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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
Feb 2 2026
7th Cir. 25-1061 Panel Decision

RYAN W. MILBECK v. ALLISON GEORGE, et al

The Seventh Circuit held that a law enforcement officer's 'temporary felony want' does not constitute a valid warrant sufficient to justify entering a home without a judge's authorization. While the court affirmed the dismissal of claims regarding arrest and malicious prosecution due to probable cause, it reversed the dismissal of the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claim for unlawful warrantless entry.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Feb 2 2026
1st Cir. 24-1942 Panel Decision

BLUERADIOS, INC. v. HAMILTON, BROOK, SMITH & REYNOLDS, P.C.

The First Circuit reversed the district court's summary judgment in a legal malpractice suit, holding that a genuine issue of material fact exists regarding when the statute of limitations began to run. The court further ruled as a matter of law that an attorney-client relationship existed between the tech company and the law firm, rejecting the lower court's dismissal of the claims.

Civil Intellectual Property Statute of Limitations Summary Judgment
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Feb 2 2026
4th Cir. 24-2006 Per Curiam

DREAMWORKS MOTORSPORTS, INC v. JONATHAN KLEIN

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's remand of a contract dispute to state court because the defendant removed the case after the one-year statutory deadline had expired. The court held that the plaintiff's strategic delay in scheduling a hearing on a motion to amend the complaint did not constitute bad faith sufficient to excuse the untimely removal.

Civil Contract
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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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Jan 29 2026
4th Cir. 25-1436 Panel Decision

JEREMY JAMES SKIDMORE v. MICHAEL SCHINKE; GAIL SAUL

The Fourth Circuit vacated a district court ruling that dismissed an employment retaliation case, finding the lower court erred in concluding the plaintiff had no possibility of success against an in-state defendant. The appellate court held that the district court improperly applied a high standard for fraudulent joinder without resolving ambiguous state law questions.

Civil Labor
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Jan 29 2026
4th Cir. 25-1032 2-1

SOUTH CAROLINA STATE CONFERENCE OF THE NAACP; DISABILITY RIGHTS SOUTH CAROLINA; JUSTICE 360 Plaintiffs – v. SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE; EDEN HENDRICK

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an institutional reform lawsuit against South Carolina's Department of Juvenile Justice because the plaintiff advocacy groups lacked Article III standing. The court held that organizations cannot substitute for detained juveniles to drive litigation regarding conditions of confinement.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Standing
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