9th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

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

Apr 23 2026
2:23-cv-03401- Published

Petrey v. Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd.

The Ninth Circuit vacated summary judgment on a maritime negligence claim because expert testimony created a genuine dispute over whether a cruise line knew its bathroom design was unreasonably dangerous. However, the court affirmed summary judgment on a negligence per se claim because a movable shower curtain does not qualify as a prohibited obstruction under applicable plumbing codes.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment
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Apr 23 2026
19399-23L Unpublished

VARELA V. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's summary judgment upholding a frivolous filing penalty and a separate sanction against Ruben Varela. The court rejected Varela's arguments that income tax liability depends on receiving a governmental privilege and found no abuse of discretion in the sanctions imposed for pursuing meritless positions.

Civil Summary Judgment Tax (Civil)
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Apr 23 2026
2:22-cr-00586-ODW-1 Unpublished

USA v. Polzin

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Jacques Polzin's conviction for violating federal conflict-of-interest statutes, ruling that a rational jury could reject his entrapment by estoppel defense. The court deferred to the jury's resolution of conflicting evidence regarding supervisor approval and Polzin's concealment from ICE agents.

Criminal Fraud Plain Error Review Sixth Amendment - Jury Trial
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Apr 22 2026
4:22-cv-00057-REP Unpublished

STANFIELD V. CLEMENT

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Katherine Lea Stanfield's federal habeas petition, ruling that the Idaho Supreme Court did not unreasonably apply federal law when admitting expert testimony about a technician's statements. The court held that the Confrontation Clause was not violated because the testifying expert had personal knowledge of the evidence's accuracy and the technician's labeling served a laboratory purpose rather than a trial purpose.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254) Sixth Amendment - Confrontation Clause
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Apr 22 2026
2:21-cv-04154-SSS-KS Unpublished

Harvest Aid, LLC v. Paul, et al.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court order that denied defendants' motions for a new trial solely because they failed to comply with local pre-filing conference rules. The appellate court held that strict enforcement of procedural requirements without equitable consideration deprived the defendants of a merits-based trial when they had made good-faith efforts to cooperate.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
2:21-cv-04154-SSS-KS Unpublished

Harvest Aid, LLC v. Paul, et al.

The Ninth Circuit vacated a district court order that denied a motion for a new trial solely because the defendants failed to complete a local rule pre-filing conference. The appellate court held that the district court abused its discretion by ignoring the defendants' good-faith efforts to meet and confer and the plaintiff's refusal to cooperate.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 22 2026
25-2152 Unpublished

SINGH V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied Paramjeet Singh's petition for review of his asylum and removal relief applications, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' adverse credibility determination. The court found the agency's findings conclusive because Singh's testimony regarding past persecution contained material inconsistencies with his prior statements and medical records.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
25-1061 Unpublished

QUEVEDO-DIAZ, ET AL. V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order rejecting asylum and Convention Against Torture claims. The court affirmed that the petitioners failed to prove their proposed social group is socially distinct in Guatemala and did not meet the high legal bar for torture relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 22 2026
3:24-cv-05112-SKV Unpublished

POST V. BISIGNANO

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of Social Security disability benefits, ruling that the Administrative Law Judge's findings were supported by substantial evidence. The court held that the claimant failed to meet the medical listing requirements because he was unmedicated during a critical lung function test.

Civil Social Security
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