provision is discretionary and does not trigger state protections designed for policies that affirmatively guarantee home care.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Mar 16 2026
9th Cir. 2:24-cv-00669-KKE Unpublished

John Torsten Loop v. State of Washington; JAMS Mediation Arbitration and ADR Services; Helen L. Halpert Honorable (Retired), JAMS Arbitrator; Bob Ferguson, Washington State Atto...

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's constitutional claims arising from state court arbitration proceedings. The court held that the federal lawsuit constituted a forbidden de facto appeal of the state court judgment under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, depriving the federal court of subject matter jurisdiction.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
Read summary →