Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Monisha Rhodes's motion for compassionate release, ruling that statutory sentencing factors weighed against relief despite her caregiving circumstances. The court held that the district court properly considered her extensive criminal history and the need to protect the public from further crimes.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling denying a Chapter 7 debtor's request to dismiss an adversary proceeding after the bankruptcy trustee had already settled the case. The court held that the debtor lacked standing to control the litigation because the estate's liabilities vastly exceeded its assets, leaving no realistic prospect of a surplus for the debtor.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Donald Stenson's motion to withdraw his guilty plea to sex trafficking charges. The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in finding the plea voluntary despite Stenson's claims of medication impairment and feeling rushed.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Aurora and its officers, ruling that the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claims were either time-barred or defeated by the existence of probable cause. The court held that a state judge's finding of probable cause to charge the plaintiff with a weapon offense provided an absolute defense to his civil rights lawsuit, regardless of his subsequent acquittal.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a federal prisoner's habeas petition, holding that the Ex Post Facto Clause does not prohibit applying an amended statute that extends the time period for collecting criminal fines. The court ruled that because the original liability period had not expired when the law changed, the amendment did not constitute retroactive punishment.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's order compelling arbitration, holding that the plaintiffs agreed to the mandatory arbitration clause by confirming their subscription with a customer service representative. The court found that the company's protocol provided sufficient notice of the terms, and the plaintiffs' failure to recall the specific interaction was insufficient to rebut the presumption of notice.
The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se plaintiff who failed to provide any legal arguments or citations contesting the district court's ruling. The court held that even self-represented litigants must comply with Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 28 to avoid having their appeals deemed frivolous.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a plaintiff's lawsuit for failure to prosecute after he refused to comply with an order compelling arbitration. The court held that the interlocutory order to arbitrate did not merge into the final dismissal, leaving the appellate court without jurisdiction to review the arbitration ruling.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the grant of summary judgment, holding that an employee failed to prove causation for her FMLA and Rehabilitation Act retaliation claims. The court found that the university's decision to terminate the plaintiff was based on her insubordinate emails to senior leadership, not her protected medical leave or accommodation requests.
The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court order transporting a death row inmate for mental health testing, holding that the All Writs Act does not authorize such measures without a sufficient nexus to a specific claim for relief. The court found the petitioner failed to demonstrate how the requested brain scans would be admissible evidence to support his equitable tolling argument.