Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Ascension Health Alliance, ruling that an employee cannot claim FMLA interference or retaliation for absences reported after termination. The court held that the plaintiff failed to provide timely notice of her absences as required by company policy and federal regulations.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for an insurer, holding that a church breached its policy by delaying repairs for two years while disputing cost estimates. The court ruled that the contractual obligation to rebuild 'as soon as reasonably possible' is a strict condition precedent that cannot be bypassed by valuation disputes.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that an investment fund debtor is not liable for legal fees incurred by its managing member when engagement letters explicitly identified the individual as the client. The court held that without a signed writing or clear contractual obligation, the bankruptcy estate cannot be charged for the manager's personal legal debts.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that prison officials violated an inmate's Eighth Amendment rights by using her as bait to catch a sexual predator, but reversed the damages award due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors. The court ordered a new trial on compensatory and punitive damages while leaving the liability finding intact.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed that prison officials acted with deliberate indifference by using an inmate as bait to catch a staff member who was sexually assaulting her, rejecting their qualified immunity defense. However, the court reversed the damages award, ordering a new trial because the jury lacked sufficient evidence to link the officials to the abuse prior to their specific knowledge and because the exclusion of evidence regarding the inmate's state of mind prejudiced the punitive damages calculation.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed qualified immunity for the officer who tackled a suspect during a drug raid but reversed the immunity grant for a second officer whose rifle struck the suspect's head. The court held that disputed facts regarding whether the blow was intentional or accidental preclude summary judgment on the excessive force claim.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of David Taylor's motion for compassionate release, ruling that he failed to prove his medical care was inadequate or that his family circumstances constituted an extraordinary and compelling reason. The court also clarified that rehabilitation efforts alone cannot serve as the basis for early release under the federal statute.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison medical providers, ruling that conservative treatment of reducible hernias did not constitute deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment. The court held that the Constitution guarantees adequate medical care, not the specific surgical treatment a prisoner desires.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a Section 1983 lawsuit alleging that a protective order and subsequent criminal convictions were obtained through fraud. The court held that the plaintiff's claims were barred by Heck v. Humphrey because a favorable ruling would necessarily imply the invalidity of his standing criminal convictions.
The Seventh Circuit dismissed David McNamara's appeal because he failed to file a brief containing legal arguments challenging the district court's decision. The underlying civil rights suit was properly dismissed by the lower court based on immunity doctrines, the statute of limitations, and federal abstention principles.