Raj Patel

Correspondent

Raj Patel

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

Immigration & Government

Decisions covered by Raj Patel

874 decisions
Apr 22 2026
5th Cir. 25-30044 Per Curiam

Crescent City Surgical Operating Company v. Interstate Fire & Casualty Company

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of arbitration for domestic insurers while vacating the refusal to stay litigation pending arbitration of foreign insurers. The court held that separate contracts existed between the hospital and each insurer, precluding the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards for domestic entities.

Civil Insurance Standing
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Apr 22 2026
5th Cir. 25-60111 Panel Decision

Battieste v. United States

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a medical negligence claim against the United States under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The court held that Mississippi's seven-year statute of repose bars suits filed more than seven years after the alleged negligent act, regardless of when the injury was discovered.

Civil Social Security
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Apr 22 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-2291 Panel Decision

Garland v. Office of Personnel Management

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed a Merit Systems Protection Board order denying disability retirement benefits. The court held that the Office of Personnel Management cannot rebut the presumption of disability under Bruner solely by asserting a lack of objective medical evidence.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 25-2152 Unpublished

SINGH V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied Paramjeet Singh's petition for review of his asylum and removal relief applications, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' adverse credibility determination. The court found the agency's findings conclusive because Singh's testimony regarding past persecution contained material inconsistencies with his prior statements and medical records.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 25-1061 Unpublished

QUEVEDO-DIAZ, ET AL. V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order rejecting asylum and Convention Against Torture claims. The court affirmed that the petitioners failed to prove their proposed social group is socially distinct in Guatemala and did not meet the high legal bar for torture relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 3:24-cv-05112-SKV Unpublished

POST V. BISIGNANO

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Social Security disability benefits, ruling that the Administrative Law Judge's findings were supported by substantial evidence. The court held that the claimant failed to meet the medical listing requirements because he was unmedicated during a critical lung function test.

Civil Social Security
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 3:23-cv-05065-SK Unpublished

NAVARRO V. BISIGNANO

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Social Security disability benefits, holding that the Administrative Law Judge's decision was supported by substantial evidence. The court found the ALJ provided specific and legitimate reasons for weighing medical opinions and correctly excluded asthma-related work restrictions based on uncontradicted record evidence.

Civil Social Security
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 21-70597 Unpublished

MARIO SANTIAGO-SARABIA V. TODD BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review, holding that the statutory 'good moral character' catchall provision is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to a petitioner with four DUI arrests and convictions. The court affirmed the Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of cancellation of removal and voluntary departure, finding the petitioner had fair notice that such conduct reflected poorly on his character.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 24-7083 Unpublished

LOPEZ MENDOZA V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a Guatemalan national's petition for asylum and withholding of removal, ruling that anonymous threatening phone calls without physical harm do not constitute past persecution. The court further held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution or eligibility for protection under the Convention Against Torture.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
9th Cir. 24-2216 Unpublished

FLORES RAMIREZ V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the BIA's denial of a motion to reopen, ruling that a Supreme Court decision did not constitute an extraordinary circumstance for equitable tolling because the legal principle was already established by circuit precedent. The court further dismissed the petition because the petitioner failed to prove he acted diligently in filing within the statutory ninety-day window.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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