Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed a 120-month federal sentence for a defendant who possessed a handgun while kidnapping and beating a domestic partner. The court held that the government met its burden to show the firearm facilitated the underlying felonies through the defendant's threats and constructive possession.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of the Wilton Rancheria's motion to vacate an arbitration award requiring the Tribe to cooperate with a specific union election procedure. The court held that the arbitrator did not manifest a disregard of the law or issue a completely irrational decision by determining that the Tribal Labor Relations Ordinance procedure was not the exclusive method available under the parties' Memorandum of Agreement.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for an insurance company, ruling that saltwater qualifies as a pollutant under commercial general liability policies. The court held that because the plaintiff conceded saltwater was an irritant or contaminant, it met the policy definition regardless of whether it constituted waste.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment against a grocery store and its owner, holding that they failed to rebut the government's evidence of SNAP trafficking. The court ruled that statistical patterns of unusually large and rapid transactions supported an inference of trafficking without requiring expert testimony.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's lawsuit after he failed to pay the required filing fee. The court held that the plaintiff waived his right to challenge the dismissal on appeal by failing to raise the issue in his brief.
The Eleventh Circuit vacated a Benefits Review Board decision, clarifying that the Black Lung Benefits Act does not require a miner to prove employment for a full 365-day calendar year to count as a year of service. Instead, the court held that working 125 days in coal mines during a calendar year is sufficient to establish a year of employment for benefit eligibility.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a racial discrimination verdict against a transportation company that rescinded a job offer based on the applicant's race. The court held that the district court properly cured counsel misconduct and that the damages awarded were supported by evidence and not unconstitutionally excessive.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Jonathon Howard Beck's habeas motion, ruling that the record conclusively showed he received effective assistance of counsel. The court held that Beck's sworn statements during his plea colloquy created a formidable barrier to his claim that he did not understand his mandatory minimum sentences.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion for sentence reduction after determining the appeal raised no non-frivolous issues. The court granted counsel's motion to withdraw under Anders v. California, leaving the original 96-month sentence in effect.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction against the DEA's show cause proceedings. The court held that the pharmacy's constitutional challenge to the removal protections of administrative law judges was foreclosed by binding prior precedent.
