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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. 25-1915 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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Apr 29 2026
7th Cir. 20-3065 Panel Decision

SOULEYMANE NIMAGA v. TODD W. BLANCHE Acting Attorney General of the United States

The Seventh Circuit denied a petition to rescind an in absentia removal order, holding that financial hardship and a failed transportation arrangement do not constitute 'exceptional circumstances' under immigration law. The court emphasized that the petitioner failed to notify the Immigration Court of his predicament despite having the means to do so.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 29 2026
6th Cir. 25-3736 Published

Julio Francisco Sebastian; A.A.F.B. v. Todd W. Blanche, Acting U.S. Attorney General

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture claims for a Guatemalan national, finding insufficient evidence of a nexus between his harm and his indigenous status. The court held that the petitioner failed to prove past persecution or a well-founded fear of future harm due to inconsistent testimony and the lack of a protected ground connection to the gang extortion he suffered.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 29 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1237 Panel Decision

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION v. QUALCOMM INCORPORATED

The Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's finding that FedEx's sensor network patent claim 26 was obvious but vacated and remanded the decision for claims 9 and 23-25. The court held that the Board violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to address a specific argument FedEx raised regarding the requirement that a single power management instruction alter both the master node and ID nodes.

Civil Intellectual Property
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