In Langere v. Verizon Wireless Servs., No. 19-55747 (9th Cir. Dec. 29, 2020), the Ninth Circuit clarifies the standard for when a three-judge panel may overrule circuit precedent in the face of “irreconcilable” Supreme Court authority. It holds that it is not necessary for the prior circuit caselaw to be on all fours with theContinue reading “Three-Judge Panel Can Overrule Circuit Precedent If Its Reasoning Is “Irreconcilable” With Intervening Supreme Court Authority, Holds Ninth Circuit”
Monthly Archives: December 2020
First Circuit Refuses Appellate Jurisdiction Over Denial of TRO in a COVID-19 Closure Case
In Calvary Chapel of Bangor v. Mills, No. 20-1507 (1st Cir. Dec. 22, 2020), the panel denies appellate jurisdiction over the district court’s denial of a temporary restraining order (TRO), sought by a religious organization challenging the state’s emergency measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic. On April 29, 2020, after implementing a statewide shutdownContinue reading “First Circuit Refuses Appellate Jurisdiction Over Denial of TRO in a COVID-19 Closure Case”
Judge Who Returned Jury to Deliberate Over Holdout Juror’s Dissent Committed Plain Error Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 31, Holds Seventh Circuit
In United States v. Banks, No. 19-3245 (7th Cir. Dec. 18, 2020), the Seventh Circuit vacates a conviction that the panel holds was “unacceptably coercive,” when the trial judge exposed a dissenting juror during a poll, then sent the jury back to deliberate at 9pm. The United States prosecuted a federal employee who was chargedContinue reading “Judge Who Returned Jury to Deliberate Over Holdout Juror’s Dissent Committed Plain Error Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 31, Holds Seventh Circuit”
Seventh Circuit Finds No Standing in Four FDCPA Appeals, Remands Fifth for Further Findings
On December 14 and 15, 2020, four different panels of the Seventh Circuit issued five published opinions, holding on various grounds that the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) plaintiffs failed to plausibly allege an injury under Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins, 136 S. Ct. 1540 (2016) … but holding in one case that there mightContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Finds No Standing in Four FDCPA Appeals, Remands Fifth for Further Findings”
Memes Admissible as Intrinsic Evidence of Prostitution Charge Under Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(2), Holds Tenth Circuit
In United States v. Alfred, No. 19-1243 (10th Cir. Dec. 14, 2020), the Tenth Circuit finds no error in admission of memes from the defendant’s social media page as “intrinsic evidence” of his facilitation and solicitation of prostitution under Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(2) and 403. The defendant allegedly used the social-media site Tagged to operateContinue reading “Memes Admissible as Intrinsic Evidence of Prostitution Charge Under Fed. R. Evid. 404(b)(2), Holds Tenth Circuit”
Expert Testimony Not Necessary to Prove Existence of Office’s E-Mail Storage, Holds Ninth Circuit
In Clare v. Clare, No. 19-36039 (9th Cir. Dec. 8, 2020), a case concerning a husband’s intrusion into his wife’s work e-mail, the Ninth Circuit reverses exclusion of a declaration about how the office stored data. Andrea Clare sued Kevin Clare under the federal Stored Communications Act (SCA) 18 U.S.C. § 2701 et seq., forContinue reading “Expert Testimony Not Necessary to Prove Existence of Office’s E-Mail Storage, Holds Ninth Circuit”
Plaintiffs Run Out 150-Day Fail Safe Limit Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(c) to Appeal From MDL, Holds Seventh Circuit
In Bell v. Albertson Cos., Inc., No. 19-2581 (7th Cir. Dec. 7, 2020), a two-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit (after Judge Barrett’s elevation to the Supreme Court) reverses the district court’s dismissal of unfair business practice claims, but holds that two of the appeals are time-barred under Fed. R. Civ. P 58(c) and Fed.Continue reading “Plaintiffs Run Out 150-Day Fail Safe Limit Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 58(c) to Appeal From MDL, Holds Seventh Circuit”
“Pop Secret” Lawsuit Fails to Fluff, When Ninth Circuit Finds No Article III Standing
In McGee v. Diamond Foods, Inc., No. 17-55577 (9th Cir. Dec. 4, 2020), the Ninth Circuit affirms dismissal of a lawsuit against a snack food company alleging adulteration with an unhealthy ingredient, finding no Article III injury in fact. “McGee contends that Diamond engaged in unfair practices, created a nuisance, and breached the warranty ofContinue reading ““Pop Secret” Lawsuit Fails to Fluff, When Ninth Circuit Finds No Article III Standing”
Misdemeanor Trial for On-Board Assault Properly Venued in District Where Plane Landed, Holds En Banc Ninth Circuit
In United States v. Lozoya, No. 17-50336 (9th Cir. Dec. 3, 2020), the Ninth Circuit holds 8-3 that the prosecution of an on-board misdemeanor is venued, under 18 U.S.C. § 3237(a), in the district where the plane lands and not the flyover district where the crime occurred. During a Minneapolis-to-Los Angeles flight, defendant Lozoya “wantedContinue reading “Misdemeanor Trial for On-Board Assault Properly Venued in District Where Plane Landed, Holds En Banc Ninth Circuit”
County Clerk in New York Lacked Standing to Challenge State’s Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act on Preemption Grounds, Holds Second Circuit
In Kearns v. Cuomo, No. 19-3769 (2d Cir. Nov. 30, 2020), the Second Circuit holds that a county clerk failed to allege an Article III injury in a case that claimed a conflict between the demands of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act and a state law that restricts disclosure of data gathered from driver’sContinue reading “County Clerk in New York Lacked Standing to Challenge State’s Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act on Preemption Grounds, Holds Second Circuit”
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