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Apr 29 2026
5th Cir. 25-40368 Panel Decision

United States of America ex rel. Jack Palmer, Jr v. Tata Consulting Services, Ltd Defendant—

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a qui tam action under the False Claims Act, holding that an employer has no established duty to pay higher visa fees for visa types it never applied for. The court further ruled that failing to withhold taxes on underpaid wages does not constitute a reverse false claim because the obligation to transmit money to the Treasury arises only after wages are actually paid.

Civil Labor
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 25-2254 Unpublished

GALDAMEZ V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order dismissing an asylum seeker's claims. The court held that the BIA's streamlining procedure was lawful and that the petitioner forfeited all other challenges by failing to raise them in his opening brief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 29 2026
10th Cir. 6:24-CR-00121-RAW-1) Panel Decision

United States v. Freeman

The Tenth Circuit affirmed Jerry Lana Freeman's 224-month sentence, ruling that the district court did not clearly err in relying on co-conspirator statements to calculate drug quantity. The court held that the Presentence Report's eight-kilogram estimate was supported by sufficient evidence, including the defendant's own admissions and corroborating testimony.

Criminal Sentencing Guidelines
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Apr 29 2026
4th Cir. 24-4331 Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JOSEPH BOURABAH

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of Joseph Bourabah's motions to substitute counsel and withdraw his guilty plea, finding no abuse of discretion in the district court's handling of the requests. The court upheld a 100-month sentence for a severe cyberstalking campaign, ruling that the district court properly applied upward departures for the extreme psychological injury inflicted on the victims.

Criminal Guidelines Departure Sentencing Guidelines Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 4:21-cv-02841-YGR Unpublished

FAREPORTAL, INC. V. KUMAR, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed judgment on the pleadings for five of six claims, ruling that Fareportal's RICO, DTSA, and trade secret actions were time-barred because the company knew of the injury in 2016. The court reversed regarding the civil conspiracy and Unfair Competition Law claims, finding them timely and remanding for further proceedings on those specific causes of action.

Civil Contract Statute of Limitations
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Apr 29 2026
10th Cir. 4:24-CR-00402-GKF-1) Panel Decision

United States v. Johnson

The Tenth Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to dismiss a felon-in-possession indictment, holding that prior circuit precedent mandates upholding the statute against Second Amendment challenges. A panel court cannot overrule binding precedent, even if the defendant argues the prior felony was non-violent.

Criminal Firearms
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Apr 29 2026
4th Cir. 25-1318 Panel Decision

Brittany Ruffin v. Kevin Davis

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the denial of qualified immunity for a police officer who shot and killed a fleeing, unarmed teenager who made no threatening movements with a weapon. The court held that under clearly established law, an officer cannot use deadly force against a suspect who is armed but poses no immediate threat to safety.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 25-3538 Unpublished

ESCOBAR DE HENRIQUEZ, ET AL. V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied the petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of asylum and Convention Against Torture claims, ruling that key arguments were forfeited for failure to be raised in the opening brief. Even on the merits, the court found substantial evidence supported the lower court's conclusion that the threats lacked a nexus to a protected ground and were not committed by forces the government could not control.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 29 2026
10th Cir. 1:23-CV-02540-LTB-SBP Panel Decision

Shores v. Williams, et al.

The Tenth Circuit reversed the district court's dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference claims, holding that the lower court erred by failing to consider whether further amendment of the complaint would be futile. The appellate court remanded the case for the district court to determine if allowing the plaintiff to file a second amended complaint is necessary before final dismissal.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Civil Rights - Section 1983
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