Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil.
The Federal Circuit dismissed Ramsey Randall's appeal as untimely because the notice of appeal was not received within the mandatory 60-day jurisdictional deadline. The court refused to apply the prison mailbox rule because Randall failed to provide evidence that he deposited the notice in the prison mail system with prepaid postage before the deadline expired.
The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a debt collector's personal jurisdiction, holding that garnishing wages earned in Michigan constitutes purposeful direction of activities toward the state. The court found that the debt collector intentionally targeted a Michigan resident's earnings, satisfying due process requirements under the Calder effects test.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for JPMorgan Chase on a conversion claim, ruling that a bank acts within its account agreement when freezing funds to investigate suspicious deposits. The court held that the bank's reasonable suspicion and active verification efforts negated the 'wrongful act' element required for conversion liability.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court judgment, holding that parents' IDEA claims regarding educational services prior to 2019 were time-barred under the statute of limitations. The court ruled that the limitations period began when parents knew or should have known of the school district's failure to assess their child and the resulting denial of a free appropriate public education.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a commercial fisherman's claims against Ohio officials based on sovereign immunity, which bars suits against the state in federal court without its consent. The court reversed the lower court's 'with prejudice' designation, instructing that the state claims be dismissed without prejudice to allow for potential refiling if immunity is waived.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review, holding that the statutory 'good moral character' catchall provision is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to a petitioner with four DUI arrests and convictions. The court affirmed the Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of cancellation of removal and voluntary departure, finding the petitioner had fair notice that such conduct reflected poorly on his character.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court judgment, holding that parents' IDEA claims for services received before 2019 were time-barred. The court ruled that the two-year statute of limitations began when parents knew or should have known of the school's failure to assess and the resulting denial of a free appropriate public education.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se employment discrimination lawsuit because the plaintiff failed to timely serve the United States and the Postal Service as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The court held that the plaintiff's failure to respond to the motion to dismiss and her counsel's inactivity forfeited any arguments regarding equitable leniency or the expiration of the statute of limitations.
The Ninth Circuit denied a Guatemalan national's petition for asylum and withholding of removal, ruling that anonymous threatening phone calls without physical harm do not constitute past persecution. The court further held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution or eligibility for protection under the Convention Against Torture.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed the Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of a motion to reopen removal proceedings and a motion to remand based on ineffective assistance of counsel. The court held that the motion to reopen was properly denied as speculative due to the lack of a USCIS Notice of Action at the time of filing, and that the petitioner failed to demonstrate prejudice from alleged counsel delays.