United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

DAVID MARTINEZ RAMIREZ v. RYAN THORNELL, Director of Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SANTOS NAUL MASS-SOTO

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the conviction of a defendant charged with illegal reentry, ruling that the district court did not commit plain error by failing to order a competency exam sua sponte. The court further held that the district court acted properly in removing the defendant from the courtroom after he repeatedly disrupted proceedings despite warnings.

ADJIA FATOU NDIAYE; N. R. L v. TODD BLANCHE, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision rejecting asylum claims based on adverse credibility findings. The court upheld the agency's determination that the petitioner provided a biologically impossible timeline regarding her miscarriage, divorce, and her daughter's birth.

JAMES M. MURPHY v. RICHARD WILLIAM WEDAN

The Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a personal injury case, ruling that the plaintiff's claims were barred by Washington's three-year statute of limitations. The court rejected the plaintiff's argument that the discovery rule tolled the limitations period, finding he knew or should have known of the allegations by 2015 or 2016.

JUAN CHILEL-CHILEL v. PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review regarding a motion to reopen removal proceedings, affirming the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision. The court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate materially changed country conditions in Guatemala sufficient to overcome the statutory filing deadline.

Escamilla v. Lara

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of several claims in a challenge to California's bail agent licensing law because the injuries were speculative and not yet ripe. However, the court reversed the denial of leave to amend, holding that the plaintiff could have pleaded facts to establish ripeness and a plausible retaliation claim.

MARICELA ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ DOMINGUEZ; KIMBERLY MICHELLE MORAN RODRIGUEZ; CHRISS ENRIQUE MORAN RODRIGUEZ v. PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision rejecting asylum and related relief for an El Salvadorian family targeted by gang extortion. The court held that the harm was motivated by economic interest rather than a protected ground, failing the statutory nexus requirement for asylum.

PALLA FARMS, LLC v. GEMINI INSURANCE COMPANY

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for an insurance company, ruling that saltwater qualifies as a pollutant under commercial general liability policies. The court held that because the plaintiff conceded saltwater was an irritant or contaminant, it met the policy definition regardless of whether it constituted waste.

Brothers Market LLC No. 1 v. United States

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment against a grocery store and its owner, holding that they failed to rebut the government's evidence of SNAP trafficking. The court ruled that statistical patterns of unusually large and rapid transactions supported an inference of trafficking without requiring expert testimony.

AUDEL HERNANDEZ AVELLANEDA; RUBI VALDEZ GARCIA; Y. H. V v. PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review seeking asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture relief for three Mexican nationals. The court found that the petitioners waived key arguments regarding government protection and failed to meet the high legal threshold required to prove a likelihood of future torture.