Maria Santos

Correspondent

Maria Santos

White House correspondent, covers patent, trade and regulatory news

Business & Regulatory patent

Decisions covered by Maria Santos

1,023 decisions
Mar 24 2026
United States Court… 25-5458 Panel Decision

Harold Jean-Baptiste v. United States Department of Justice, et al.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of leave to file a new complaint, ruling that the proposed filing failed to meet Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) standards and contained frivolous claims previously enjoined. The court further held that challenges to the underlying pre-filing injunction were barred by prior failure to appeal, and rejected allegations of judicial bias as meritless.

Civil Other Civil
Read summary →
Mar 24 2026
United States Court… 25-5399 Panel Decision

J.E. Pendleton v. United States of America, et al.

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of the appellant's complaint, ruling that certain claims were patently insubstantial and failed to present a federal question. The court further held that sua sponte dismissal was proper under the Twombly pleading standard because the amended complaint lacked the required short and plain statement of claim.

Civil Other Civil
Read summary →
Mar 24 2026
4th Cir. 25-1004 Panel Decision

Rouse v. Fader

The Fourth Circuit held that servicemembers suing over alleged Servicemembers Civil Relief Act violations lacked Article III standing because their injuries were not traceable to the acts of the Governor or state judges. The court vacated the lower court's judgment and remanded with instructions to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

Bankruptcy Civil
Read summary →
Mar 24 2026
1st Cir. 25-1304 Panel Decision

Manzo v. Wohlstadter

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a securities fraud lawsuit, holding that the claims arose out of promissory notes containing a valid forum selection clause. The court rejected arguments that the clause was unenforceable under Massachusetts public policy or that the suit fell outside its scope.

Bankruptcy Civil
Read summary →
Mar 23 2026
5th Cir. 25-60188 Panel Decision

Glen A. Hardwick v. Federal Aviation Administration; Bryan Bedford Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration

The Fifth Circuit denied a petition for review upholding a 150-day suspension of a pilot's license for flying an aircraft with a tail number that did not match its registration documents. The court found the pilot failed to meet the narrow standard for reasonable reliance and that the administrative nature of the violation did not preclude a safety sanction.

Civil Securities
Read summary →
Mar 23 2026
11th Cir. 1:24-cv-00109-JRH-BKE Per Curiam

Denhardt v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a plaintiff's claims for excess funds from a tax sale, holding that a security deed holder is entitled to those funds under Georgia law. The court determined that statutory language explicitly designates security deed owners as 'owners' eligible for distribution before other claimants.

Civil Contract Motion to Dismiss Real Property
Read summary →
Mar 23 2026
8th Cir. 25-2561 Panel Decision

Ryan Hauber v. Honkamp Krueger & Co. PC

The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's complaint with prejudice. The appellate court found no abuse of discretion in imposing discovery sanctions for willful violations of court orders.

Civil Contract
Read summary →
Mar 23 2026
3rd Cir. 25-1066 Panel Decision

AFL-CIO v. ENERGY HARBOR NUCLEAR CORP., A

The Third Circuit reversed a district court order compelling arbitration in a labor dispute over employee benefit contributions. The appellate court held that the grievance fell outside the scope of the collective bargaining agreement's arbitration clause because the claimed right did not arise from the contract itself.

Civil Labor
Read summary →