Decisions

Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.

Mar 25 2026
5th Cir. 24-40825 Per Curiam

United States v. Lacandreal Shokitra Jackson

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the sentence and restitution order for a defendant convicted of PPP wire fraud conspiracy, rejecting her challenges to the loss calculation and mass-marketing enhancement. The court held that the district court acted within its discretion by relying on conservative estimates from the Presentence Report that the defendant failed to rebut with evidence.

Criminal Fraud Plain Error Review Sentencing Guidelines
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Mar 25 2026
5th Cir. 25-30434 Per Curiam

Edgar L. Merida v. Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East: Edgar L. Merida v. Board of Commissioners of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Edgar Merida's employment discrimination claims because he failed to adequately brief his arguments on appeal. The court held that by neglecting to rebut the district court's analysis or explain legal errors, Merida forfeited all appellate arguments.

Civil Securities Summary Judgment
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Mar 25 2026
9th Cir. 3:22-cr-00426-JSC-1 Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DAVID WAYNE DEPAPE

The Ninth Circuit affirmed David Wayne DePape's convictions for attempting to kidnap a federal officer and assaulting a family member of a federal official. The court held that sufficient evidence supported the finding that the crimes were committed on account of the victims' performance of official duties.

Criminal Other Criminal
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Mar 25 2026
9th Cir. 8:23-cv-01045-HDV-KES Unpublished

Hageman v. Hyundai Motor America, Inc.

The Ninth Circuit held that a clickwrap agreement for Hyundai's Connected Services did not clearly and unmistakably delegate arbitrability questions to an arbitrator in a class action. The court further ruled that the arbitration clause did not cover product defect claims unrelated to the Connected Services, as such an interpretation would lead to absurd results.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Mar 25 2026
11th Cir. 1:16-cv-01780-RDC Published

Joyner v. City of Atlanta

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment against Terry Joyner on his Title VII and Georgia Whistleblower Act claims but reversed the grant of qualified immunity to individual defendants on his First Amendment retaliation claim. The court held that removing Joyner's flexible work schedule after he reported ticket-fixing constituted a material adverse action that likely chilled protected speech.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment
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Mar 25 2026
1st Cir. 23-1940 Panel Decision

JOSÉ A. RAMOS-RAMOS; ORLANDO MÉNDEZ-LÓPEZ; IGNERIS A. PÉREZ-ROSARIO; JOSÉ COTTO-MELÉNDEZ v. ZAYIRA JORDÁN-CONDE

The First Circuit dismissed an appeal by four public sector employees seeking declaratory judgments that union dues deductions were unconstitutional. The court held that the claims were moot because the union and university had already ceased the deductions and ordered reimbursement for past payments.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Mootness
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Mar 25 2026
9th Cir. 4:19-cv-03674- Published

Sweet v. McMahon

The Ninth Circuit denied the Department of Education's emergency motion for a stay pending appeal regarding a deadline to adjudicate student loan borrower defense applications. The court held that the agency failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success in overturning the district court's refusal to modify a settlement agreement.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
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