Topic
Every decision we've filed under Summary Judgment.
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.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment on a prisoner's claim regarding inadequate nutrition but reversed the ruling on unsanitary toilet and shower conditions. The court held that a reasonable jury could find prison officials acted with deliberate indifference to the Eighth Amendment regarding the facilities, remanding the case for trial on that specific claim.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment, holding that the codified economic substance doctrine applies to complex tax-avoidance schemes even when they mechanically comply with the tax code. The court ruled that Liberty Global's 'Project Soy' lacked economic substance and business purpose, disallowing the claimed tax deductions.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict finding a Denver police officer liable for excessive force, rejecting his qualified immunity claim because clearly established law prohibited using pepperballs on peaceful, unarmed protesters without warning. The court also upheld the denial of a bifurcation motion and the punitive damages award, confirming that the officer acted with reckless indifference to the plaintiff's constitutional rights.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment against Katrina Robinson, holding she lacked Article III standing under the Fair Housing Act because her injury was not fairly traceable to the defendant's actions. Consequently, the court declined to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over her state law claims, leaving the district court's dismissal of all claims intact.
The Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded a wage-and-hour judgment against Jack in the Box, holding that the district court erred in granting summary judgment on the willfulness of Workers' Benefit Fund overdeductions. The panel also ruled that the employer must pay for the full duration of shortened meal breaks under Oregon law and remanded the shoe deduction claims for a jury to determine if the deductions ultimately benefited employees.
The Ninth Circuit reversed and remanded a wage-and-hour judgment against Jack in the Box, holding that willfulness of overdeductions requires a factual trial and that employers must pay for shortened meal periods under Oregon law. The panel also ruled that shoe deductions were not automatically for the employee's benefit and remanded for class certification reconsideration on unpaid breaks and shoe claims.
The Sixth Circuit vacated a district court order deferring summary judgment and ordering further discovery in a qualified immunity case. The appellate court held that the district court failed to properly analyze whether discovery was necessary to resolve genuine disputes of material fact before allowing it to proceed.
The Fifth Circuit reversed the denial of summary judgment, holding that a deputy's brief push and pull of a mother at a school constituted de minimis force insufficient to violate the Fourth Amendment. Because the force used was nominal, the deputy is entitled to qualified immunity and the plaintiffs' federal and state law claims must be dismissed.