In Smart Study Co., LTD v. Shenzhenshixindajixieyouxiangongsi, No. 24-313 (2d Cir. Dec. 18, 2025), the Second Circuit holds in a matter of first impression that e-mail service on a foreign defendant violates the Hague Service Convention and cannot be supported by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f). The Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and ExtrajudicialContinue reading “Neither Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(f) Nor Hague Service Convention Authorize International Service of Process by E-Mail, Holds Second Circuit”
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Concurring Seventh Circuit Judge Urges Reconsideration of Plain-Error Review Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 29
In United States v. Robinson, No. 24-2310 (7th Cir. Dec. 15, 2025), the Seventh Circuit reverses in part a conviction for bank fraud on sufficiency-of-the-evidence grounds, while a concurring judge argues that a change in Fed. R. Crim. P. 29 warrants reconsideration of the plain-error standard to challenges raised for the first time on appeal.Continue reading “Concurring Seventh Circuit Judge Urges Reconsideration of Plain-Error Review Under Fed. R. Crim. P. 29”
“Consensual Relationship Exception” Did Not Extend Jurisdiction of Tribal Court Over Nonmember Spouse in Divorce Case, Holds Eighth Circuit
In a case of first impression, the Eighth Circuit in Tix v. Tix, No. 24-3487 (8th Cir. Dec. 12, 2025) rejects Tribal Court jurisdiction over a nonmember spouse in a divorce case. “In September 2008, Robert William Tix, a member of the Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Indian Community (the ‘Community’), married Kristin Ann McGowan [‘McGowen’],Continue reading ““Consensual Relationship Exception” Did Not Extend Jurisdiction of Tribal Court Over Nonmember Spouse in Divorce Case, Holds Eighth Circuit”
Co-Guarantors to Contracts May Not Be Indispensable Parties Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(b), Holds Seventh Circuit
In CCP Golden/7470 LLC v. Breslin, No. 24-2731 (7th Cir. Dec. 3, 2025), the Seventh Circuit rejects an effort to defeat diversity jurisdiction, holding (contrary to prior dicta on the subject) that co-parties to a contract who are jointly and severally liable need not always be deemed indispensable parties for purposes of Fed. R. Civ.Continue reading “Co-Guarantors to Contracts May Not Be Indispensable Parties Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 19(b), Holds Seventh Circuit”
Exhibition of Van Gogh Painting in Illinois Did Not Establish Personal Jurisdiction Over Ownership Dispute There, Holds Seventh Circuit
In Schoeps v Sompo Holdings, Inc., No. 25-1405 (7th Cir. Nov. 21, 2025), the Seventh Circuit holds that the happenstance of an artwork, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers (1888), having once been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago did not create personal jurisdiction to sue over the painting’s ownership in Illinois. The heirs (Schoeps) of “PaulContinue reading “Exhibition of Van Gogh Painting in Illinois Did Not Establish Personal Jurisdiction Over Ownership Dispute There, Holds Seventh Circuit”
The Prospect of a New, Future Administration in the White House Does Not Rescue a Gun-Rights Case from Mootness, Holds Sixth Circuit
In Gun Owners of America, Inc. v. U.S. Dep’t of Justice, No. 24-1881 (6th Cir. Oct. 30, 2025), the Sixth Circuit holds that the possibility that a new U.S. Administration in 2029 might not be a sympathetic to gun rights as the current one did not warrant an exception to mootness in a challenge toContinue reading “The Prospect of a New, Future Administration in the White House Does Not Rescue a Gun-Rights Case from Mootness, Holds Sixth Circuit”
Second Circuit Overrules Clear-Error Standard Sometimes Used by District Courts to Review Report and Recommendations by Federal Magistrate Judges Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)
In Nambiar v. The Central Orthopedic Group, LLP, No. 24-1103 (2d Cir. Oct. 28, 2025), the Second Circuit disaffirmed the clear-error standard of review applied by some district courts in the circuit to review Report and Recommendations (“R&R”) issued by federal magistrate judges. The panel holds that any portion of an R&R to which aContinue reading “Second Circuit Overrules Clear-Error Standard Sometimes Used by District Courts to Review Report and Recommendations by Federal Magistrate Judges Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)”
Citing the Probate Exception, Sixth Circuit Holds District Court Lacked Equitable Jurisdiction to Compel Arbitration of Action Proceeding In Rem in State Court
In Johnson v. Johnson, No. 24-2058 (6th Cir. Oct. 24, 2025), the Sixth Circuit affirms dismissal of an action to compel arbitration under Section 4 of the Federal Arbitration Act, holding that – under the probate exception – the lower court lacked equitable jurisdiction to interfere with a state in rem proceeding. The decedent “Mrs.Continue reading “Citing the Probate Exception, Sixth Circuit Holds District Court Lacked Equitable Jurisdiction to Compel Arbitration of Action Proceeding In Rem in State Court”
Splitting With the Fifth Circuit, First Circuit Holds That a Third-Party Claim May Bring a Case Within Appellate Jurisdiction Under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(3)
In United States v. Ernst Jacob GmbH & Co. KG, No. 23-1969 (1st Cir. Oct. 23, 2025), the First Circuit rejects a holding in the Fifth Circuit and holds that a third-party defendant’s complaint for subrogation or contribution is enough to give a U.S. Court of Appeals jurisdiction over an interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C.Continue reading “Splitting With the Fifth Circuit, First Circuit Holds That a Third-Party Claim May Bring a Case Within Appellate Jurisdiction Under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(3)”
Lawsuit Against Attorneys for Alleged Conduct During a State-Court Action Not Blocked by Rooker-Feldman Doctrine, Holds Fifth Circuit
In English v. Crochet, No. 25-30074 (5th Cir. Oct. 8, 2025), a Fifth Circuit panel partially reverses a Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) dismissal of a diversity case, holding in relevant part that the tort suit is not blocked by the Rooker-Feldman doctrine even though it calls into doubt monetary sanctions entered by a state-courtContinue reading “Lawsuit Against Attorneys for Alleged Conduct During a State-Court Action Not Blocked by Rooker-Feldman Doctrine, Holds Fifth Circuit”
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