Every decision we've summarized — searchable, filterable, neutral.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se civil rights lawsuit filed by a former inmate against multiple judges and prosecutors. The court held that state officials are not persons under federal civil rights statutes and that the defendants were protected by absolute judicial and prosecutorial immunity.
The Federal Circuit affirmed the invalidity of two patents for indefiniteness but reversed summary judgment on infringement for a third patent due to disputed facts regarding Google's Content ID system. The case is remanded for trial on the infringement issue while the invalidity rulings for the other patents remain in effect.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Tesla, ruling that a used car buyer cannot automatically inherit a manufacturer's warranty claim from the original owner. The court held that valid assignment of a legal right requires the transferor to manifest a specific intent to transfer, which was absent in this transaction.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's ruling upholding Colorado's ban on unserialized firearms while reversing the lower court's standing determination regarding the purchase of such parts. The appellate court held that the possession ban regulates conduct beyond commercial sales conditions and is not presumptively constitutional under the Second Amendment.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an order dismissing an appeal in a patent dispute between Universal Electronics, Inc. and Roku, Inc. The dismissal was voluntary and based on a stipulation by both parties to withdraw the appeal.
The Ninth Circuit vacated summary judgment on a maritime negligence claim because expert testimony created a genuine dispute over whether a cruise line knew its bathroom design was unreasonably dangerous. However, the court affirmed summary judgment on a negligence per se claim because a movable shower curtain does not qualify as a prohibited obstruction under applicable plumbing codes.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a 360-month prison sentence for drug trafficking and firearm offenses. The court rejected the defendant's arguments regarding drug weight calculations and the dangerous weapon enhancement.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's summary judgment upholding a frivolous filing penalty and a separate sanction against Ruben Varela. The court rejected Varela's arguments that income tax liability depends on receiving a governmental privilege and found no abuse of discretion in the sanctions imposed for pursuing meritless positions.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court dismissal, holding that ambiguous annual aggregate limits in 1960s insurance policies do not cap liability for property damage claims. The court found that extrinsic evidence and historical industry practices confirmed the policies lacked a clear cap for the County's environmental remediation costs.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed a 131-month sentence for drug trafficking, ruling that the district court did not abuse its discretion in imposing an upward variance. The court held that the judge properly considered the defendant's extensive uncharged criminal history and recent jail violence under the statutory sentencing factors.
