11th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Mar 25 2026
2:18-cv-01693-RDP Per Curiam

MATTHEW T. WINTHER TRACEY WINTHER v. UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a district court's grant of judgment as a matter of law on claims of wantonness and punitive damages, finding sufficient evidence for a jury to find U.S. Steel acted with reckless disregard for the Winthers' property rights. The court affirmed the denial of U.S. Steel's cross-appeal regarding causation, ruling that expert testimony was not required to prove the developer's activities caused erosion and debris damage.

Civil Other Civil
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Mar 25 2026
0:23-cv-60260-MD Unpublished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
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Mar 25 2026
1:18-cr-20580-RS-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ISRAEL ROJAS

The Eleventh Circuit vacated and remanded a district court's denial of a compassionate release motion because the lower court incorrectly ruled that the defendant failed to exhaust administrative remedies. Although the government conceded on appeal that exhaustion was satisfied, the appellate court declined to affirm on the merits since the district court never addressed the substantive arguments regarding the defendant's cancer diagnosis.

Compassionate Release Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 25 2026
1:16-cv-01780-RDC Published

Joyner v. City of Atlanta

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment against Terry Joyner on his Title VII and Georgia Whistleblower Act claims but reversed the grant of qualified immunity to individual defendants on his First Amendment retaliation claim. The court held that removing Joyner's flexible work schedule after he reported ticket-fixing constituted a material adverse action that likely chilled protected speech.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Mar 24 2026
8:24-cr-00234-VMC-TGW-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Switlyk

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Christopher Switlyk's conviction for removing property to prevent government seizure, rejecting his challenges to evidentiary rulings regarding prior bad acts and alleged prosecutorial threats. The court held that evidence of Switlyk's prior concealment of assets was probative of his intent and that statements made by prosecutors after the alleged crime were irrelevant to his state of mind at the time of the offense.

Criminal Obstruction of Justice
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Mar 24 2026
2:24-cr-00427-ECM-JTA-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Mock

The Eleventh Circuit granted the Government's motion to dismiss an appeal filed by a defendant who had signed a plea agreement containing an appeal waiver. The court held that the waiver was enforceable because it was made knowingly and voluntarily, barring the defendant from challenging the conviction or sentence.

Criminal Other Criminal
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Mar 24 2026
3:23-cv-00581-HNJ Per Curiam

Davis v. DiStefano

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a plaintiff's civil rights claims, ruling that law enforcement officers had probable cause to arrest him for domestic violence. The court held that the officers' reliance on the victim's statements and body-camera footage satisfied the Fourth Amendment requirements for a warrant.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
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Mar 24 2026
2:23-cr-00379-RAH-SMD-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Guice, Jr.

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress self-incriminating statements made by a public employee during a criminal investigation. The court held that the defendant failed to prove he subjectively believed, or that such a belief was objectively reasonable, that he faced termination for refusing to speak to law enforcement.

Constitutional Drug Trafficking Fifth Amendment - Self-Incrimination Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255)
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