Topic

Civil

Every decision we've filed under Civil.

EMPOWER OVERSIGHT WHISTLEBLOWERS & RESEARCH v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to unseal Stored Communications Act non-disclosure applications, ruling that grand jury secrecy rules displace common law and First Amendment access rights. The court remanded the case for the district court to consider whether to allow an amendment to the motion to unseal in light of a new Department of Justice Office of Inspector General report.

Civil Other Civil

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Feb 3 2026

11th Cir. 5:23-cv-00003-MTT Published

Doe v. United States

The Eleventh Circuit vacated a district court dismissal of parents' negligence claims against the United States regarding child abuse at a government daycare. The appellate court held that the government's duty to protect the children was independent of the abusers' employment status, placing the claims outside the Federal Tort Claims Act's intentional tort exception.

Civil Securities

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Feb 3 2026

7th Cir. 25-2976 Panel Decision

YVES AUBERT v. LAURIE LEE POAST

The Seventh Circuit held that district courts retain jurisdiction to grant or modify interim injunctive relief, such as visitation rights, while a Hague Convention child abduction appeal is pending. The court clarified that Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 62(d) and Appellate Rule 8(a)(1)(C) collectively empower the district court to manage equitable relief during the appellate process.

Civil Immigration (Civil)

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Feb 3 2026

7th Cir. 25-1419 Panel Decision

MEDLEGAL SOLUTIONS, INC., doing business as Atticus Medi- cal Billing v. PREMIUM HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS, LLC APPEAL OF: VIVEK BEDI

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that a federal judgment creditor's secured interest in a debtor's assets takes priority over a state judgment creditor's claim, even after the state creditor obtained a retroactive correction to fix a misnomer in his judgment. The court held that the federal district court had appellate jurisdiction over the final turnover order and that the Rooker-Feldman doctrine did not bar the federal court from adjudicating the priority dispute between the competing creditors.

Appellate Jurisdiction Bankruptcy Civil

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Feb 2 2026

7th Cir. 25-2277 Panel Decision

STEVEN L. ZIRKO v. CHERYL HANSEN

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for a nurse practitioner who discontinued a prisoner's medical shower permit. The court held that her decision did not constitute deliberate indifference under the Eighth Amendment because she relied on prison directives and the plaintiff's alternative access to showers.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983

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Feb 2 2026

7th Cir. 25-1859 Panel Decision

PACKAGING CORPORATION OF AMERICA THRIFT PLAN FOR HOURLY EMPLOYEES v. DENA LANGDON CHRISTINA COPISKEY, as the Personal Representative of the Estate of CARL W. KLEINFELDT and the...

The Seventh Circuit reversed a district court ruling that applied the substantial compliance doctrine to validate a decedent's fax request to change a retirement beneficiary. The appellate court held that sending a fax did not constitute the positive action required by the plan's strict terms, leaving the ex-wife as the rightful primary beneficiary.

Civil ERISA / Employee Benefits

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Feb 2 2026

7th Cir. 25-1124 Panel Decision

MARKANTHONY M. HARRIS v. JEREMY WILTZIUS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison officials, holding that disciplinary segregation and a transfer to a maximum-security facility did not deprive the prisoner of a constitutionally protected liberty interest. Because no liberty interest was implicated, the court declined to rule on whether the disciplinary hearing procedures were constitutionally deficient.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983

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Feb 2 2026

7th Cir. 25-1432 Panel Decision

JESSIE HATCHER v. JOHN JONES

The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison medical staff and their employer, ruling that delays in post-operative care did not constitute deliberate indifference to a prisoner's serious medical needs. The court held that providers acted within professional discretion and that the plaintiff failed to prove an unconstitutional policy by the employer.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment

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Feb 2 2026

7th Cir. 24-3204 Panel Decision

FODIES MCBRIDE, SR v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY

The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal filed by a pro se litigant who failed to argue that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over his claims. The appellate court deemed the appeal frivolous because the appellant did not engage with the court's dispositive determination that his complaints failed to allege violations of federal law or establish diversity jurisdiction.

Civil Insurance

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Feb 2 2026

7th Cir. 25-1717 Panel Decision

MICHELLE L. VEASEY v. MIKE THOMS

The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling granting summary judgment to local officials in a civil rights suit challenging the revocation of a liquor license. The appellate court upheld the lower court's findings that the officials were protected by absolute immunity and that the plaintiff failed to provide sufficient evidence of due process violations or racial discrimination.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity Summary Judgment

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