Every decision we've summarized from United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to dismiss a felon-in-possession indictment, holding that prior circuit precedent mandates upholding the statute against Second Amendment challenges. A panel court cannot overrule binding precedent, even if the defendant argues the prior felony was non-violent.
The Tenth Circuit reversed the district court's dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claims, holding that the lower court erred by failing to consider whether further amendment of the complaint would be futile. The appellate court remanded the case for the district court to determine if allowing the plaintiff to file a second amended complaint is necessary before final dismissal.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a conviction for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, ruling that the defendant forfeited his challenge to the exclusion of video recordings. Because the defendant failed to preserve the evidentiary issue under Federal Rule of Evidence 106, the court applied a plain error standard and found no manifest injustice.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Wade Reeves' pro se complaint against state officials for failing to meet the pleading standards of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2). The court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in closing the case without granting leave to amend because the complaint lacked a short, plain statement of the claim and the proposed amendments would have been futile.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of habeas relief because the petitioner failed to prove he actually earned First Step Act time credits through qualifying programming. The court held that without evidence of successful participation in assigned programs, a prisoner cannot establish entitlement to credit adjustments.
The Tenth Circuit held that the Office of Natural Resources Revenue acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to consider a prior settlement agreement when denying Devon Energy's cost deductions for gas production. The court remanded the case to the district court with instructions to vacate the agency's order and require a new determination consistent with the settlement terms.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed Michael Anthony Rangel's conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, rejecting his Second Amendment challenge. The court held that binding precedent remains unchanged following recent Supreme Court decisions, meaning the statute's constitutionality stands.
The Tenth Circuit reversed the district court's denial of the City of Aurora's motion to dismiss, holding that an officer on administrative leave lacked the actual authority required to act under color of law. The court clarified that under the Supreme Court's decision in Lindke v. Freed, apparent authority or subjective belief is insufficient to establish state action for a Section 1983 claim.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's order enforcing a handwritten settlement term sheet between an employee and her employer. The appellate panel held that the appellant failed to provide reasoned arguments or legal authority to challenge the district court's discretion in enforcing the agreement.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Wesley Medical Center, ruling that the plaintiff failed to prove discrimination or retaliation under the ADA and FMLA. The court held that the plaintiff could not establish causation because he did not timely provide medical documentation and failed to respond to employer requests for verification.