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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 16 2026
5th Cir. 24-40702 Per Curiam

United States v. Luna

The Fifth Circuit affirmed Julio Cesar Luna's convictions for transporting illegal aliens, ruling the district court acted within its discretion to dismiss a biased juror. The court also vacated an amended judgment entered by the district court while the appeal was pending, finding the lower court lacked jurisdiction to alter the record during that time.

Criminal Immigration (Criminal)
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Mar 16 2026
5th Cir. 25-20199 Per Curiam

Judy Vuong v. United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Douglas A. Collins, Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the Department of Veterans Affairs on Judy Vuong's claims of race, color, and sex discrimination and retaliation. However, the court reversed and remanded the case regarding her hostile work environment claim, finding the district court erred by dismissing it sua sponte without notice.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Mar 9 2026
5th Cir. 25-20125 Panel Decision

Staci Barber v. Bryan Scott Rounds

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for a teacher's First Amendment free speech and free exercise claims, holding that a principal's categorical ban on visible teacher prayer violates clearly established law under Kennedy v. Bremerton. However, the court reversed the denial of qualified immunity for the equal protection claim, ruling that the complaint failed to allege the principal's personal involvement in disparate treatment.

Civil Civil Rights - Religious Liberty (RLUIPA) Qualified Immunity
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Feb 6 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cv-21397-KMW Published

Castro-Reyes v. City of Opa-Locka

The Eleventh Circuit reversed the denial of qualified immunity for Officers Bosque and Kelly regarding a false arrest claim, finding they had arguable probable cause to detain the plaintiff under Florida's Baker Act. The court affirmed the denial of immunity for Officers Serrano and Perez on excessive force and state law assault claims, holding that a jury could find their use of force was grossly disproportionate to the threat posed.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Dec 22 2025
11th Cir. 8:20-cv-02697-VMC-AEP Per Curiam

Mullin v. Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court's summary judgment on a federal employee's claim that the Department of Veterans Affairs unlawfully disclosed her confidential medical information. The court affirmed summary judgment on her claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation, finding the Department provided reasonable accommodations and that the adverse actions were not solely based on her disability.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Nov 17 2025
11th Cir. 3:20-cv-05358-RH-HTC Published

Alford v. Walton County

The Eleventh Circuit held that a Walton County ordinance banning all access to privately-owned beaches during the COVID-19 pandemic constituted a physical taking under the Fifth Amendment. The court reversed the district court's summary judgment for the County, ruling that public emergencies do not create an exception to the Takings Clause.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Mootness Summary Judgment
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Nov 10 2025
11th Cir. 3:21-cv-00329-MCR-ZCB Published

Watson v. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of most tort and contract claims against Saudi Arabia but reversed the dismissal of claims alleging gross negligence in hiring and vetting a terrorist trainee. The court held that the Kingdom's affirmative acts in sending Mohammed Al-Shamrani to the United States were sufficient to overcome sovereign immunity under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.

Criminal Violent Crimes
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Jan 14 2025
9th Cir. 4:23-cv-01196- Published

TANGLE, INC v. ARITZIA, INC.; ARITZIA LP; UNITED STATES OF ARITZIA, INC

The Ninth Circuit reversed the dismissal of a copyright claim involving kinetic sculptures, holding that their ability to assume multiple poses does not prevent them from being fixed in a tangible medium. However, the court affirmed the dismissal of a trade dress claim because the plaintiff failed to provide adequate notice of the specific elements of the alleged trade dress.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Dec 30 2024
9th Cir. 9:21-cr-00029- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MICHAEL BLAKE DEFRANCE

The Ninth Circuit reversed Michael Blake DeFrance's conviction for possessing a firearm as a convicted domestic abuser because his prior state offense did not legally require physical force. The court held that Montana's assault statute is too broad to qualify as a predicate offense under federal law because it can be violated by inflicting emotional distress alone.

Criminal Drug Trafficking Firearms
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