1st Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

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

Feb 2 2026
23-1914 Panel Decision

ORLANDO GONZÁLEZ TOMASINI JULIETTE IRIZARRY-MIRANDA; CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP GONZÁLEZ-IRIZARRY; K O G, Minor; V D R, Minor; S G I, Minor; M A R, Minor v. LOUIS DEJOY, Postmaster; U...

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an employment discrimination lawsuit after finding the plaintiff committed witness tampering on the eve of trial. The court held that conditioning a custody agreement on a witness's refusal to testify constituted a fraud on the court warranting the severe sanction of dismissal.

Criminal Sex Offenses
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Feb 2 2026
24-1942 Panel Decision

BLUERADIOS, INC. v. HAMILTON, BROOK, SMITH & REYNOLDS, P.C.

The First Circuit reversed the district court's summary judgment in a legal malpractice suit, holding that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding when the statute of limitations began to run. The court further ruled as a matter of law that an attorney-client relationship existed between the tech company and the law firm, rejecting the lower court's dismissal of the claims.

Civil Intellectual Property Statute of Limitations Summary Judgment
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Jan 29 2026
24-1655 Panel Decision

JENNIFER DEANGELIS; NATALIE TOMASELLI v. HASBRO, INC

The First Circuit vacated the dismissal of a Title VII claim alleging religious discrimination and retaliation against Hasbro, Inc. The court held that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that their sincerely held religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine were not accommodated and that the employer's subsequent actions constituted adverse employment actions.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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Jan 29 2026
25-1219 Panel Decision

ANN MARIE MACCARONE v. SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a wage-and-hour lawsuit after the plaintiff refused to sign a written settlement agreement that had been orally agreed upon and recited in court. The court held that the plaintiff's subsequent refusal to comply with the court's enforcement order justified dismissal with prejudice under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b).

Civil Labor
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Jan 27 2026
24-1651 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. WILLIE RICHARD MINOR

The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the conviction of Willie Richard Minor for possessing a firearm after a prior misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, rejecting Second Amendment challenges and upholding the exclusion of evidence regarding his subjective belief about firearm possession rights.

Criminal Firearms
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Jan 27 2026
25-1134 Panel Decision

JANE DOE v. CITY OF BOSTON; BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT; INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS in the official capacities

The First Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Boston, ruling that no reasonable jury could find the police department's disclosure of a former officer's disciplinary records was motivated by retaliation. The court held that the department's actions were driven by standard procedures and legal obligations rather than a desire to punish the plaintiff for protected conduct.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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