Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
The First Circuit affirmed a felon-in-possession conviction, ruling that circumstantial evidence of control and behavior was sufficient to prove constructive possession of a firearm found under a car seat. The court also held that the defendant waived his facial Second Amendment challenge by failing to adequately develop the argument on appeal.
The First Circuit affirmed Tevin Abercrombie's conviction for unlawful firearm possession by a felon, ruling that circumstantial evidence of his control over the vehicle and suspicious behavior supported a finding of constructive possession. The court also held that Abercrombie waived his facial Second Amendment challenge to the statute by failing to adequately develop the argument on appeal.
The First Circuit affirmed the denial of James Garrey's habeas petition, ruling that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court did not unreasonably apply federal law in upholding a prosecutor's peremptory strike of a minority juror. The court held that the state trial court's acceptance of the prosecutor's race-neutral explanation was reasonable given the ambiguous record and the high deference required under AEDPA.
The First Circuit affirmed Haoyang Yu's conviction for unlawful possession of a stolen trade secret, finding sufficient evidence that he retained proprietary microchip design files after leaving his employer. The court also rejected Yu's constitutional challenges, ruling that the government provided a legitimate, non-discriminatory basis for the investigation and prosecution.
The First Circuit vacated and remanded a district court judgment in a family business dispute, finding that the lower court failed to properly apply partnership and implied contract principles to the siblings' decade-long conduct. The appellate court held that the siblings' long-standing practice of treating personal expenses as compensation created an implied agreement, requiring a new determination of Orkin's rightful share of Boost Web funds.
The First Circuit vacated a district court judgment that had found siblings liable for defamation and conversion in a dispute over a family business operated without formal corporate structure. The appellate court held that the lower court erred by failing to recognize an implied contract for compensation and by issuing an injunction that exceeded its authority to resolve ownership disputes.
The First Circuit vacated and remanded a district court judgment that failed to recognize an implied contract entitling a sibling to compensation for his decade-long management of a family business. The court also reversed a finding that the sibling's email accusing him of fraud was not defamatory, holding that the statement unambiguously imputed criminal conduct.
The First Circuit affirmed Haoyang Yu's conviction for possessing a stolen trade secret, finding sufficient evidence that he downloaded and retained proprietary microchip design files after leaving Analog Devices. The court also rejected Yu's claim of unconstitutional selective prosecution, ruling that he failed to prove he was treated differently than similarly situated non-Chinese individuals.
The First Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision rejecting an asylum claim based on domestic violence. The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency's finding that the petitioner's abuser was motivated by personal relationship disputes rather than her membership in a protected social group.
The First Circuit reversed a district court dismissal of a § 1983 lawsuit, holding that the case was not moot despite the defendants depositing the disputed union dues. The court remanded the matter to determine whether the plaintiff qualifies as a prevailing party for attorney's fees, a status that could be lost if the case is deemed moot.