Topic

Civil

Every decision we've filed under Civil.

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Criminal 1244 Summary Judgment 481 Sentencing Guidelines 425 Civil Rights - Section 1983 406 Immigration (Civil) 360 Constitutional 356 Supervised Release 292 Drug Trafficking 280 Firearms 218 Civil Rights - Employment 208 Intellectual Property 165 Qualified Immunity 155
Apr 28 2026
7th Cir. 25-1562 Panel Decision

KIMBERLY BALLARD v. AMEREN ILLINOIS COMPANY

The Seventh Circuit vacated a dismissal of an ADA claim because the district court failed to address the plaintiff's argument for equitable tolling. While the court affirmed that the plaintiff's initial intake form did not count as a statutory charge, it ordered a remand to determine if the agency's confusing communications warranted extending the filing deadline.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Summary Judgment
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Apr 28 2026
6th Cir. 25-3451 Published

Sequoia Energy, LLC v. Mitchell

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the award of Black Lung Benefits Act benefits to a miner's surviving spouse, ruling that the employer failed to rebut the statutory presumption of pneumoconiosis. The court held that negative chest x-rays do not preclude a finding of legal pneumoconiosis, leaving the employer's burden of proof unmet.

Civil Labor
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-1729 Panel Decision

JAMES BROWN, III v. LEON LOTT, et al.

The Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for law enforcement officers, holding that a traffic stop and arrest warrant were supported by probable cause under the totality of the circumstances. The court found sufficient evidence of witness intimidation to justify the seizure, rejecting the plaintiff's Fourth Amendment claim.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Summary Judgment
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Apr 28 2026
1st Cir. 25-1857 Panel Decision

ELIZABETH PUTNAM; CALE PUTNAM v. EPR PROPERTIES; PREMIER PARKS, LLC

The First Circuit reversed the dismissal of a wrongful death claim against Premier Parks, LLC, finding that public statements and operational intermingling created a genuine dispute regarding personal jurisdiction. Conversely, the court affirmed the dismissal against EPR Properties, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence linking the real estate trust to the hotel's marketing or booking activities in Massachusetts.

Civil Tort / Personal Injury
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-1303 Panel Decision

Goddard v. Burnett

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the rejection of a debtor's Chapter 13 plan, ruling that technical compliance with the disposable income test does not immunize a proposal from the independent good faith requirement. The court held that a debtor's attempt to retain three luxury vehicles while paying unsecured creditors less than eight cents on the dollar demonstrated a lack of honest effort to repay debts.

Bankruptcy Civil Social Security
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 24-2073 2-1

RICHARD P. HARROLD Plaintiff – v. LEWIS J. HAGEN

The Fourth Circuit vacated the district court's grant of qualified immunity, holding that a non-threatening, unarmed, and passively resisting suspect possesses a clearly established Fourth Amendment right to be free from unnecessary K-9 deployment. The court concluded that Officer Hagen's use of force was disproportionate under existing precedent, requiring the case to proceed to trial rather than being dismissed at this procedural stage.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Qualified Immunity
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Apr 28 2026
11th Cir. 2:20-cv-01058-RAH-SMD Per Curiam

Terry v. Robinett

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Stacy Terry's motions to vacate a prior judgment, ruling that she failed to prove the underlying decision was void. The court held that Terry's arguments regarding counsel conflicts and misidentified defendants were meritless and had already been rejected on direct appeal.

Civil Insurance
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