Topic
Every decision we've filed under Summary Judgment.
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 a district court's imposition of sanctions against attorneys for pursuing a frivolous civil conspiracy claim that violated the intracorporate conspiracy doctrine. The court also rejected the appellants' argument that the district judge should have recused himself due to alleged bias from prior rulings and trial comments.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Union Pacific Railroad Company in a personal injury case involving a minor injured on railroad tracks. The court held that the danger of a moving train and the specific risk of slack action were open and obvious under Texas law, negating any duty to warn or protect the child.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of CenterPoint Energy, finding that the plaintiff failed to provide evidence of causation for his retaliation claims or evidence of defamatory statements. The court further held that the plaintiff forfeited challenges to the denial of his motions because he failed to adequately brief those specific issues.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Edgar Merida's employment discrimination claims because he failed to adequately brief his arguments on appeal. The court held that by neglecting to rebut the district court's analysis or explain legal errors, Merida forfeited all appellate arguments.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment against Terry Joyner on his Title VII and Georgia Whistleblower Act claims but reversed the grant of qualified immunity to individual defendants on his First Amendment retaliation claim. The court held that removing Joyner's flexible work schedule after he reported ticket-fixing constituted a material adverse action that likely chilled protected speech.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for insurance companies, holding that a motorcycle accident was plainly excluded from coverage under the applicable policies. The court rejected the argument that conflicting policy exceptions created an ambiguity, finding the exclusions operated independently under Colorado law.
The Tenth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for insurance companies, holding that a motorcycle accident was clearly excluded from coverage under the plain language of the policy declarations. The court rejected arguments that conflicting exclusions created an ambiguity, ruling that Colorado law requires enforcement of explicit exclusions that bar coverage for unlisted vehicles.
The Federal Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the United States, ruling that the plaintiff failed to prove her position required equal skill, effort, and responsibility compared to her male colleague under the Equal Pay Act. The court further held that the government successfully rebutted the claim by demonstrating the pay differential was based on factors other than sex.
The Third Circuit affirmed the District Court's grant of summary judgment in a civil rights case brought by a Philadelphia activist against police officers and the city. The court held that the plaintiff failed to demonstrate personal involvement by the defendants in his arrest or any violation of his First Amendment rights.