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

Feb 5 2026
1st Cir. 24-1697 Panel Decision

Stokinger v. Armslist, LLC

The First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a negligence and public nuisance suit against an online firearms marketplace for lack of personal jurisdiction based on pre-2017 contacts. However, the court vacated the dismissal to allow jurisdictional discovery, ruling that evidence of thousands of New Hampshire-specific listings from 2018 onward may establish that the company purposefully availed itself of the state's laws.

Civil Intellectual Property
Read summary →
Feb 5 2026
1st Cir. 24-1951 Panel Decision

KATHLEEN F. HEBERT; TREVOR PARKER HEBERT; ZACHARY R. HEBERT v. KARISSA DONAHUE, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Tiffany Donahue-Hebert, deceased METROPOLITAN LIFE IN...: KATHLEEN F. HEBERT; TREVOR PARKER HEBERT; ZACHARY R. HEBERT v. KARISSA DONAHUE, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Tiffany Donahue-Hebert, deceased METROPOLITAN LIFE IN…

The First Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a partially completed beneficiary designation form under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act was valid. The court held that the statutory requirement of a signed and witnessed writing was met, and the appellant failed to provide medical evidence proving the insured lacked mental capacity.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits
Read summary →
Jan 30 2026
11th Cir. 3:23-cr-00039-MCR-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MYELICIA T. RODGERS

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Myelicia Rodgers' conviction for mail tampering and theft, ruling that the district judge did not impermissibly draw an adverse inference from her decision not to testify. The court held that the judge's neutral reference to the lack of testimony merely explained that the prosecution's evidence remained uncontradicted, rather than punishing Rodgers for exercising her Fifth Amendment right.

Criminal Embezzlement & Forgery
Read summary →
Jan 29 2026
1st Cir. 24-1655 Panel Decision

JENNIFER DEANGELIS; NATALIE TOMASELLI v. HASBRO, INC

The First Circuit vacated the dismissal of a Title VII claim alleging religious discrimination and retaliation against Hasbro, Inc. The court held that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that their sincerely held religious objections to the COVID-19 vaccine were not accommodated and that the employer's subsequent actions constituted adverse employment actions.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment
Read summary →
Jan 27 2026
United States Court… 24-5084 Panel Decision

Andrew Dudt v. Daniel Driscoll, Secretary of the Army

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Major Andrew Dudt from an Army training course, ruling that the Army Board for Correction of Military Records acted within its authority. The court held that any procedural deficiencies in the Board's decision were harmless given the overwhelming evidence of Dudt's failure to meet operational standards.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
Read summary →
Jan 26 2026
11th Cir. 1:22-cv-01046-CLM Published

Brittany Finney v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment to MetLife, holding that the insurer's denial of accidental death benefits was not arbitrary or capricious. The court ruled that the insured's pre-existing chronic lung disease contributed to her death, triggering a specific illness exclusion in the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act policy.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil Summary Judgment
Read summary →
Jan 21 2026
1st Cir. 25-1126 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES v. STAVROS PAPANTONIADIS

The First Circuit affirmed the convictions of a Massachusetts pizzeria owner for forced labor, ruling that a pattern of physical abuse and threats of deportation against undocumented workers satisfied the statutory elements of coercion. The court also upheld the defendant's 102-month sentence, rejecting challenges to evidentiary rulings and sentencing enhancements.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines Supervised Release Violent Crimes
Read summary →
Jan 14 2026
U.S. Sup. Ct. 24-624 Unanimous

Case v. Montana

The Supreme Court clarified that the Fourth Amendment permits warrantless home entries for emergency aid when officers have an objectively reasonable basis to believe someone needs help, rejecting a probable cause requirement. The Court affirmed a conviction for assaulting an officer after police entered a home to prevent a suspected suicide based on a 911 call and visible evidence.

Constitutional Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure
Read summary →