Topic
Every decision we've filed under Summary Judgment.
The Eleventh Circuit addressed a long-standing dispute between the United States and Florida over the care of medically complex children. The court affirmed in part and reversed in part the district court's permanent injunction.
The Eleventh Circuit clarified that hotel operators may be liable under the TVPRA if they provide personalized support to sex trafficking operations, going beyond mere room rentals. The court vacated summary judgments, ruling that plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence of staff participation and knowledge to create jury questions on civil liability.
The Eleventh Circuit clarified the requirements for civil beneficiary claims under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, vacating summary judgment where plaintiffs presented sufficient evidence of hotel participation in trafficking ventures.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court order requiring plaintiffs to pay approximately $37,683 in costs to prevailing defendants despite the plaintiffs' claim of indigency. The court held that a disparity in financial resources between the parties is insufficient on its own to overcome the presumption that costs should be awarded to the prevailing party under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(d)(1).
The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se prisoner's complaint, holding that district courts must construe pleadings liberally but are not required to act as legal advocates. The court determined the plaintiff's essential grievance was an Eighth Amendment claim for deliberate indifference, not an Americans with Disabilities Act claim.
The Third Circuit affirmed a district court judgment dismissing a civil rights lawsuit brought by a plaintiff regarding the death of her service dog and her comments on a police department social media page. The court held that the plaintiff failed to state claims against private actors and lacked evidence of personal involvement or municipal policy to sustain liability against the police department.
The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Airbus, ruling that the plaintiff failed to prove race discrimination or retaliation under Title VII and Section 1981. The court held that the employer's reasons for termination were legitimate and that the plaintiff could not demonstrate that similarly situated employees outside his protected class were treated more favorably.
The Third Circuit affirmed the District Court's denial of a former Air Force reservist's request to correct his military record under the Administrative Procedure Act. The court held that the Air Force Board's decision to deny the petition was supported by substantial evidence and was not arbitrary or capricious.
The Fifth Circuit held that members of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council are officers under the Appointments Clause due to their veto power over the Secretary of Commerce. The court severed the unconstitutional veto authority and affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of the government.
The Sixth Circuit reversed summary judgment for an officer in a Fourth Amendment excessive force case, finding a genuine dispute of material fact regarding the timing of a chokehold. The court held that whether the deadly force was applied before or after the plaintiff attempted to grab the officer's gun is a factual question for a jury to decide.