2nd Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

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

Feb 14 2024
22-3094-cv Panel Decision

Saint-Jean v. Emigrant Mortgage Co., Inc.

The Second Circuit affirmed a jury verdict in a reverse redlining case where Black and Latino homeowners successfully sued a lender for violating antidiscrimination laws by targeting them with predatory mortgage refinancing loans. The court held that equitable tolling applied to the statute of limitations and that a release-of-claims provision in a loan modification agreement was unenforceable as a matter of law.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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Dec 14 2023
22-1076-cv Panel Decision

CompassCare v. Hochul

The Second Circuit vacated the dismissal of three religious organizations' expressive-association claims against New York's reproductive health anti-discrimination law, recognizing that employers may assert associational rights when forced to retain employees who contradict their mission. The Court affirmed the dismissal of free speech and free exercise claims while remanding the case to determine if the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that the law burdens their specific organizational missions.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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Oct 27 2023
22-2178-cv Panel Decision

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BY LETITIA JAMES, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK v. NIAGARA-WHEATFIELD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Second Circuit reversed a district court dismissal, clarifying that a state suing in parens patriae need not prove a discriminatory policy or practice to establish standing. The court held that New York sufficiently alleged that a school district's failure to address repeated sexual assaults and harassment affected a substantial segment of the student population.

Civil Civil Rights - Education
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Aug 11 2023
20-1666 Panel Decision

ABDERRAHMANE FARHANE v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Second Circuit affirmed the denial of Abderrahmane Farhane's habeas petition, holding that his counsel was not ineffective for failing to warn him about denaturalization risks. The court ruled that civil denaturalization is a collateral consequence of a guilty plea, meaning the Sixth Amendment does not require defense attorneys to advise on such immigration consequences.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Supervised Release
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Jun 5 2023
22-1711-cv Panel Decision

GIVAUDAN SA PHYTO TECH CORP., DBA BLUE CALIFORNIA v. CONAGEN INC

The Second Circuit affirmed a district court judgment holding that Conagen was not liable for breach of contract after negotiations for an exclusivity arrangement failed. The court ruled that the executed Term Sheet created a binding duty to negotiate in good faith but did not bind the parties to the specific exclusivity terms sought by Givaudan.

Civil Securities
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Aug 5 2022
21-56 Panel Decision

Murray v. UBS Securities, LLC

The Second Circuit held that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires a whistleblower to prove an employer acted with retaliatory intent to discriminate against them. Because the district court failed to instruct the jury on this essential element, the verdict is vacated and the case is remanded for a new trial.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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Aug 5 2022
20-4202 Panel Decision

Murray v. UBS Securities, LLC

The Second Circuit held that the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires a whistleblower to prove an employer acted with specific retaliatory intent to establish an adverse employment action claim. Because the district court failed to instruct the jury on this essential element, the court vacated the verdict and remanded for a new trial.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
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