Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil.
The Fifth Circuit held that a stipulated dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure forty-one automatically ends a case without requiring district court approval. The court granted mandamus to vacate orders scheduling evidentiary hearings after all parties had filed a joint stipulation to dismiss.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a jury verdict in a trade secret misappropriation case due to an erroneous jury instruction on the burden of proof. The court remanded the case for a new trial because the error was not harmless given conflicting expert testimony on whether the secrets were readily ascertainable.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court ruling that denied mandatory attorneys' fees under a Washington statute. The appellate court held that diversity jurisdiction does not preclude fee awards when the amount in controversy falls below the statutory threshold due to subsequent dismissals.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a civil rights action brought by a pretrial detainee. The appellate panel held that the plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies and did not prove that jail officials violated his constitutional rights or were not entitled to qualified immunity.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court judgment dismissing a civil rights lawsuit against state judges. The court held that judges are not persons subject to suit under Section one thousand nine hundred eighty-three in their official capacities and are protected by absolute judicial immunity for their judicial actions.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling upholding the Small Business Administration's Corporate Group Rule limiting Paycheck Protection Program loans. The court held that the agency acted within its statutory discretion to define business concerns as affiliated groups to ensure fair distribution of limited funds.
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit affirmed a district court ruling upholding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services decision to retain survey data for Medicare Advantage plans. The court held that the agency acted within its authority and did not act arbitrarily or capriciously in refusing to discard survey results despite claims of language access errors.
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed a district court order remanding a toxic tort case to state court. The appellate court held that General Electric satisfied the federal officer removal statute by demonstrating it acted under federal authority and that the allegations related to its government contracts.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied a petition for review filed by a Honduran national seeking asylum and protection against torture. The court found substantial evidence supported the Board of Immigration Appeals' conclusion that the petitioner failed to prove a nexus between his harms and a protected ground.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a jury verdict in a trade secret misappropriation case due to an erroneous jury instruction on the burden of proof. The court held that the district court incorrectly placed the burden on the defendant to prove that trade secrets were readily ascertainable, rather than on the plaintiff to prove they were not.