Topic
Every decision we've filed under Summary Judgment.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the Tax Court's summary judgment upholding a frivolous filing penalty and a separate sanction against Ruben Varela. The court rejected Varela's arguments that income tax liability depends on receiving a governmental privilege and found no abuse of discretion in the sanctions imposed for pursuing meritless positions.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for law enforcement officers in a civil rights lawsuit brought by a man arrested for domestic violence-related offenses. The court held that the plaintiff failed to present sufficient evidence to dispute probable cause for his arrest, discriminatory intent in his enforcement, or personal participation in firearm restrictions.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's summary judgment in favor of mortgage lenders, ruling that appellants failed to prove the existence of an enforceable contract. The court held that the plaintiffs' claims lacked the written evidence required under Washington's statute of frauds and contract principles.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the employer in a Title VII discrimination and retaliation case because the plaintiff failed to prove pretext or establish protected activity. The court also upheld the district court's denial of motions for recusal, reconsideration, and vexatious litigant designation.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an employment discrimination lawsuit because the plaintiff failed to file a timely charge with the EEOC. This failure to exhaust administrative remedies also barred her parallel claims under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The Ninth Circuit vacated summary judgment on a maritime negligence claim because expert testimony created a genuine dispute over whether a cruise line knew its bathroom design was unreasonably dangerous. However, the court affirmed summary judgment on a negligence per se claim because a movable shower curtain does not qualify as a prohibited obstruction under applicable plumbing codes.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for JPMorgan Chase on a conversion claim, ruling that a bank acts within its account agreement when freezing funds to investigate suspicious deposits. The court held that the bank's reasonable suspicion and active verification efforts negated the 'wrongful act' element required for conversion liability.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Bradley Monical's civil rights claims, ruling that his suit was barred by Oregon's two-year statute of limitations and his failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The court further held that his access-to-courts claim failed due to a lack of evidence showing actual injury.
The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment for the City of Oxnard, holding that its campaign contribution limits under Measure B do not violate the First Amendment. The court found the limits were closely drawn to prevent quid pro quo corruption and were not unconstitutionally low compared to similar municipalities.
The Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the Indiana Department of Transportation, ruling that the plaintiff failed to prove her disability was the sole cause of her termination. The court held that the employer's legitimate reasons of poor performance and insubordination were sufficient to defeat claims under the Rehabilitation Act and Title VII.