Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Detroit, ruling that annual Certifications and Assurances are forward-looking promises rather than specific factual assertions. Consequently, these general pledges to comply with federal law cannot support liability under the False Claims Act even if the City later violated the underlying regulations.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for a jail mental-health official who ordered a compromise placement for a suicidal detainee. The court held that no clearly established law prohibited her decision to balance suicide prevention with the need to reduce the detainee's mental distress.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for defendants in an excessive-force suit because the plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies. The court held that the Prison Litigation Reform Act bars litigation when an inmate has not filed a standard grievance or provided evidence of an informal one in the district court.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to suppress a handgun found in a plastic bag on a vehicle's roof. The court held that the gun would have inevitably been discovered during a lawful inventory search of the towed car.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction of a defendant charged with gun and drug offenses. The court held that probable cause for a search warrant remained valid despite a three-day delay between the last observed drug transaction and the warrant application.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed Tony Wilkinson's conviction for felon in possession of a firearm, ruling that his extensive criminal history establishes he is dangerous under the Second Amendment. The court held that no remand was necessary because the record evidence indisputably showed Wilkinson posed a threat to the community.
The Sixth Circuit vacated the district court's denial of a motion to terminate supervised release because the record failed to demonstrate that the court considered the mandatory sentencing factors. The panel held that a mere checkmark or referral to a probation report without explicit reasoning constitutes an abuse of discretion.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of ERISA claims alleging that union benefit funds violated fiduciary duties by refusing contributions. The court held that the Garmon doctrine preempted the claims because resolving them required determining whether the funds violated the National Labor Relations Act.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed David Lynn Vannelli's 252-month sentence and the district court's rejection of his plea agreement, ruling that the judge acted within discretion given the egregious nature of the child exploitation offenses. The court held that a sentencing judge is not bound to accept a Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea recommendation and may impose a higher sentence if the agreed-upon term is inadequate.
The Sixth Circuit reversed the proceedings to address attorney Steven N. Howe's misconduct in filing briefs containing fabricated legal citations generated by artificial intelligence. The court vacated the appeal and ordered new counsel appointed to ensure a fair review of the defendant's sentencing challenge.