Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of Harry Gingold's employment-related claims against West Virginia University officials. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's denial of Gingold's motions to alter the judgment or amend his complaint.
The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for review challenging the denial of asylum and removal proceedings against a Honduran national. The court rejected the petitioner's argument that his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status shielded him from removal, finding his status had terminated and he was statutorily ineligible due to criminal convictions.
The Fourth Circuit held that a criminal offense carrying a maximum sentence of twelve months qualifies as a crime for which a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed under federal immigration law. Consequently, the petitioner's Virginia Class 1 misdemeanor conviction renders him ineligible for cancellation of removal.
The Fourth Circuit vacated and remanded a district court's dismissal of a habeas petition, clarifying that a final order of removal satisfies the 'in custody' requirement of 28 U.S.C. § 2241 even when a noncitizen is physically confined by state authorities. The court held that the restraint on liberty imposed by a final deportation order is sufficient to confer federal habeas jurisdiction.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict holding four companies liable for falsely advertising aftermarket saltwater pool chlorination products. The court rejected arguments that the district court erred by admitting previously undisclosed evidence and by directing a verdict on alter ego liability.
The Fourth Circuit held that servicemembers suing over alleged Servicemembers Civil Relief Act violations lacked Article III standing because their injuries were not traceable to the acts of the Governor or state judges. The court vacated the lower court's judgment and remanded with instructions to dismiss the case for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 120-month sentence for firearm possession by a felon, ruling that any error in calculating the Sentencing Guidelines was harmless. The court held that the district court would have imposed the same sentence regardless of the Guidelines calculation and that the sentence was substantively reasonable given the defendant's conduct.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for mortgage servicers, holding that monthly statements, payoff requests, and tax forms sent during a debtor's Chapter 13 bankruptcy were purely informational and did not constitute prohibited debt collection. The court reasoned that explicit disclaimers clarifying the documents' non-collection purpose prevented them from violating the automatic stay or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment against Tiffany Burnett on her retaliation and Equal Pay Act claims. The court held that Burnett failed to provide evidence beyond conclusory allegations to prove a causal connection between her protected activity and her termination, or that her job duties were substantially similar to those of her comparators.