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Mar 18 2026
5th Cir. 25-20119 Panel Decision

In the Matter of Instant Brands Acquisition Holdings Inc. Et al. Debtor GuangDong Midea Consumer Electric Manufacturing Company Limited; FoShan ShunDe Midea Electrical Heating A...: In the Matter of Instant Brands Acquisition Holdings Inc. Et al. Debtor GuangDong Midea Consumer Electric Manufacturing Company Limited; FoShan ShunDe Midea Electrical Heating A…

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy court's ruling that individual purchase orders under a master supply agreement are divisible contracts, allowing a debtor to retain indemnification rights for completed transactions. This decision clarifies that when parties negotiate distinct terms for each order, those orders remain separate from the overarching master agreement for bankruptcy assignment purposes.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Mar 18 2026
5th Cir. 25-40302 Per Curiam

Rahdar v. City of Friendswood

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a couple's Section 1983 claims alleging false and retaliatory arrest, ruling that police officers had probable cause for both incidents. The court held that the plaintiffs failed to overcome the qualified immunity defense because the officers' actions did not violate clearly established law.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Mar 18 2026
5th Cir. 25-40644 Per Curiam

Hrncir v. Internal Revenue Service

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Anthony Hrncir's pro se complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court held that Hrncir failed to adequately brief his arguments and that his novel legal theories regarding intellectual consciousness do not establish a valid cause of action under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act.

Civil Social Security Standing
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Mar 18 2026
4th Cir. 24-1056 Per Curiam

ISLAND CREEK COAL COMPANY; CONSOL ENERGY, INCORPORATED v. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION PROGRAMS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR; ROBERT E. FRAZIER: ISLAND CREEK COAL COMPANY; CONSOL ENERGY, INCORPORATED v. DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF WORKERS’ COMPENSATION PROGRAMS UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR; ROBERT E. FRAZIER

The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for review challenging an award of Black Lung Benefits to a retired West Virginia miner. The court upheld the lower tribunal's finding that the miner was totally disabled by pneumoconiosis and that his claim was filed within the statutory time limit.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Social Security Statute of Limitations
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Mar 18 2026
11th Cir. 6:18-cr-00176-RBD-DCI-1 Per Curiam

United States v. Siaca Melendez

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 24-month upward variance sentence imposed for federal probation violations involving child pornography. The court held that although the district court failed to explicitly state the reasons for the variance in open court, the record was sufficiently clear to prevent reversible error.

Criminal Firearms Plain Error Review
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Mar 18 2026
9th Cir. 3:17-cr-00257- Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. DAVID PAUL MARTINEZ

The Ninth Circuit affirmed convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9), ruling that the federal ban on firearm possession by domestic violence misdemeanants is constitutional under the Second Amendment. The court held that the statute aligns with historical traditions of disarming dangerous classes and does not require individualized findings of future dangerousness for each offender.

Criminal Firearms
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Mar 18 2026
11th Cir. 5:24-cv-00280-MW-MJF Per Curiam

Gorham v. Smiley

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's amended complaint as a shotgun pleading that failed to comply with federal civil procedure rules. The court also upheld the district court's denial of the plaintiff's motion for appointed counsel, finding no exceptional circumstances existed to warrant it.

Constitutional Sixth Amendment - Right to Counsel
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