7th Cir.

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

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

Feb 24 2026
25-1485 Panel Decision

STEPAN SEREDA v. NOMAD FREIGHT, INC

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Stepan Sereda's employment discrimination lawsuit, ruling that he failed to exhaust administrative remedies and that several of his statutory claims lack a private right of action. The court held that Sereda's Title VII charge was untimely and that his OSHA and Whistleblower Protection Act claims could not be privately enforced or were procedurally barred.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
Read summary →
Feb 24 2026
24-1100 Panel Decision

JOHNNIE E. RUSSELL v. RYAN COMSTOCK, COLIN POWELL, and DAVE WOHLGEMUTH

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a police officer who conducted a warrantless search of an apartment following a stabbing. The court held that the officer was entitled to qualified immunity because it was not clearly established law that such a search violated the Fourth Amendment under the emergency aid exception.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Feb 24 2026
25-2689 Panel Decision

JORDAN TALLEY-SMITH v. MISSION LANE, LLC

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jordan Talley-Smith's lawsuit against Mission Lane, LLC, ruling that he cannot represent a private trust pro se and failed to comply with signature requirements under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11. The court held that Smith's claims were frivolous because they relied on the invalid legal theory that a self-created bill of exchange satisfied his debt obligations.

Bankruptcy Civil
Read summary →
Feb 24 2026
24-3158 Panel Decision

ROBERT HALL v. AMY WYKES

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison officials, ruling that the evidence did not establish deliberate indifference to unsanitary cell conditions or retaliation for grievances. The court held that the plaintiff failed to prove officials had actual knowledge of a serious health risk or that adverse actions were motivated by his protected speech.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Feb 24 2026
25-2417 Panel Decision

DANUTA DEC v. MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Secretary of Homeland Security

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a challenge to a USCIS waiver denial, holding that federal statutes unequivocally preclude judicial review of agency decisions regarding waivers of inadmissibility. The court also admonished the petitioner's attorney for submitting a brief containing non-existent citations and false quotations generated by artificial intelligence.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
Read summary →
Feb 24 2026
24-1894 Panel Decision

JOHN A. HAWKINS v. MARK SEVIER

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a habeas petition challenging the deprivation of nearly 19 years of good time credits for a violent attack on a correctional officer. The court held that the administrative record contained sufficient evidence to support the finding of serious bodily injury and that the sanction was not grossly disproportionate under the Eighth Amendment.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - General (28 USC 2241) Habeas Corpus - State Prisoner (28 USC 2254)
Read summary →
Feb 24 2026
25-1115 Panel Decision

KEYONA CAMPBELL v. EDWARD-ELMHURST HEALTH

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Keyona Campbell's Title VII claim against Edward-Elmhurst Health because she lacked Article III standing. The court held that Campbell failed to allege a concrete injury in fact since she voluntarily withdrew from the onboarding process before any alleged harm could materialize.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
Read summary →
Feb 23 2026
25-1395 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. THOMAS LINDSTROM and RYAN BUILDING GROUP, INC Third-Party Citation Respondent-Appellee APPEAL OF DAVID VENKUS Restitution Judgment Creditor

The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court's denial of a motion to enforce a criminal restitution judgment against a third-party employer, finding that material questions of fact exist regarding the nature of a severance payment. The court held that an evidentiary hearing is necessary to determine if the employer's calculation of stock options and offsetting debts constituted a prohibited transfer of assets.

Criminal Fraud
Read summary →
Feb 20 2026
24-1788 Panel Decision

United States v. Demus

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the defendants' Hobbs Act robbery convictions, ruling that robbing customers at a convenience store disrupted interstate commerce by forcing the business to close. The court also rejected a claim of jury confusion regarding the specific victim, finding the argument was waived because it was not raised at the trial level.

Criminal Robbery & Extortion
Read summary →
Feb 20 2026
24-2388 Panel Decision

United States v. Demus

The Seventh Circuit affirmed convictions for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm, ruling that the robbery of customers at a convenience store satisfied the interstate commerce nexus. The court also rejected a claim of jury confusion, finding that the defendants failed to present a separate legal theory to the jury regarding the robbery of a customer outside the store.

Criminal Robbery & Extortion
Read summary →