pwmollica1961

Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Under the Doctrine of Derivative Jurisdiction, But Devises Prospective 30-Day Deadline for Defendants to Raise This Objection

In Ricci v. Salzmanin, No. 19-3035 (7th Cir. Oct. 1, 2020) (per curiam), a two-judge panel affirms dismissal of a complaint removed to federal court, because the state court where it was originally filed lacked jurisdiction, but also holds henceforth that defendants must raise this defect within 30 days of removal. (This is the firstContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Affirms Dismissal Under the Doctrine of Derivative Jurisdiction, But Devises Prospective 30-Day Deadline for Defendants to Raise This Objection”

In A 111-Page Opinion, Divided Tenth Circuit Panel Voids a Conviction Because of a “Best Evidence Rule” Violation

In United States v. Chavez, No. 17-8096 (10th Cir. Sept. 30, 2020), the panel majority tosses a conviction based on a violation of the Best Evidence Rule, Fed. R. Evid. 1002. Instead of playing audio recordings of surveillance tapes, the district court made the jury rely on translated paper transcripts. The panel holds that RuleContinue reading “In A 111-Page Opinion, Divided Tenth Circuit Panel Voids a Conviction Because of a “Best Evidence Rule” Violation”

Plaintiff Had Standing to Represent Customers Who Paid Automatic Gratuities at All 49 Hotel Locations in Florida, Holds Eleventh Circuit

In Fox v. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, No. 19-10361 (11th Cir. Sept. 29, 2020), the Eleventh Circuit reverses dismissal of a putative class action, holding that the class representative – who ate at three Ritz-Carlton restaurants, and alleged violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act – could bring a claim onContinue reading “Plaintiff Had Standing to Represent Customers Who Paid Automatic Gratuities at All 49 Hotel Locations in Florida, Holds Eleventh Circuit”

The U.S. House of Representatives Has Institutional Standing to Challenge Alleged Violation of the Appropriations Clause, Holds D.C. Circuit

In United States House of Representatives v. Mnuchin, No. 19-5176 (D.C. Cir. Sept. 25, 2020), a panel of the D.C. Circuit holds that the House has institutional standing as a legislative body to challenge the alleged misappropriation of funds by the White House to pay for construction of a border wall. “Congress enacted a budgetContinue reading “The U.S. House of Representatives Has Institutional Standing to Challenge Alleged Violation of the Appropriations Clause, Holds D.C. Circuit”

Sixth Circuit Dashes the Concept of a Rule 23 “Negotiating” Class

In In re Nat’l Prescription Opiate Litig., No. 19-4097 (6th Cir. Sept. 24, 2020), a divided panel of the Sixth Circuit rebuffs a novel attempt to certify a Rule 23 class in a massive multi-district litigation (MDL) proceeding, solely for the purpose of giving the parties a vehicle for negotiating a global resolution. “The nationalContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Dashes the Concept of a Rule 23 “Negotiating” Class”

Fifth Circuit Lacks Appellate Jurisdiction Over Appeal of $125,000 Attorneys’ Fee Sanction Because the Notice of Appeal Failed to Name the Lawyer Who Was Taking the Appeal

The biggest USA pop record of 2012, “Thrift Shop” by hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, spawned litigation for copyright infringement by New Orleans-based musician Paul Batiste. In Batiste v. Lewis, No. 19-30400 (5th Cir. Sept. 22, 2020), the panel affirms summary judgment in favor of defendants. Adding insult to injury, the panel holdsContinue reading “Fifth Circuit Lacks Appellate Jurisdiction Over Appeal of $125,000 Attorneys’ Fee Sanction Because the Notice of Appeal Failed to Name the Lawyer Who Was Taking the Appeal”

First Circuit Holds That Declaratory Judgment Is Not Final and Appealable Until A Declaration of Rights Is Entered

In WM Capital Partners 53, LLC v. Barreras, Inc., No. 19-1364 (1st Cir. Sept. 22, 2020), the First Circuit dismisses the appeal of a declaratory judgment where summary judgment was granted, but the district court had not yet entered a declaration. “Plaintiff-appellee WM Capital Partners 53, LLC (‘WM Capital’) filed this diversity action seeking aContinue reading “First Circuit Holds That Declaratory Judgment Is Not Final and Appealable Until A Declaration of Rights Is Entered”

Fifth Circuit Eats Crow As It Withdraws Entire Decision on the Merits, Finding That the Notices of Appeal Were Filed Too Late

In Edwards v. 4JLJ, LLC, No. 19-40553 (5th Cir. Sept. 21, 2020), a panel of the Fifth Circuit reconsiders an appeal from a Fair Labor Standards Act trial and concludes that the merits decision must be almost-entirely withdrawn, owing to the cross-notices of appeal being filed too late. In the prior opinion, Edwards v. 4JLJ,Continue reading “Fifth Circuit Eats Crow As It Withdraws Entire Decision on the Merits, Finding That the Notices of Appeal Were Filed Too Late”

Ninth Circuit Finds No Standing Where Alleged Injury Could Only Be Redressed by Renegotiating Treaty

In Tinian Women Ass’n v. U.S. Dep’t of the Navy, No. 18-16723 (9th Cir. Sept. 20, 2020), the Ninth Circuit affirms dismissal of an environmental-law claim concerning the relocation of American troops from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. Rather than rule on the political question doctrine presented by the Government, the panel rests instead on theContinue reading “Ninth Circuit Finds No Standing Where Alleged Injury Could Only Be Redressed by Renegotiating Treaty”

Eleventh Circuit Flatly Bans Incentive Payments to Rule 23 Class Representatives in Settlements

In a startling opinion, Johnson v. NPAS Solutions, LLC, No. 18-12344 (11th Cir. Sept. 17, 2020), a 2-1 panel announces that incentive payments of any kind to Rule 23 class representatives are incompatible with common-fund principles and are therefore banned. The panel vacates a $6000 incentive payment in a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class settlement.Continue reading “Eleventh Circuit Flatly Bans Incentive Payments to Rule 23 Class Representatives in Settlements”