Category Archives: Uncategorized

Fifth Circuit Gives “What Not to Do” Guidance for the Lawyer Who Learns Too Late That Their Brief Was Filed in Court with AI Hallucinations

In Fletcher v. Experian Inform. Solutions, Inc., No. 25-20086 (5th Cir. Feb. 18, 2026), the Fifth Circuit enters a $2,500 sanction against a lawyer who filed a brief with “quotations, citations, and assertions that were not supported by the underlying case law” and were, to all appearances, AI-generated. The opinion drops some hints about whatContinue reading “Fifth Circuit Gives “What Not to Do” Guidance for the Lawyer Who Learns Too Late That Their Brief Was Filed in Court with AI Hallucinations”

District Court May Not Grant Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) Motion Solely Because Plaintiff Failed to Oppose It, Holds Fourth Circuit

In Guzman v. Acuarius Night Club LLC, No. 24-1555 (4th Cir. Feb. 13, 2026), the Fourth Circuit holds that “failing to oppose a Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motion is not a sufficient ground for a court’s concluding that a complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Plaintiffs are “professionalContinue reading “District Court May Not Grant Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) Motion Solely Because Plaintiff Failed to Oppose It, Holds Fourth Circuit”

Waiting Sixteen Months Was Not “Reasonable Diligence” to Seek Preliminary Injunction in Free Speech Case, Holds Eighth Circuit

In Kohls v. Ellison, No. 25-1300 (8th Cir. Feb. 9, 2026), the Eighth Circuit affirms denial of a preliminary injunction in a case where the plaintiffs waited “more than sixteen months after the legislature enacted the challenged provisions” to seek relief, finding that lack of urgency underscored a lack of irreparable harm. Plaintiffs sued officialsContinue reading “Waiting Sixteen Months Was Not “Reasonable Diligence” to Seek Preliminary Injunction in Free Speech Case, Holds Eighth Circuit”

Geographic-Filtering Mechanism on Website That Enabled Local Sales in New Hampshire Constituted “Purposeful Availment” for Personal Jurisdiction Purposes, Holds First Circuit

In Stokinger v. Armslist, LLC, No. 24-1697 (1st Cir. Feb. 5, 2026), the First Circuit holds that an online marketplace for firearms based in Pennsylvania engaged in “purposeful availment” of New Hampshire because it had a geographic-filtering mechanism on its website that would-be purchasers could use to search for firearms offered for sale where “theyContinue reading “Geographic-Filtering Mechanism on Website That Enabled Local Sales in New Hampshire Constituted “Purposeful Availment” for Personal Jurisdiction Purposes, Holds First Circuit”

Third Circuit Joins Split Over Whether Successful Habeas Corpus Litigants Are Entitled to Fees and Costs Under the Equal Access to Justice Act

In Michelin v. Warden Moshannon Valley Corr. Cntr., No. 24-2990 (3d Cir. Feb. 2, 2026), the Third Circuit becomes the fourth U.S. Court of Appeals to hold that the Equal Access to Justice Act fee-shifting provision applies to successful litigants in habeas cases (while two other circuits hold that it does not). The issue isContinue reading “Third Circuit Joins Split Over Whether Successful Habeas Corpus Litigants Are Entitled to Fees and Costs Under the Equal Access to Justice Act”

Split Ninth Circuit Panel Issues Caution on So-Called “Shotgun Pleadings”

In Gibson v. City of Portland, No. 24-1663 (9th Cir. Jan. 29, 2025), a split panel addresses when it may be appropriate for a district court to strike what it calls a “shotgun pleading,” i.e., one that fails to specify claims against each named defendant, but instead indiscriminately incorporates allegations from one count to theContinue reading “Split Ninth Circuit Panel Issues Caution on So-Called “Shotgun Pleadings””

Seventh Circuit Lets Pro Se Litigant Off with a Warning About AI Hallucinations in His Brief

In Jones v Kankakee Cnty. Sheriff’s Dep’t, No 25-1251 (7th Cir. Jan. 21, 2026), the Seventh Circuit issues a timely reminder that, however useful generative AI may be, it is still not an automatic brief-writing machine. “Jones filed a sprawling lawsuit in November 2023, invoking 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and alleging that several municipal andContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Lets Pro Se Litigant Off with a Warning About AI Hallucinations in His Brief”

District Court Abused Discretion by Failing to Assess $366,461.96 in Expert Witness Fees Against Indigent Named Plaintiffs in Civil Rights Class Action, Holds Eighth Circuit

In Karsjens v. Gandhi, No. 24-2876 (8th Cir. Jan. 7, 2026), the Eighth Circuit holds that the district court abused its discretion by entirely excusing a group of indigent class representatives from contributing to the witness fees for four court-appointed experts. A prevailing party in federal civil litigation is entitled to tax certain costs toContinue reading “District Court Abused Discretion by Failing to Assess $366,461.96 in Expert Witness Fees Against Indigent Named Plaintiffs in Civil Rights Class Action, Holds Eighth Circuit”

On Third Go-Around in Fifth Circuit, Court Holds That Plaintiffs Forfeited a Law-of-the-Case Argument by Not Seeking Rehearing of the Second Panel Decision

In Pool v. City of Houston, No. 24-20138 (5th Cir. Jan. 2, 2026), the Fifth Circuit affirms a post-judgment vacatur of attorney’s fees after the original judgment in plaintiff’s favor was vacated by the Fifth Circuit for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. While the plaintiffs may have had a valid law-of-the-case argument to otherwise sustain theContinue reading “On Third Go-Around in Fifth Circuit, Court Holds That Plaintiffs Forfeited a Law-of-the-Case Argument by Not Seeking Rehearing of the Second Panel Decision”

En Banc Eighth Circuit Holds 6-5 That Being Exposed to a Single DEI Slide “Chilled” Their First Amendment Rights and Thus Conferred Standing to Sue

In Henderson v. Springfield R-12 Sch. Dist., No. 23-1374 (8th Cir. Dec. 30, 2025) (en banc), the Eighth Circuit holds that it was enough for a public employee to establish standing in a First Amendment challenge to a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program to have been shown a slide during a workplace presentation thatContinue reading “En Banc Eighth Circuit Holds 6-5 That Being Exposed to a Single DEI Slide “Chilled” Their First Amendment Rights and Thus Conferred Standing to Sue”