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Summary Judgment

Every decision we've filed under Summary Judgment.

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Civil 3414 Criminal 1968 Sentencing Guidelines 723 Civil Rights - Section 1983 653 Immigration (Civil) 649 Constitutional 538 Supervised Release 475 Drug Trafficking 445 Civil Rights - Employment 370 Firearms 323 Qualified Immunity 252 Anders Brief 243
Apr 14 2026
Fed. Cir. 24-1761 Panel Decision

DEFINITIVE HOLDINGS v. POWERTEQ

The Federal Circuit affirmed the invalidity of a patent under the pre-AIA on-sale bar, holding that a third-party sale of a device embodying the invention more than one year before the priority date renders the claims invalid regardless of whether the invention's details were publicly disclosed. The court further clarified that source code commands are not hearsay at summary judgment because they constitute instructions rather than statements of fact.

Civil Intellectual Property Summary Judgment
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Apr 14 2026
6th Cir. 25-3722 Published

Morgan v. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, ruling that an employer has no duty to engage in the interactive process or provide accommodations when an employee has not requested them. The court held that an employee who disputes a medical finding of disability and insists they are fit for duty cannot later claim discrimination for failure to accommodate.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Summary Judgment
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Apr 13 2026
5th Cir. 25-30016 Panel Decision

Alexander v. Arceneaux

The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for police officers, holding that their seizure of unlisted electronics fell within the Fourth Amendment's plain view doctrine. The court found that specific tips regarding stolen goods, combined with the items' suspicious packaging and location, provided probable cause to believe the property was contraband.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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Apr 13 2026
4th Cir. 24-2237 Panel Decision

JEFFERY PAYNE v. SGT. JOSHUA MOSER

The Fourth Circuit vacated summary judgment in a Fourth Amendment excessive force case, holding that genuine disputes of material fact exist regarding the reasonableness of a vehicle ramming and shooting. The court ruled that a reasonable jury could find the force used was not objectively justified given the suspect was unarmed and the circumstances did not pose an immediate threat.

Civil Civil Rights - Section 1983 Fourth Amendment - Search & Seizure Qualified Immunity
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Apr 13 2026
9th Cir. 3:21-cv-01799- Published

MOHAMMAD FARSHAD ABDOLLAH NIA v. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Bank of America, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act shields financial institutions from liability for good-faith compliance programs based on OFAC guidelines. The court ruled that the liability shield applies to actions permitted by regulatory guidance, not just those strictly compelled by the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.

Criminal Money Laundering Summary Judgment
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Apr 13 2026
7th Cir. 24-3175 Panel Decision

MARWAN MAHAJNI v. VU DO and SCOTT WOIDA

The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal challenging a district court's denial of qualified immunity because the lower court's ruling was not a final adjudication. The appellate court held that the district court's decision to deny immunity without prejudice and invite further arguments at summary judgment did not satisfy the collateral order doctrine.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Rights - Section 1983 Criminal Qualified Immunity
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Apr 13 2026
7th Cir. 24-2245 Panel Decision

JOHN DOE v. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA, et al

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of an adult plaintiff's request to litigate a Title IX lawsuit under a pseudonym. The court held that absent a substantial risk of physical harm or retaliation beyond the consequences of public truth, the public interest in transparency outweighs privacy interests in federal appellate proceedings.

Civil Civil Rights - Education Summary Judgment
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Apr 10 2026
6th Cir. 25-3651 Published

Rondell Hooks v. Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners, et al.

The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for defendants in an excessive-force suit because the plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies. The court held that the Prison Litigation Reform Act bars litigation when an inmate has not filed a standard grievance or provided evidence of an informal one in the district court.

Civil Civil Rights - PLRA / Prisoner Civil Rights - Section 1983 Summary Judgment
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Apr 10 2026
6th Cir. 25-1537 Published

United States ex rel. Lynn v. City of Detroit

The Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the City of Detroit, ruling that annual Certifications and Assurances are forward-looking promises rather than specific factual assertions. Consequently, these general pledges to comply with federal law cannot support liability under the False Claims Act even if the City later violated the underlying regulations.

Civil Forfeiture / Penalty Fraud Summary Judgment
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