Topic

Civil

Every decision we've filed under Civil.

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Criminal 1440 Summary Judgment 563 Sentencing Guidelines 508 Civil Rights - Section 1983 469 Immigration (Civil) 416 Constitutional 399 Supervised Release 346 Drug Trafficking 317 Firearms 244 Civil Rights - Employment 242 Intellectual Property 184 Qualified Immunity 181
Apr 29 2026
Fed. Cir. 25-1044 Panel Decision

RFC LENDERS OF TEXAS, LLC v. SMART CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC

The Federal Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a patent infringement suit, holding that claims monitoring vehicle unauthorized usage are ineligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The court found the claims merely recite abstract ideas of detecting movement and identifying operators using conventional technology without adding an inventive concept.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 29 2026
9th Cir. 24-4687 Unpublished

CASTELLANOS GARCIA, ET AL. V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied the petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' order dismissing asylum and withholding claims. The court found the petitioners failed to overcome the one-year filing deadline and could not establish a cognizable social group for protection.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 29 2026
10th Cir. 4:25-CV-00206-JDR-JFJ Panel Decision

Winn, et al. v. Wakat, et al.

The Tenth Circuit affirmed the remand of civil and criminal cases to state court because the appellant failed to prove he acted under color of federal office. The court held that without satisfying the statutory requirements for federal officer removal, the federal district court lacked jurisdiction to retain the matters.

Civil Real Property
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Apr 29 2026
Fed. Cir. 25-1915 Panel Decision

TRULSON v. COLLINS

The Federal Circuit affirmed the denial of special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r) for a veteran with schizophrenia, holding that the statute requires specific anatomical losses or sensory impairments. The court clarified that the need for a higher level of care alone does not qualify a veteran for the enhanced rate without first meeting the predicate disability requirements.

Civil Social Security
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Apr 29 2026
8th Cir. 25-6017 Panel Decision

In re: Robert Duane Wagner

The Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit dismissed an appeal because the debtor-appellant died and no personal representative was substituted within a reasonable time. The court held that without a party to prosecute the case, continuing the proceedings is improper under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 8023.1.

Bankruptcy 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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Apr 29 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1235 Panel Decision

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION v. QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

The Federal Circuit reversed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's determination that a patent claim was obvious, holding that the Board impermissibly imported limitations from the specification into the claim construction. The court clarified that a 'programming change' requires an alteration in the function of a device, not merely a change in stored data.

Civil Intellectual Property
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Apr 29 2026
8th Cir. 24-3345 Panel Decision

Judith Etelvina Cancinos Guinac v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General of the United States

The Eighth Circuit denied petitions for review of Board of Immigration Appeals orders rejecting motions to reopen immigration proceedings. The court held that the petitioner failed to exercise the due diligence required to equitably toll the filing deadline for her ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

Civil Immigration (Civil) Sixth Amendment - Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
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Apr 29 2026
6th Cir. 25-5874 Published

In re VAN R. IRION

The Sixth Circuit affirmed a five-year suspension of attorney Van Irion for misrepresenting a client's trust status and secretly ghostwriting filings after withdrawal. The court held that the district court acted within its inherent authority to discipline attorneys and found no abuse of discretion in the sanctions imposed.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
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Apr 29 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1236 Panel Decision

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION v. QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

The Federal Circuit vacated the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's obviousness determination because the Board failed to properly apply the KSR standard by not explaining how a person of ordinary skill would have been motivated to combine prior art references. The court declined to review the Board's decision denying the motion to terminate the inter partes review proceedings.

Civil Intellectual Property
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