United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

LEGALFORCE RAPC WORLDWIDE, PC v. LEGALFORCE, INC., a Japanese corporation

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Lanham Act trademark infringement claim, holding that a company's sale of its own equity does not constitute "goods or services" under the statute. The court reasoned that because equity is an ownership interest rather than a marketable product offered to customers, advertising and selling shares cannot support a trademark infringement action.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSHUA HANS ABAT JAO

Arizona Mining Reform Coalition v. United States Forest Service

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction against a congressionally mandated land exchange involving Oak Flat. The court held that plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits of their claims under NEPA, RFRA, and the Free Exercise Clause, leaving the land transfer to proceed.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSHUA HANS ABAT JAO

State of Alaska v. National Marine Fisheries Service

The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court order that had vacated the National Marine Fisheries Service's critical habitat designations for two Arctic seal species. The appellate panel held that the agency acted within its statutory discretion under the Endangered Species Act and reinstated the designations.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSHUA HANS ABAT JAO

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSHUA HANS ABAT JAO

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the sentences and restitution orders for three defendants who conspired to defraud their employer, rejecting arguments that the district court erred in calculating loss amounts higher than those stipulated in their plea agreements. The court held that the district judge acted within its discretion to question witnesses and rely on presentence investigation reports to determine the true financial harm.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. CHRISTIAN MICHAEL RINER

The Ninth Circuit affirmed Christian Riner's conviction for possessing ammunition as a prohibited person, rejecting his Second Amendment challenges under controlling precedent. The court also upheld the admissibility of evidence seized during a vehicle inventory search, deferring to the district court's finding that the search was not pretextual.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JORGE ARMANDO FUENTES- PACHECO

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the drug trafficking convictions and supervised release violation sentence of Jorge Armando Fuentes-Pacheco, ruling that any potential Miranda error regarding a border statement was harmless. The court further held that cellphone images of missed calls were admissible as non-prejudicial evidence inextricably intertwined with the charged offense.

CHARLES HEAD v. Officer J. ROCHA, individual; KENNETH CHIN, individual; Police Officer QUINN individual; Officer C. MCPHAIL, Officer Badge no. A171 La Habra Police Department

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for police officers in a civil rights action, ruling that the plaintiff's own deposition testimony defeated his claims of evidence fabrication and malicious prosecution. The court held that the plaintiff's admission that he failed to register his weapon as required by law established probable cause for his arrest, which serves as a complete defense to both constitutional torts.