Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

636 decisions
Jan 29 2026
1st Cir. 25-1219 Panel Decision

ANN MARIE MACCARONE v. SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a wage-and-hour lawsuit after the plaintiff refused to sign a written settlement agreement that had been orally agreed upon and recited in court. The court held that the plaintiff's subsequent refusal to comply with the court's enforcement order justified dismissal with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

Civil Labor
Read summary →
Jan 27 2026
United States Court… 24-5084 Panel Decision

Andrew Dudt v. Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of the Army

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Major Andrew Dudt from an Army training course, ruling that the Army Board for Correction of Military Records acted within its authority. The court held that any procedural deficiencies in the Board's decision were harmless given the overwhelming evidence of Dudt's failure to meet operational standards.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
Read summary →
Jan 27 2026
United States Court… 25-7006 Panel Decision

Basavaraj Hooli v. Larry Mitcham, Administrator, Zebulon City

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of the appellant's complaint, ruling that the appellant forfeited challenges to personal jurisdiction and venue by failing to properly raise them in his opening brief. The court also denied the motion for appointment of counsel and dismissed the motion to compel as moot.

Civil Contract Mootness
Read summary →
Jan 26 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cv-01046-CLM Published

Brittany Finney v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment to MetLife, holding that the insurer's denial of accidental death benefits was not arbitrary or capricious. The court ruled that the insured's pre-existing chronic lung disease contributed to her death, triggering a specific illness exclusion in the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act policy.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Jan 23 2026
United States Court… 20-7077 Panel Decision

JOSHUA ATCHLEY v. ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED, ET AL.

The D.C. Circuit reversed the dismissal of a civil suit alleging pharmaceutical companies aided terrorism in Iraq by knowingly providing substantial assistance to a terrorist-controlled ministry. The court held that the plaintiffs adequately pleaded a nexus between the defendants' corrupt payments and specific terrorist attacks, satisfying the secondary liability standard set forth in Twitter v. Taamneh.

Civil Securities
Read summary →
Jan 20 2026
United States Court… 24-5234 Panel Decision

MILTON S. HERSHEY MEDICAL CENTER, ET AL v. ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment, holding that the Secretary of Health and Human Services lacked the authority to unilaterally direct contractors to reopen final Medicare cost determinations outside the specific regulatory framework. The court ruled that the agency's attempt to apply a new reimbursement formula to settled reports was barred by explicit time limits and a prohibition on reopening based on changes in legal interpretation.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Jan 13 2026
United States Court… 24-1369 Panel Decision

Boutique Air Inc. v. Department of Transportation, et al.

The D.C. Circuit denied Boutique Air's petition for review regarding the Department of Transportation's selection of Key Lime Air for Essential Air Service subsidies in Jackson, Tennessee. The court affirmed that the agency's decision was not arbitrary or capricious despite Boutique Air's arguments regarding cost, precedent, and subsidy caps.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →