Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The Seventh Circuit dismissed Jerron Williams's appeal because he had contractually waived his right to challenge his conviction in a plea agreement. The court further held that the magistrate judge properly explained the charges, rendering Williams's argument about the statutory classification of the underlying offense moot.
The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court ruling that granted partial summary judgment to a plaintiff regarding a warrantless home entry, finding that unresolved factual disputes precluded a legal determination on qualified immunity. The appellate court remanded the case for the district court to resolve key factual issues and ensure both prongs of the qualified immunity test are addressed.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a defendant's sentence after he failed to object to a revised sentencing guideline calculation that applied a higher drug conversion ratio to THC-infused edibles. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion to permit a late government objection to the presentence report and that the defendant waived his substantive argument regarding the conversion ratio by agreeing to the revised calculation.
The Seventh Circuit vacated a district court's sweeping preliminary injunction regulating federal immigration enforcement in Chicago and dismissed the appeal as moot. The court applied the Munsingwear doctrine to clear the record, noting that the underlying enforcement operation had ended and the plaintiffs voluntarily sought dismissal.
The Seventh Circuit held that a prison's refusal to provide accurate prayer schedules does not violate RLUIPA or the Free Exercise Clause when inmates can obtain them through donations or purchase. The court affirmed summary judgment for the defendants, ruling that the de minimis cost of buying a schedule does not constitute a substantial burden on religious exercise.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of federal habeas relief, holding that the state court's finding that the petitioner would not have accepted a plea offer was not objectively unreasonable. The court ruled that the petitioner's steadfast claim of innocence throughout the proceedings rebutted his later testimony that he would have pleaded guilty if informed of the mandatory life sentence.
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.