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Apr 14 2026
10th Cir. 5:19-CR-00364-G-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ROLANDO CIFUENTES-LOPEZ

The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's restitution order against a child sex trafficking defendant, holding that the government failed to prove the victims' losses would not have occurred but for his specific conduct. The court vacated the awards and remanded the case solely to remove the restitution mandate, as the evidence did not isolate losses attributable to the defendant from those caused by other abusers.

Child Sexual Abuse Material Criminal
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Apr 14 2026
5th Cir. 25-20297 Per Curiam

Thomas v. Steiner

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment against Babu K. Thomas, holding that he failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claims of employment discrimination and retaliation. The court ruled that Thomas's termination was based on unexcused absences and a failure to provide medical documentation, rather than his protected status or activities.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Apr 14 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1772 Panel Decision

VLSI TECHNOLOGY LLC v. INTEL CORPORATION

The Federal Circuit reversed summary judgment of noninfringement, holding that the district court erred by importing unrecited limitations into patent claims and misinterpreting a pretrial stipulation regarding U.S. nexus. The court also affirmed the exclusion of one expert's damages theories but remanded the case for a new trial on infringement and damages consistent with corrected legal standards.

Civil Intellectual Property Summary Judgment
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Apr 10 2026
5th Cir. 24-10760 Panel Decision

McNutt v. U.S. Dep't of Justice: McNutt v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice

The Fifth Circuit held that the federal prohibition on home distilling of consumable spirits violates the Constitution's Taxing and Necessary and Proper Clauses. However, the court reversed the district court's broad injunction, remanding the case for a narrower remedy that strikes only the unconstitutional provisions while preserving the statutory framework.

Criminal Tax (Criminal)
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Apr 3 2026
10th Cir. 1:24-CV-02873-CNS Panel Decision

In re: DEVIN DAVID SHARP; AMY BETH SHARP Debtors. ------------------------------ AMY BETH SHARP v. NICK COX; GEORGIA FORSEE: In re: DEVIN DAVID SHARP; AMY BETH SHARP Debtors. —————————— AMY BETH SHARP v. NICK COX; GEORGIA FORSEE

The Tenth Circuit affirmed a bankruptcy court ruling that unpaid salaries owed to former employees are nondischargeable in bankruptcy. The court held that the debtor forfeited a key statutory defense by failing to raise it in the lower court and failed to meet the high burden of proving plain error.

Bankruptcy Civil Fraud
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Apr 3 2026
United States Court… 24-5261 Panel Decision

ANDI GJOCI v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND MARCO RUBIO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a challenge to the State Department's handling of Diversity Immigrant Visa applications for fiscal year 2021. The court held that federal courts lack the authority to order the agency to adjudicate visas after the statutory fiscal year has expired, rendering such claims moot and lacking standing.

Civil Environmental (Civil) Mootness Standing
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Apr 2 2026
10th Cir. 23-3175 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. EBUBE OTUONYE

The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's partial denial of a habeas motion, holding that ineffective assistance of counsel regarding jury instructions on controlled substances did not prejudice a defendant's separate healthcare fraud convictions. The court reasoned that the fraud charges relied on distinct evidence and legal elements unrelated to the intent required for distributing controlled substances.

Constitutional Habeas Corpus - Federal Prisoner (28 USC 2255) Sixth Amendment - Confrontation Clause Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Apr 2 2026
6th Cir. 25-5465 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARIO DELAINE

The Sixth Circuit affirmed Mario Delaine's fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act, holding that his prior convictions qualified as violent felonies. The court clarified that state-law offenses satisfy the federal definition when they require intentional force, regardless of whether the defendant intended to cause specific injury.

Criminal Firearms
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