Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Karen Williams' housing authority lawsuits due to her failure to properly serve the defendants. Because her informal appellate brief did not challenge the specific grounds for dismissal, she forfeited the right to appellate review of those rulings.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Rock Hill, ruling that a short-term rental host lacks standing to assert the constitutional rights of his transient guests. The court further held that the city's zoning regulations limiting short-term rentals are a valid exercise of traditional police power subject only to rational basis review.
The Fourth Circuit denied a pro se petition for a writ of mandamus seeking to compel North Carolina state courts to enforce a prior state order. The court held that federal courts lack jurisdiction to issue mandamus relief against state officials or to review final state court orders.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed Yu Hin Chan's appeal because he failed to file specific objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation after receiving proper notice. This failure forfeited his right to appellate review of the district court's dismissal for failure to state a claim.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a plaintiff's Bivens claim, ruling that the complaint failed to allege sufficient facts to establish a cognizable constitutional violation. The court further held that the U.S. Attorneys involved were protected by absolute prosecutorial immunity from liability.
The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se litigant because the notice was submitted before the district court entered a final order. The court held that without a final judgment or specific interlocutory ruling, it lacks the statutory authority to hear the case.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a sentence for illegal reentry, ruling that a district court's brief explanation for imposing supervised release was procedurally reasonable. The court held that the judge's engagement with counsel and consideration of the defendant's recidivism provided sufficient context for an individualized assessment.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Khriy Sherrod Simon's conviction for impersonating a federal agent, ruling that a rational jury could find he claimed to be a DEA agent to detain and search victims. The court also held that any error in excluding hearsay testimony regarding Simon's bail enforcement work was harmless given the overwhelming evidence of his federal impersonation.
The Fourth Circuit vacated Richard Davis's health care fraud convictions because the government failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that specific Medicaid claims submitted on two dates were actually false. The court held that without evidence showing the counselors did not provide the requisite five hours of reimbursable services on those days, the jury could not legally find guilt.