Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Jill Coit's § 1983 claims against prison officials, ruling that her fourth amended complaint failed to state a claim. The court held that the Eleventh Amendment barred monetary relief against official-capacity defendants and that the complaint did not comply with federal pleading standards.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an as-applied First Amendment challenge to Iowa's trespass-surveillance statute, ruling that the law is narrowly tailored to protect private property rights. The court held that property owners who request a trespasser to leave implicitly retain the right to prohibit recording on their premises, even if they do not explicitly demand the cessation of filming.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment, holding that Cincinnati Insurance Company had a duty to defend its subcontractor as an additional insured under Wyoming law. The court found the contractual language and underlying facts clearly triggered the insurer's obligation to cover defense costs because the injuries were caused in part by the subcontractor's ongoing operations.
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 Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Social Security disability benefits, ruling that substantial evidence supported the ALJ's assessment of the claimant's residual functional capacity. The court held that the ALJ properly weighed the claimant's subjective complaints of fatigue and cane use against inconsistent medical records and daily activities.
The First Circuit affirmed summary judgment for FEMA, holding that workers hired by a nonprofit contractor were not federal employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The court found that FEMA's funding of the contractor did not establish the necessary employment relationship to trigger wage liability against the agency.
The Ninth Circuit denied Paramjeet Singh's petition for review of his asylum and removal relief applications, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' adverse credibility determination. The court found the agency's findings conclusive because Singh's testimony regarding past persecution contained material inconsistencies with his prior statements and medical records.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's order compelling arbitration for a seaman's maintenance and cure claims but reversed the order compelling arbitration for his Jones Act negligence claim against non-signatory defendants. The court held that while the employment agreement's arbitration clause was valid, the plaintiff's allegations did not demonstrate the interdependent and concerted misconduct required to bind non-signatories to the Jones Act claim.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order rejecting asylum and Convention Against Torture claims. The court affirmed that the petitioners failed to prove their proposed social group is socially distinct in Guatemala and did not meet the high legal bar for torture relief.
The Federal Circuit determined it lacked subject matter jurisdiction over an appeal concerning the Restaurant Revitalization Fund because the dispute did not involve patent laws or small claims against the United States. Instead of dismissing the case, the court transferred the appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit under 28 U.S.C. § 1631.