Correspondent
White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an inmate's breach of contract claim regarding missing legal materials. The court held that the plaintiff failed to plausibly allege a bailment contract because the delivery of property was not voluntary and no consideration was exchanged.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a dismissal by the Veterans Court. The court held that the Veterans Court lacked jurisdiction to review an appeal of a fully favorable Board decision.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's claim against the United States for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court held that the plaintiff failed to identify a money-mandating source of law to support his claim for damages based on an alleged arbitration award.
The Ninth Circuit granted a petition for review and remanded the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals. The court found that the Immigration Judge abused its discretion by pretermitting asylum applications without providing adequate notice regarding biometrics obligations.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a Merit Systems Protection Board decision dismissing an appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The court held that a federal employee in the excepted service under Schedule A authority who is not a preference eligible remains subject to a two-year probationary period and lacks statutory appeal rights during that time.
The Fourth Circuit vacated a civil contempt order against an attorney who failed to submit a court-ordered statement to a foreign tribunal. The court held that the district court abused its discretion because the moving party failed to prove the attorney's noncompliance caused actual harm.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court dismissal of a Federal Tort Claims Act claim. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's ruling that the plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed multiple district court orders in a consolidated bankruptcy appeal involving Paul Schultz. The court dismissed two additional appeals for lack of jurisdiction over non-final orders.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed in part and denied in part a petition for a writ of mandamus filed by Clarence Hicks, Jr. The court found the request to compel a ruling moot and determined that mandamus relief was not available to lift a grant of indefinite leave to reply.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling regarding an Employment Practices Liability Insurance Policy. The court held that the insurer could exercise its right to defend a claim before the insured exhausted the self-insured retention amount.
