Fifth Circuit Panel Splits Three Ways on Effect of Cessation of Navy COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate on Appellate Jurisdiction

Other federal courts of appeals have had little difficulty concluding that the end of the military’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate – as legislated in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in 2022 –renders moot all pending litigation concerning injunctive relief from the rule. Just yesterday, the Tenth Circuit in Robert v. Austin, No.Continue reading “Fifth Circuit Panel Splits Three Ways on Effect of Cessation of Navy COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate on Appellate Jurisdiction”

Anonymity for Plaintiff Properly Revoked When Litigant Sought Publicity and “Disseminated Sensitive Material” About the Defendant, Holds Tenth Circuit

In Luo v. Wang, No. 22-1200 (10th Cir. July 3, 2023), a rare published opinion about the revocation of a pseudonym in a civil case, the Tenth Circuit affirms the lower courts reconsideration of the plaintiff’s use of the “Jane Doe” appellation when it came to light that the plaintiff had been seeking media attentionContinue reading “Anonymity for Plaintiff Properly Revoked When Litigant Sought Publicity and “Disseminated Sensitive Material” About the Defendant, Holds Tenth Circuit”

Eleventh Circuit Holds That District Court Erred in Disregarding Jury Finding Made by Consent of the Parties in Accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 39(c)(2)

In Thomas v. Broward County Sheriff’s Office, No. 22-11322 (11th Cir. June 22, 2023), the Eleventh Circuit holds in a Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) case that the district court was required to accept a finding of a willful violation entered by the jury on a special interrogatory when the parties consentedContinue reading “Eleventh Circuit Holds That District Court Erred in Disregarding Jury Finding Made by Consent of the Parties in Accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 39(c)(2)”

Fifth Circuit Holds That Employers Have Standing to Pursue Pre-Enforcement Challenge to the EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Bostock

In Braidwood Mgt. v. EEOC, No. 22-10145 (5th Cir. June 20, 2023), the Fifth Circuit holds that a for-profit “Christian” business and a non-denominational Christian church suffered a concrete injury from prospective enforcement of a guidance by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sufficient to support Article III standing. The guidance at issue isContinue reading “Fifth Circuit Holds That Employers Have Standing to Pursue Pre-Enforcement Challenge to the EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Bostock”

Don’t Make A Federal Case Out Of It: Seventh Circuit Considers A Lawsuit For $3.95

In Mack v. Resurgent Capital Servs., L.P., No. 21-2792 (7th Cir. June 7, 2023), the Seventh Circuit reverses and remands a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) lawsuit brought to collect $3.95 in postage, a claim held by the panel to confer Article III standing to bring the case in federal court. Since the SupremeContinue reading “Don’t Make A Federal Case Out Of It: Seventh Circuit Considers A Lawsuit For $3.95”

Split Fourth Circuit Panel Holds That Fed. R. Civ. P. 52 and 65 Standards for Injunctive Relief Applied to Prohibitory Order Enforcing Settlement Agreement

In Wudi Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. v. Wai Wong, No. 22-1495 (4th Cir. June 5, 2023), a 2-1 panel of the Fourth Circuit holds that the district court procedurally erred when it ordered a party to a settlement to “immediately cease” certain conduct prohibited by their agreement, holding that the judge was obliged to enterContinue reading “Split Fourth Circuit Panel Holds That Fed. R. Civ. P. 52 and 65 Standards for Injunctive Relief Applied to Prohibitory Order Enforcing Settlement Agreement”

Fifth Circuit Breaks With Other Circuits and Holds That Parents May Represent Minor Children Pro Se in Federal Court

In Raskin v. Dallas Indep. Sch. Dist., No. 21-11180 (5th Cir. June 2, 2023), the Fifth Circuit goes against the weight of ten other circuits and holds that there is no absolute bar to non-attorney parents representing their children pro se in federal court under the language of 28 U.S.C. § 1654. (Here’s a priorContinue reading “Fifth Circuit Breaks With Other Circuits and Holds That Parents May Represent Minor Children Pro Se in Federal Court”

Under Federal Common Law, Punitive Damage Award Under Surface Transportation Assistance Act Abates with the Death of the Claimant, Holds Sixth Circuit

In Weatherford U.S., L.P. v. United States Department of Labor, No. 21-3017 (6th Cir. May 24, 2023), the Sixth Circuit holds that – following federal common law – a punitive damage award entered by an administrative law judge Surface Transportation Assistance Act does not survive the death of the claimant. “Daniel Ayres brought an administrativeContinue reading “Under Federal Common Law, Punitive Damage Award Under Surface Transportation Assistance Act Abates with the Death of the Claimant, Holds Sixth Circuit”

Seventh Circuit Merits Panel Overrules Motion Panel, Revoking Appointment of Appellate Counsel That Resulted in “Forbidden” Hybrid Representation

In United States v. Njos, No. 21-3412 (7th Cir. May 22, 2023), a Seventh Circuit holds – in the fullness of time – that the court’s motion panel should not have appointed counsel in behalf of a criminal defendant to pursue an argument that the defendant expressly waived, and therefore grants the defendant’s motion toContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Merits Panel Overrules Motion Panel, Revoking Appointment of Appellate Counsel That Resulted in “Forbidden” Hybrid Representation”

Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2) Cannot Be Used to Dismiss Individual Claims, Holds Eleventh Circuit

In Rosell v. VMSB, LLC, No. 22-11325 (11th Cir. May 12, 2023), The Eleventh Circuit “make[s] explicit what our precedent has implied for almost two decades: Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) provides only for the dismissal of an entire action. Any attempt to use this rule to dismiss a single claim, or anything lessContinue reading “Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(a)(2) Cannot Be Used to Dismiss Individual Claims, Holds Eleventh Circuit”