Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment on claims of discriminatory and retaliatory termination but reversed the dismissal of a racially hostile work environment claim. The court held that evidence of pervasive racial slurs directed at nonwhite customers and the use of the term 'boy' created a genuine dispute of material fact regarding the workplace environment.
The Eleventh Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for Officers Bosque and Kelly regarding a false arrest claim, finding they had arguable probable cause to detain the plaintiff under Florida's Baker Act. The court affirmed the denial of immunity for Officers Serrano and Perez on excessive force and state law assault claims, holding that a jury could find their use of force was grossly disproportionate to the threat posed.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Charlie Holley's convictions for assaulting a federal employee and firearm offenses, rejecting challenges to the admission of body-worn camera footage and a 911 call. The court also upheld the 192-month sentence, finding the district court properly considered Holley's mental health history under the sentencing guidelines.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated a district court dismissal of parents' negligence claims against the United States regarding child abuse at a government daycare. The appellate court held that the government's duty to protect the children was independent of the abusers' employment status, placing the claims outside the Federal Tort Claims Act's intentional tort exception.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Myelicia Rodgers' conviction for mail tampering and theft, ruling that the district judge did not impermissibly draw an adverse inference from her decision not to testify. The court held that the judge's neutral reference to the lack of testimony merely explained that the prosecution's evidence remained uncontradicted, rather than punishing Rodgers for exercising her Fifth Amendment right.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence, ruling that an attempt to commit New York second-degree robbery qualifies as a crime of violence under the Sentencing Guidelines. This decision relies on a 2023 amendment that explicitly includes inchoate offenses within the definition of a crime of violence.
The Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court's denial of qualified immunity to a sheriff's deputy sued for drunk driving that caused a fatal collision. The court held that existing circuit precedent did not clearly establish that such conduct violated the Constitution, shielding the deputy from federal liability.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for county sheriffs sued under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act, ruling that the plaintiff failed to prove intentional discrimination required for monetary damages. The court also held that the plaintiff's claims for injunctive relief were moot because he was no longer incarcerated.
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.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a protective order in a discovery dispute involving attorney-client privilege. The court held that the law firms failed to meet their burden of proving privilege through a deficient privilege log.