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Feb 26 2026
11th Cir. 3:18-cr-209-MMH-MCR Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JIMMY RAY LIGHTSEY

The Eleventh Circuit vacated Jimmy Ray Lightsey's sentence, holding that his prior conviction for attempted armed robbery under Florida law does not qualify as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The court determined that the elements of Florida's attempt statute do not always require proof of the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Feb 24 2026
U.S. Sup. Ct. 24-351 5-4

United States Postal Service v. Konan

The Supreme Court held that the Federal Tort Claims Act's postal exception bars state-law tort claims arising from the intentional nondelivery of mail. The Court concluded that the statutory terms 'loss' and 'miscarriage' encompass failures to deliver caused by intentional misconduct, not just negligence.

Criminal Embezzlement & Forgery
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Feb 20 2026
4th Cir. 21-4562 Per Curiam

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MALIK ELI DAVIS, a/k/a Charles Prince Davis, a/k/a Black

The Fourth Circuit vacated the sentence of a defendant convicted of drug trafficking and firearm possession due to a 'Rogers error' involving ambiguous supervised release conditions. The court held that the district court failed to clearly incorporate the correct standing order, creating a material discrepancy between the oral pronouncement and the written judgment.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Feb 6 2026
1st Cir. 24-1966 Panel Decision

CHRISTOPHER ALICEA, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Luis M. Prieto v. CINCINNATI INCORPORATED NEW AUTOMATION CORPORATION, d/b/a PythonX, d/b/a Burlington Automation...: CHRISTOPHER ALICEA, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Luis M. Prieto v. CINCINNATI INCORPORATED NEW AUTOMATION CORPORATION, d/b/a PythonX, d/b/a Burlington Automation…

The First Circuit vacated summary judgment on design defect claims because expert testimony raised a genuine dispute over whether a reasonable alternative design could have prevented a fatal accident. The court affirmed summary judgment on manufacturing defect and maintenance claims, finding insufficient evidence to link the missing safety barrier to the victim's entry into the danger zone.

Civil Summary Judgment Tort / Personal Injury
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Jan 29 2026
4th Cir. 25-1436 Panel Decision

JEREMY JAMES SKIDMORE v. MICHAEL SCHINKE; GAIL SAUL

The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court ruling that dismissed an employment retaliation case, finding the lower court erred in concluding the plaintiff had no possibility of success against an in-state defendant. The appellate court held that the district court improperly applied a high standard for fraudulent joinder without resolving ambiguous state law questions.

Civil Labor
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Jan 13 2026
8th Cir. 25-1430 Panel Decision

Stephanie Gasca; Mildred Curren; Kenneth Hemphill; Jesse Neely; Amber Wyse; Timothy Gallagher; Solomon Warren v. Anne L. Precythe

The Eighth Circuit held that the Prison Litigation Reform Act's attorney fee cap applies to § 1983 claims brought by parolees challenging due process violations in revocation proceedings. The court reasoned that detained parolees qualify as prisoners under the statute, thereby rejecting the district court's contrary interpretation.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Jan 9 2026
11th Cir. 1:23-cv-02999-MHC Published

Baker v. City of Atlanta

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction that had prohibited the City of Atlanta from enforcing a residency requirement for referendum signature gatherers. The court held that under controlling Georgia state law, the plaintiffs lacked the right to utilize a referendum petition to challenge a local ordinance, thereby failing to demonstrate the irreparable harm necessary for injunctive relief.

Civil Civil Rights - Voting Preliminary Injunction
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Nov 6 2025
11th Cir. 8:22-cr-00208-VMC-AAS-1 Published

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JEROME MILLER, JR

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a defendant's sentence because his prior Florida cocaine delivery convictions did not qualify as serious drug offenses under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The court held that the state law at the time of the offenses was broader than federal law due to the inclusion of ioflupane, creating a categorical mismatch.

Criminal Drug Trafficking
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Oct 30 2025
11th Cir. 21-11416 Per Curiam

ARIEL MARCELO BASTIAS v. U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL

The Eleventh Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision, holding that a Florida child neglect conviction qualifies as a deportable crime of child abuse under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The court affirmed that the state offense matches the federal generic definition because it requires culpable negligence and creates a substantial risk of harm to a child.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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