Topic
Every decision we've filed under Contract.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court order dismissing a civil action without prejudice due to a lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court found no reversible error in the lower court's decision after reviewing the record.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of an amended complaint filed by a pro se plaintiff. The appellate court found no reversible error in the lower court's acceptance of a magistrate judge's recommendation.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling allowing a breach of contract dispute between joint venture partners to proceed without joining the joint venture entity itself. The court held that the joint venture was not an indispensable party and that one partner's retention of settlement funds violated the joint venture agreement.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of a plaintiff's claims for excess funds from a tax sale, holding that a security deed holder is entitled to those funds under Georgia law. The court determined that statutory language explicitly designates security deed owners as 'owners' eligible for distribution before other claimants.
The Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's complaint with prejudice. The appellate court found no abuse of discretion in imposing discovery sanctions for willful violations of court orders.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court order approving the sale of condemned condominium property to a stalking horse bidder. The court held that the appellant failed to preserve its due process and procedural objections for appellate review.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of sanctions against a plaintiff who dismissed its own case after discovering a lack of diversity jurisdiction. The appellate court held that the plaintiff and its counsel acted negligently rather than in bad faith, which is insufficient to trigger sanctions under federal law.
The Ninth Circuit reversed a district court's denial of a motion to compel arbitration, holding that a severability clause does not negate a clear and unmistakable delegation of validity challenges to an arbitrator. The court ruled that federal law, not state law, governs the interpretation of such delegation clauses under the Federal Arbitration Act.
The Fourth Circuit denied a petition for a writ of mandamus, ruling that a district court has no obligation under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e) to evaluate a class settlement after denying class certification. The court further held that mandamus cannot serve as a substitute for an appeal when adequate appellate remedies exist.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se plaintiff's lawsuit alleging wrongful mortgage transfer, rejecting the argument that failure to record a loan transfer voids the debt. The court held that the plaintiff's reliance on non-existent case law and abandoned legal theories provided no basis to overturn the district court's ruling.