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Apr 17 2026
9th Cir. 3:22-cv-05499-TMC Unpublished

JONATHAN ADELSTEIN, relator and JESSICA BRUNELLE v. PEACEHEALTH, INC., a Washington nonprofit corporation; ROBERT AXELROD

The Ninth Circuit vacated summary judgment on a False Claims Act retaliation claim, ruling that an employer's refusal to renew a contract after an employee reported Medicaid fraud created a genuine dispute of material fact. The court held that a reasonable jury could find the nonrenewal was likely to deter protected activity and that the employer's stated reasons were pretextual.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Apr 15 2026
11th Cir. 1:21-cv-01280-VMC Published

Multimedia Technologies, Inc. v. City of Atlanta, Georgia

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a district court ruling that struck down a portion of Atlanta's 1982 sign code, holding that the challenged provision is content-neutral rather than content-based. The appellate court remanded the case for the lower court to apply intermediate scrutiny to determine if the restriction is narrowly tailored to a significant government interest.

Civil Civil Rights - ADA / Other Standing
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Apr 13 2026
4th Cir. 24-2237 Panel Decision

JEFFERY PAYNE v. SGT. JOSHUA MOSER

The Fourth Circuit vacated summary judgment in a Fourth Amendment excessive force case, holding that genuine disputes of material fact exist regarding the reasonableness of a vehicle ramming and shooting. The court ruled that a reasonable jury could find the force used was not objectively justified given the suspect was unarmed and the circumstances did not pose an immediate threat.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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Apr 8 2026
9th Cir. 8:21-cr-00072-DOC-1 Unpublished

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ELANO SERRANO ZUNIGA

The Ninth Circuit vacated a conviction for illegal reentry, holding that ineffective assistance of counsel can functionally deprive a defendant of meaningful judicial review under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(d). The court reversed the denial of a motion to dismiss the indictment because the defendant's counsel failed to pursue the only form of relief legally available to him.

Civil Immigration (Civil) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Apr 7 2026
11th Cir. 0:21-cr-60213-RS-3 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JUAN CARLOS AGUIAR PARADA

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a district court's denial of a compassionate release motion because the lower court failed to apply the correct standard for determining if a defendant is the only available caregiver. The court held that this determination requires a fact-intensive inquiry into whether any other person is qualified and free to provide care.

Compassionate Release Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Apr 7 2026
11th Cir. 3:21-cv-01062-TJC-MCR Per Curiam

Michael V. Smith v. Pepsi Bottling Group, et al.

The Eleventh Circuit vacated the district court's dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's Title VII discrimination and retaliation claims. The appellate court held that the amended complaint related back to the original filing and that the district court applied the wrong legal standard by requiring a prima facie case at the motion to dismiss stage.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Motion to Dismiss
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Apr 7 2026
11th Cir. 8:23-cr-00140-KKM-AAS-1 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. GERARD ERIC BEASLEY

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed Gerard Eric Beasley's conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, ruling that the Second Amendment does not protect felons from such bans. The court also held that any error in admitting a second confession was harmless because the firearm would have been inevitably discovered through lawful means.

Criminal Firearms
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Apr 7 2026
9th Cir. 3:21-cv-00753-MO Unanimous

Julio Aguilar-Padilla v. Boydstun Equipment Manufacturing, LLC

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the jury's finding that an employer violated the Oregon Safe Employment Act by retaliating against an employee for taking COVID-19 quarantine leave. However, the court vacated the district court's award of full attorney's fees, remanding the issue to determine which legal work was exclusively devoted to the state retaliation claim versus the federal claim.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Apr 3 2026
4th Cir. 25-2003 Panel Decision

Robinson v. National Collegiate Athletic Association

The Fourth Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction that had allowed student-athletes to play despite the NCAA's JUCO Rule, holding that the district court applied the wrong legal standard. The appellate court ruled that eligibility rules must be analyzed under the full 'rule of reason' framework rather than a simplified quick-look approach, requiring a complete factual record before determining if the rules unreasonably restrain trade.

Civil Labor
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