Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

638 decisions
Feb 27 2026
7th Cir. 25-2134 Panel Decision

IN RE: GREENPOINT TACTICAL INCOME FUND LLC Debtor. BALLARD SPAHR LLP v. OFFICIAL COMMITTEE OF EQUITY SECURITY HOLDERS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed that an investment fund debtor is not liable for legal fees incurred by its managing member when engagement letters explicitly identified the individual as the client. The court held that without a signed writing or clear contractual obligation, the bankruptcy estate cannot be charged for the manager's personal legal debts.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Feb 27 2026
1st Cir. 25-1249 Panel Decision

IN RE: STEVEN T. SAVAGE; VIRGINIA A. SAVAGE Debtors COASTAL CAPITAL, LLC v. STEVEN T. SAVAGE; VIRGINIA A. SAVAGE

The First Circuit affirmed the denial of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge for the Savages because they failed to satisfactorily explain the disposition of assets received from their company prior to filing. The court rejected the argument that only substantial asset losses or those sufficient to pay all liabilities require explanation under the Bankruptcy Code.

Civil Tax (Civil)
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Feb 26 2026
4th Cir. 25-2253 Per Curiam

EFREN GARCIA URRUTIA v. FRANCIS DIOSMAR ARENA FLORES

The Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded a district court order denying a petition for the return of a child under the Hague Convention. The appellate court found that the lower court applied the wrong law to determine custody rights and lacked evidentiary support for its findings on affirmative defenses.

Civil Contract
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Feb 26 2026
3rd Cir. 25-1338 Panel Decision

THOMAS LAMONT DYNO; JULIA DYNO v. ALBERT DYNO, JR., in his official and personal capacity as Executor of the Estate of Rosemarie Sterchak, deceased

The Third Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of motions to reopen a case under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(d) and to amend a complaint post-judgment. The court held that the appellants failed to prove fraud directed at the federal court itself, which is required to vacate a judgment under Rule 60(d).

Civil Contract
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Feb 25 2026
8th Cir. 25-1969 Panel Decision

Karla Yesenia Gomez-Orozco; E.F.G.-O v. Pamela Bondi

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of asylum and withholding of removal for Guatemalan petitioners. The court held that the petitioners failed to exhaust claims regarding a pattern or practice against women in Guatemala and waived review of the agency's finding that the government could not control their ex-partner.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 25 2026
5th Cir. 24-20379 Panel Decision

Radley Bradford v. Sovereign Pest Control of TX, Inc.

The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a pest control company, holding that a customer provided prior express consent for pre-recorded calls by providing his phone number in a service contract. The court clarified that the TCPA statute requires only express consent for informational calls, rejecting the argument that written consent is mandatory for all pre-recorded calls.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Summary Judgment
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Feb 24 2026
U.S. Sup. Ct. 24-724 Unanimous

Hain Celestial Group, Inc. v. Palmquist

The Supreme Court affirmed the Fifth Circuit's decision to vacate a federal judgment and remand a product liability case to state court because the District Court lacked diversity jurisdiction at the time of removal. The Court held that a district court's erroneous dismissal of a non-diverse defendant does not cure a pre-existing jurisdictional defect, as federal courts must assess jurisdiction based on the facts existing when the case was filed.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
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Feb 24 2026
7th Cir. 25-2689 Panel Decision

JORDAN TALLEY-SMITH v. MISSION LANE, LLC

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jordan Talley-Smith's lawsuit against Mission Lane, LLC, ruling that he cannot represent a private trust pro se and failed to comply with signature requirements under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11. The court held that Smith's claims were frivolous because they relied on the invalid legal theory that a self-created bill of exchange satisfied his debt obligations.

Bankruptcy Civil
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