Topic
Every decision we've filed under Civil.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a motion to compel arbitration, ruling that Zeus Networks failed to provide sufficient inquiry notice for its terms of service. The court held that a small, gray hyperlink buried beneath prominent red action buttons was not conspicuous enough to bind a user to a mandatory arbitration agreement under Florida law.
The D.C. Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a citizen suit under the Toxic Substances Control Act because the plaintiff organizations failed to establish associational standing. The court held that the organizations could not represent their employees or supporters as members under Article III requirements.
The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a prisoner's Eighth Amendment claim, holding that the lower court erred by relying on a Martinez Report to resolve factual disputes during the screening stage. The appellate court clarified that while such reports may help identify frivolous claims, they cannot be used to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim when the report conflicts with the plaintiff's pleadings.
The Ninth Circuit reversed summary judgment for Dr. Dale Woolridge, holding that conducting a forensic medical exam on a child without parental consent or a court order violates clearly established constitutional rights absent exigent circumstances. The court also reversed summary judgment for investigator Gerardo Talamantes on judicial deception claims, finding a genuine dispute of material fact regarding the materiality of his statements to the juvenile court.
The Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment against Oneka Spicer on her state-law employment discrimination claims. The court held that Spicer failed to present sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of discrimination or to prove that her employer's reasons for termination were pretextual.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order dismissing claims for asylum and withholding of removal. The court held that violence inflicted on the petitioners' family members was insufficient to establish past persecution and that the petitioners failed to prove they could not safely relocate within Mexico.
The Sixth Circuit reversed a district court's grant of a preliminary injunction under Section 10(j) of the National Labor Relations Act, holding that the NLRB failed to demonstrate the irreparable harm required for equitable relief. While the Board likely succeeded on the merits of its unfair labor practice claims, the court found that the Board's remedial powers were sufficient to address any injury without immediate judicial intervention.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision rejecting asylum and related relief for a Mexican national with mental health challenges. The court affirmed the denial because the petitioner failed to exhaust administrative remedies on several claims and lacked substantial evidence proving a unique risk of persecution distinct from other mentally disabled individuals in Mexico.
The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a BIA order denying asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The court held that substantial evidence supported the Agency's finding that the petitioner's abuse was motivated by her abuser's drug use rather than a protected ground.
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a pro se borrower's complaint but modified the order to dismiss without prejudice. The court held that dismissals based on the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, which addresses subject matter jurisdiction defects, must be without prejudice because a court lacking jurisdiction cannot adjudicate claims on the merits.