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
Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 24-3204 Panel Decision

FODIES MCBRIDE, SR v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se litigant who failed to argue that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over his claims. The appellate court deemed the appeal frivolous because the appellant did not engage with the court's dispositive determination that his complaints failed to allege violations of federal law or establish diversity jurisdiction.

Civil Insurance
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Feb 2 2026
1st Cir. 24-1942 Panel Decision

BLUERADIOS, INC. v. HAMILTON, BROOK, SMITH & REYNOLDS, P.C.

The First Circuit reversed the district court's summary judgment in a legal malpractice suit, holding that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding when the statute of limitations began to run. The court further ruled as a matter of law that an attorney-client relationship existed between the tech company and the law firm, rejecting the lower court's dismissal of the claims.

Civil Intellectual Property Statute of Limitations Summary Judgment
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Feb 2 2026
4th Cir. 24-2006 Per Curiam

DREAMWORKS MOTORSPORTS, INC v. JONATHAN KLEIN

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's remand of a contract dispute to state court because the defendant removed the case after the one-year statutory deadline had expired. The court held that the plaintiff's strategic delay in scheduling a hearing on a motion to amend the complaint did not constitute bad faith sufficient to excuse the untimely removal.

Civil Contract
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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