In Empower Texans, Inc. v. Geren, No. 19-50577 (5th Cir. Oct. 5, 2020), a Fifth Circuit panel holds that a lawsuit mooted by the end of a legislative session could not be revived by the “capable of repetition, yet evading review” exception where the plaintiffs supposedly didn’t move fast enough to vindicate their rights. DefendantContinue reading “Poky Litigants Cannot Make Use of “Capable of Repetition, Yet Evading Review” Exception to Mootness, Holds Fifth Circuit”
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Texas District Court Lacked Personal Jurisdiction to Vacate an Arbitration Award in Florida, Fifth Circuit Holds
In Sayers Constr., LLC v. Timberline Constr., Inc., No 19-51099 (5th Cir. Oct. 2, 2020), the panel affirms dismissal of a vacatur action on the ground that it would not comport with Due Process to review a Florida arbitration award in Texas. Plaintiff Sayers filed suit in the Western District of Texas to vacate anContinue reading “Texas District Court Lacked Personal Jurisdiction to Vacate an Arbitration Award in Florida, Fifth Circuit Holds”
Seventh Circuit Judge Give Guidance on Standards for Amicus Briefs
In Prairie Rivers Network v. Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC, No. 18-3644 (7th Cir. Oct. 2, 2020) (Scudder, J., in chambers), a Seventh Circuit judge gives the bench guidance about what makes an effective amicus brief under Fed. R. App. P. 29. Judge Scudder granted leave to three organizations – the Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group, theContinue reading “Seventh Circuit Judge Give Guidance on Standards for Amicus Briefs”
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”
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