Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded a district court dismissal of a takings claim and a state nuisance claim arising from a stalled Baltimore redevelopment project. The appellate court held that plaintiffs had standing to bring the takings claim but failed to state a valid claim because they did not own the property taken.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed a district court order that remanded two state court actions to state court sua sponte, holding that the district court lacked statutory authority to remand on non-jurisdictional grounds without a timely motion from a party.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court judgment dismissing a Federal Tort Claims Act lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs. The appellate court held that the plaintiff's claims were time-barred and that her gender discrimination claim was unexhausted.
The Fourth Circuit remanded the case to determine if the named plaintiffs have standing to seek injunctive relief for opioid use disorder treatment. The court affirmed the lower court's certification of a class seeking damages for the denial of such medical care.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal by a defendant challenging his firearm possession sentence. The court held that the defendant's valid appeal waiver in his plea agreement barred his claims of procedural and substantive unreasonableness.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging a magistrate judge's denial of a motion to amend a civil rights complaint because the order was not final or immediately appealable. The court clarified that the subsequent grant of summary judgment does not cure the jurisdictional defect for the earlier amendment denial.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a prisoner's civil rights complaint because the appellant failed to challenge the specific legal basis for the dismissal in his informal brief. The court held that this failure resulted in a forfeiture of appellate review regarding the merits of the underlying claim.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed Deanna Sharp's appeal from a district court order denying her habeas petition because she filed her notice of appeal past the mandatory thirty-day deadline. The court held that strict adherence to the filing period is a jurisdictional requirement, leaving the appellate court without authority to hear the case.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed Xavier Milton Earquhart's federal habeas appeal because he failed to make the requisite substantial showing that reasonable jurists could debate the district court's denial of constitutional relief. The court independently reviewed the record and found no debatable constitutional claims or procedural errors warranting further review.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed Deon Turner's appeal because the district court's order denying his motion to disqualify the judge was not a final judgment. The appellate court lacks jurisdiction to review non-final orders absent specific statutory exceptions.