Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se prisoner regarding a district court order to amend his complaint. The court held that the order was neither a final judgment nor an appealable interlocutory order under federal law.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Brian David Hill's appeal from the denial of his federal habeas corpus motion because he failed to obtain a certificate of appealability. The court found that Hill did not make a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right as required by statute.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed Tomonta Simmons's conviction for unlawful firearm possession by a felon, rejecting his Second Amendment challenge to his guilty plea. The court also upheld his sentence, finding no procedural or substantive error in the district court's application of sentencing guidelines.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed a 105-month prison sentence for a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting claims that the sentence was procedurally or substantively unreasonable. The court held that the district court properly considered the defendant's arguments and adequately justified an upward variance from the Sentencing Guidelines.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a sexual abuse survivor's state-law tort claims against a residential treatment facility, ruling they were time-barred under West Virginia's two-year statute of limitations. The court clarified that the state's tolling statute for intentional concealment does not apply to claims based on negligent supervision or hiring.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a second lawsuit by real estate firms challenging state reclamation activities at a former coal mine. The court held that the doctrine of claim preclusion barred the plaintiffs from relitigating issues arising from the same site and transaction, and that the remaining claim failed to state a valid cause of action under the Clean Water Act.
The Fourth Circuit held that genuine issues of material fact exist regarding whether prison officials were deliberately indifferent to a prisoner's serious physical disabilities by denying him out-of-cell exercise. The court affirmed the dismissal of the claim against the Department of Corrections Director but vacated summary judgment for the local officials, remanding the case for trial.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted a motion to amend a prior opinion to correct a party name. The court changed the name from Haynie to Darling on page four of the original filing.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and reversed in part a jury verdict against CACI Premier Technology, Inc. The case involved allegations of torture and conspiracy under the Alien Tort Statute.
The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of an employment discrimination lawsuit, ruling that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' gaming enterprise was not a necessary party to the case. The court held that the plaintiff's claims against the corporate casino operator could proceed without the Tribe, as the operator retained exclusive authority over hiring and firing decisions.