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
4th Cir. 25-6882 Per Curiam

JOEVAUGHN LEON MEREDITH v. MINDY HERVEY LIPINKSI, Head Public Defender; STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se civil rights action because the appellant failed to challenge the district court's reasoning in his informal brief. Additionally, the court held that the appellant's objections to the magistrate judge's recommendation were not sufficiently specific to preserve the issues for appeal.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983
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Apr 28 2026
8th Cir. 24-3316 Panel Decision

Robert Ward v. City of Sherwood, Arkansas, an Arkansas municipality; Matt Harris

The Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of qualified immunity to Officer Harris, holding that no clearly established law prohibited his warning against using foul language in public near children during a noise complaint investigation. The court found that Ward's belligerent conduct provided arguable probable cause for a disorderly conduct arrest, defeating his constitutional claims.

Civil Civil Rights - Employment Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure
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Apr 28 2026
6th Cir. 23-3297 Published

Apogee Coal Co. v. Director, OWCP

The Sixth Circuit denied petitions for review seeking to overturn a Benefits Review Board order holding Arch Resources liable for Black Lung Benefits Act claims. The court ruled that the petitioners' arguments were identical to those rejected in a binding 2024 precedent, leaving the Board's decision affirming Arch's financial responsibility in place.

Bankruptcy Civil
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Apr 28 2026
4th Cir. 25-1955 Panel Decision

NICHOLAS M. SCHMITZ v. VERDAD ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC; VERDAD ADVISERS, LP; DANIEL RASMUSSEN

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a former employee's claims for unpaid profit-sharing, ruling that oral agreements contradicting a written contract's 'Entire Agreement' clause are unenforceable. The court held that the written contract's explicit statement of 'full compensation' barred quasi-contractual theories like promissory estoppel and unjust enrichment.

Civil Contract
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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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