Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The D.C. Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the FBI, holding its search for Freedom of Information Act records was adequate and its withholdings justified. The court rejected the appellant's challenges to the search methodology and his claims of agency misconduct due to a lack of evidentiary support.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a medical malpractice suit because the plaintiff failed to file a required affidavit of merit under Delaware law. The court held that this state statute is substantive under the Erie doctrine and does not conflict with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a visa applicant's claim that a consular officer failed to make a final decision on her application. The court held that federal regulations do not impose a clear legal duty prohibiting officers from placing refused applications in administrative processing.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of derivative citizenship and Convention Against Torture relief, holding that the petitioner's father established paternity by legitimation under Baja California law. The court excused the waiver of the citizenship claim to avoid manifest injustice but found no genuine dispute of material fact requiring transfer to a district court.
The D.C. Circuit held that the liberal pleading standards typically afforded to pro se litigants do not automatically apply when the litigant is a licensed attorney. The court affirmed the district court's dismissal of most claims and its grant of summary judgment, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying leniency to the pro se lawyer.
The Ninth Circuit reversed the district court's dismissal of an indictment charging defendants with violating the Anti-Riot Act, holding that they failed to satisfy the rigorous two-prong selective prosecution standard. The panel found no similarly situated individuals were unpunished because the lower court improperly compared collective far-left groups to specific defendants and determined that timing and other government actions did not prove impermissible motive.
The D.C. Circuit vacated and remanded the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's authorization of a Louisiana LNG facility for failing to adequately explain its decision not to assess greenhouse gas significance and for inadequately analyzing cumulative nitrogen dioxide effects. However, the court denied the petitioners' request to vacate the order entirely, allowing the project to proceed while FERC corrects the identified environmental deficiencies.
The D.C. Circuit affirmed summary judgment for federal law enforcement agencies in two Freedom of Information Act lawsuits, ruling that their searches for records regarding death row inmate Daniel Troya were adequate. The court further held that the agencies properly withheld documents under multiple FOIA exemptions to protect privacy, confidential sources, and law enforcement techniques.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging U.S. military aid to Israel, ruling that the claims present nonjusticiable political questions. The court held that adjudicating the dispute would improperly intrude upon the Executive Branch's exclusive constitutional prerogatives over foreign policy and national security.
The D.C. Circuit held that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission must apply the Mobile-Sierra presumption before ordering refunds for electricity sales exceeding a soft price cap. The court vacated the Commission's refund orders and dismissed challenges from consumer groups as moot.
