Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil.
The Third Circuit summarily affirmed the dismissal of Shena Hickman's civil rights complaint against Facebook/Meta, ruling that the doctrine of claim preclusion barred her suit. The court held that Hickman's allegations were identical to claims previously dismissed with prejudice in two other federal actions.
The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of claims against Dr. Mogerman but vacated summary judgment on remaining medical negligence claims. The court held that Pennsylvania's certificate of merit rule does not apply to Federal Tort Claims Act actions in federal court.
The Supreme Court held that an internet service provider is not contributorily liable for user copyright infringement merely because it knows specific subscribers are infringing. Liability requires proof that the provider affirmatively induced the infringement or provided a service specifically tailored to it.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Union Pacific Railroad Company in a personal injury case involving a minor injured on railroad tracks. The court held that the danger of a moving train and the specific risk of slack action were open and obvious under Texas law, negating any duty to warn or protect the child.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's decision sustaining 40% gross-valuation-misstatement penalties against LLCs claiming excessive conservation-easement deductions. The court found no error in the lower court's reliance on IRS expert testimony to determine significantly lower fair market values for the easements.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of CenterPoint Energy, finding that the plaintiff failed to provide evidence of causation for his retaliation claims or evidence of defamatory statements. The court further held that the plaintiff forfeited challenges to the denial of his motions because he failed to adequately brief those specific issues.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Liam Torres's lawsuit as frivolous, rejecting his claims that he operates a sovereign micro-state. The court clarified that a pro se litigant lacks standing to represent an organization on appeal, limiting review to his personal, meritless claims.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of a motion to vacate an arbitration award in an employment discrimination dispute. The court held that the appellant's arguments regarding arbitrator misconduct and procedural errors were forfeited because his pro se brief failed to provide specific factual support or legal analysis for his claims.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a § 1983 claim against a federal judge, ruling that the judge's decision to separate co-defendants' trials is protected by absolute judicial immunity. The court held that this immunity applies even for erroneous or malicious decisions unless the judge acted in clear absence of jurisdiction.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection to a Nepalese citizen who failed to appear at his immigration hearing. The court held that the petitioner's erroneous assumptions about prior notices and venue motions did not constitute the 'exceptional circumstances' required to vacate an in absentia removal order.