Raj Patel

Correspondent

Raj Patel

Breaking news correspondent, covers late-night developments and emergency rulings.

Immigration & Government

Decisions covered by Raj Patel

897 decisions
May 1 2026
7th Cir. 24-2806 Panel Decision

ANA BERNAL v. KOHL'S CORPORATION and KOHL'S, INC

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a petition to compel arbitration, holding that federal courts cannot overturn an arbitrator's discretionary decision to terminate proceedings. Because the American Arbitration Association properly closed the cases after Kohl's refused to register its agreement, the petitioners remain barred from judicial resolution of their claims.

Civil Consumer Protection
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
5th Cir. 25-60500 Per Curiam

GIS Holdings, L.L.C., (Avondale Operations); The Gray Insurance Company v. Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, United States Department of Labor; Walter B. Crews...

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the Benefits Review Board's award of permanent total disability benefits to a longshoreman, finding substantial evidence supported the lower tribunal's conclusion that the worker reached maximum medical improvement and could not return to the workforce. The court rejected the employer's arguments regarding alternative employment and job retraining, noting the employer failed to meet its burden of proof and forfeited the retraining argument.

Civil Social Security
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
5th Cir. 25-20166 Per Curiam

Glen Sumner v. State Farm Lloyds

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court's summary judgment in favor of State Farm Lloyds. The court reviewed claims regarding insurance payments for hurricane damage and procedural challenges to the lower court's handling of the lawsuit.

Civil Insurance Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
9th Cir. 25-2868 Unpublished

SI, ET AL. V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review challenging an adverse credibility finding against an asylum seeker from China. The court held that substantial evidence supported the Board of Immigration Appeals' conclusion that the petitioner submitted false information, which alone justified the denial of relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
4th Cir. 25-1223 Per Curiam

Marvin v. CASA, Inc.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a nonparty who attempted to challenge a district court order. The court held that the appellant lacked standing because he was not a party to the underlying litigation and had not sought leave to intervene or file an amicus brief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
Fed. Cir. 26-1199 Panel Decision

Smiler v. SSA

The Federal Circuit transferred an appeal involving federal employment discrimination to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania because district courts hold exclusive jurisdiction over such claims. The court relied on the prohibition against bifurcating discrimination allegations from other employment actions.

Civil Social Security
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
9th Cir. 25-3331 Unpublished

Zamora Flores, Et Al. v. Blanche

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a BIA order denying asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The court held that substantial evidence supported the Agency's finding that the petitioner's abuse was motivated by her abuser's drug use rather than a protected ground.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →
Apr 30 2026
9th Cir. 23-138 Unpublished

ROMERO HERNANDEZ V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of the BIA's decision, upholding the finding that Mexican men deported from the U.S. is too broad to constitute a cognizable particular social group. The court further held that substantial evidence supported the conclusion that the petitioner's harm was motivated by personal interference in a relationship rather than membership in a protected class.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →