Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

1,025 decisions

Mar 25 2026

11th Cir. 25-10744 Per Curiam

JACKSON CROSSROADS LLC Greencone Investments, LLC Tax Matters Partner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's decision sustaining 40% gross-valuation-misstatement penalties against LLCs claiming excessive conservation-easement deductions. The court found no error in the lower court's reliance on IRS expert testimony to determine significantly lower fair market values for the easements.

Civil Tax (Civil)

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

11th Cir. 0:23-cv-60260-MD Unpublished

JANICE ELLERY and LILIAN PATINO v. FAY SERVICING, LLC

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a complaint against a mortgage servicer, ruling that denying short sale requests does not constitute debt collection under the FDCPA. The court further held that challenges to a servicer's loss mitigation determinations do not qualify as covered errors requiring a response under RESPA.

Bankruptcy Civil

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

10th Cir. 22-11934 Unpublished

In re RICKY DALE GRAHAM Debtor. RICKY DALE GRAHAM

The United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a bankruptcy court's dismissal of a Chapter 13 case with prejudice after the debtor violated the terms of a prior Agreed Judgment. The court held that the debtor waived arguments regarding the validity of the settlement and due process by failing to raise them timely or adequately on appeal.

Bankruptcy Civil

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

10th Cir. 1:22-CV-03187-NYW-CYC Panel Decision

Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company; USAA Casualty Insurance Company v. Nicholas S. Horton; Taishara Abeyta

The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for insurance companies, holding that a motorcycle accident was plainly excluded from coverage under the applicable policies. The court rejected the argument that conflicting policy exceptions created an ambiguity, finding the exclusions operated independently under Colorado law.

Civil Insurance Summary Judgment

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

10th Cir. Nos. 25-1113 & 25-1122 (D.C. No. 1:22-CV-03187-NYW-CYC) Panel Decision

Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company v. Horton

The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for insurance companies, holding that a motorcycle accident was clearly excluded from coverage under the plain language of the policy declarations. The court rejected arguments that conflicting exclusions created an ambiguity, ruling that Colorado law requires enforcement of explicit exclusions that bar coverage for unlisted vehicles.

Civil Insurance Summary Judgment

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

3rd Cir. 23-1968 Panel Decision

LASHAUN CASEY v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of claims against Dr. Mogerman but vacated summary judgment on remaining medical negligence claims. The court held that Pennsylvania's certificate of merit rule does not apply to Federal Tort Claims Act actions in federal court.

Civil Other Civil

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

5th Cir. 25-20242 Per Curiam

Anetrys Moten v. Union Pacific Railroad Company; Union Pacific Corporation Defendants—

The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Union Pacific Railroad Company in a personal injury case involving a minor injured on railroad tracks. The court held that the danger of a moving train and the specific risk of slack action were open and obvious under Texas law, negating any duty to warn or protect the child.

Civil Summary Judgment Tort / Personal Injury

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

5th Cir. 25-60279 Per Curiam

Summary Calendar Sher Bahadur KC v. Pamela Bondi, U.S. Attorney General

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection to a Nepalese citizen who failed to appear at his immigration hearing. The court held that the petitioner's erroneous assumptions about prior notices and venue motions did not constitute the 'exceptional circumstances' required to vacate an in absentia removal order.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

Read summary →

Mar 25 2026

5th Cir. 24-10788 Panel Decision

Securities and Exchange Commission v. Timothy Barton

The Fifth Circuit dismissed Timothy Barton's appeal regarding specific receivership orders for lack of jurisdiction while affirming the district court's approval of a property sale. The court clarified that while receiverships have broad powers to manage assets, interlocutory appeals are limited to orders appointing receivers or refusing to wind them up.

Bankruptcy Civil

Read summary →

Mar 24 2026

Fed. Cir. 24-1818 Panel Decision

ERIC J. SUTULA v. MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 2024-1818

The Federal Circuit reversed the Merit Systems Protection Board's dismissal of a federal employee's termination appeal, holding that the petitioner non-frivolously alleged he was not serving a probationary period. The court remanded the case for a full jurisdictional hearing because the Board improperly weighed conflicting evidence without resolving the factual dispute.

Civil Securities

Read summary →