In Jenkins v. Woodard, No. 22-6197 (4th Cir. July 22, 2024), the Fourth Circuit confronts an issue arising under 2021 amendment to Fed. R. App. P. 3: how to apply the new “general merger rule” to a federal notice of appeal that names just the summary judgment order. The amendment of Rule 3 was meantContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Holds That “General Merger Rule” of Newly Amended Fed. R. App. P. 3(c)(4) Means That Notice of Appeal of Summary Judgment Confers Appellate Jurisdiction Over an Interlocutory Order Denying Appointment of Counsel”
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Divided Second Circuit Panel Invokes 1872 Supreme Court Decision to Toss a Default Judgment, Owing to Inconsistency in the Jury Verdict
In Henry v. Oluwole, No. 21-2468 (2d Cir. July 15, 2024), a 2-1 panel of the Second Circuit holds not only that the district court erred in refusing to reopen a default judgment before and after a jury trial, but that judgment had to be entered for the party in default due to a fatalContinue reading “Divided Second Circuit Panel Invokes 1872 Supreme Court Decision to Toss a Default Judgment, Owing to Inconsistency in the Jury Verdict”
Eleventh Circuit Judge, in Concurring Opinion, Challenges Expansion of Younger Abstention as Chilling First Amendment Rights
In a case involving Stacey Abrams’ New Georgia Project, the Eleventh Circuit holds in New Georgia Project, Inc., et al v. Attorney General, State of Georgia, No. 22-14302 (11th Cir. July 8, 2024), that federal litigation of a challenge to Georgia’s campaign laws must await the conclusion of a state administrative enforcement action against theContinue reading “Eleventh Circuit Judge, in Concurring Opinion, Challenges Expansion of Younger Abstention as Chilling First Amendment Rights”
Fugitive-Disentitlement Doctrine Dooms Criminal Appeal of Defendant Who Fled the Country, Holds Ninth Circuit
Another case involving one of my favorite federal common law rules: in United States v. Terabelian, No. 21-50291 (9th Cir. June 27, 2024), the Ninth Circuit dismisses the direct appeal of a criminal conviction on the ground that the defendant removed her location-monitoring device and fled to country to Montenegro before sentencing, citing the fugitive-disentitlementContinue reading “Fugitive-Disentitlement Doctrine Dooms Criminal Appeal of Defendant Who Fled the Country, Holds Ninth Circuit”
Never Say Die: D.C. Circuit Holds That Plaintiff Preserved Standing Argument by Raising It for the First Time in a Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) Motion After District Court’s Dismissal
In Tanner-Brown v. Haaland, No. 22-5302 (D.C. Cir. June 25, 2024), the D.C. Circuit reverses dismissal on Article III standing grounds of an action against the U.S. Department of Interior for an accounting, based on an argument only first raised by plaintiff after dismissal in a Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) motion to reconsider. “AppellantContinue reading “Never Say Die: D.C. Circuit Holds That Plaintiff Preserved Standing Argument by Raising It for the First Time in a Fed. R. Civ. P. 59(e) Motion After District Court’s Dismissal”
District Court Judge Who Turned Jury Trial Over to a Magistrate to Catch His Flight Voided the Verdict, Holds Eleventh Circuit
In TB Foods USA, LLC v. American Mariculture, Inc., No. 22-12936 (11th Cir. June 18, 2024), the Eleventh Circuit holds that even when the parties agree to a substitution of a magistrate judge to receive the verdict at the end of a jury trial, they do not necessarily consent to the magistrate performing Article IIIContinue reading “District Court Judge Who Turned Jury Trial Over to a Magistrate to Catch His Flight Voided the Verdict, Holds Eleventh Circuit”
Seventh Circuit Questions Standard of Review for Orders Declining to Exercise Ancillary Enforcement Jurisdiction
In Continental Indem. Co. v. BII, Inc., N. 23-1648 (7th Cir. June 12, 2024), the Seventh Circuit affirms dismissal of an action filed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 69 by an insurer against an alleged garnishee, holding that it fell outside the court’s ancillary enforcement jurisdiction. The panel, though, reserves for future consideration whether theContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Questions Standard of Review for Orders Declining to Exercise Ancillary Enforcement Jurisdiction”
D.C. Circuit Vacates “Sledgehammer” Pre-Filing Injunction Against Frequent Filer That Applied to Every Court in the Nation
In Klayman v. Porter, No. 22-7123 (D.C. Cir. June 11, 2024), the D.C. Circuit strikes down the sanction of “restricting [plaintiff]’s ability to file any related actions or claims for relief in any forum, state or federal,” citing prudential and constitutional limits to federal equitable power. “In recent years, the District of Columbia Bar’s OfficeContinue reading “D.C. Circuit Vacates “Sledgehammer” Pre-Filing Injunction Against Frequent Filer That Applied to Every Court in the Nation”
Seventh Circuit Takes Time Out to Berate Bernhard Modern Font
In Asimah v. CBL & Assoc. Mgt, Inc., No. 23-2495 (7th Cir. June 3, 2024), a decision otherwise dismissing a case based on a defect in the notice of appeal, the Seventh Circuit devotes a couple of pages to typography. “We are publishing this opinion . . . to urge all lawyers to read andContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Takes Time Out to Berate Bernhard Modern Font”
Sixth Circuit Finds Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b) Certification Improper Where Wrongful Death Claim on Appeal Arose from Same Facts as Negligence and Other Causes of Action
In Sherrod v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No. 21-3428 (6th Cir. May 29, 2024), the Sixth Circuit dismisses an appeal of a wrongful death claim against Wal-Mart—presenting truly bizarre facts—where the panel finds that it should not have been certified for appeal under Rule 54(b) because it was too interrelated with unadjudicated causes of action forContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Finds Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b) Certification Improper Where Wrongful Death Claim on Appeal Arose from Same Facts as Negligence and Other Causes of Action”
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