In Black v. Mantei & Associates, Ltd.. No. 24-1439 (4th Cir. July 30, 2025), the Fourth Circuit holds that the fee-shifting provision applicable to removal petitions, 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c), does not authorize – let alone mandate – attorney’s fees for defending an award of attorney’s fees on appeal, rejecting decisions in the Seventh CircuitContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Splits with Seventh Circuit in Holding That a Court May Not Award Appellate Attorney’s Fees Under 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c)”
Tag Archives: Fourth Circuit
Fourth Circuit Panel Splits Over Whether the Doctrine of Forum Non Conveniens Requires That There Be a Single Foreign Forum Available to Hear the Claim
In AdvanFort Co. v. Zamil Offshore Srvs. Co., No. 24-1007 (4th Cir. Apr. 22, 2025), a Fourth Circuit panel splits 2-1 over whether forum non conveniens can apply when the alternative foreign forum for a case may require filing in two separate courts. “AdvanFort filed a five-count complaint in the district court for the EasternContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Panel Splits Over Whether the Doctrine of Forum Non Conveniens Requires That There Be a Single Foreign Forum Available to Hear the Claim”
Is There a Standard of Judicial Review Lower Than “Arbitrary and Capricious”? Yes, Holds the Fourth Circuit
In Dorado-Ocasio v. Averill, No. 24-1360 (4th Cir. Feb. 13, 2025), the Fourth Circuit holds that for review of an administrative action by an agency of the uniformed armed services, judicial review is merely for “a discernible path for its determination.” Plaintiff Dorado-Ocasio is a captain in the United States Army. She challenged an adverseContinue reading “Is There a Standard of Judicial Review Lower Than “Arbitrary and Capricious”? Yes, Holds the Fourth Circuit”
Fourth Circuit Panel Holds 2-1 That Defendants Won the Race to the Courthouse Under 28 U.S.C. § 1447, Filing a Notice of Appeal That Stayed the District Court’s Authority to Remand a Removed Case Back to State Court
In City of Martinsville, Va. v. Express Scripts, Inc., No. 24-1912 (4th Cir. Feb. 10, 2025), a 2-1 panel holds that because the defendant filed its appeal before the district court physically mailed a remand order to state court under 28 U.S.C. § 1447, the order had no legal effect. The panel judges differ overContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Panel Holds 2-1 That Defendants Won the Race to the Courthouse Under 28 U.S.C. § 1447, Filing a Notice of Appeal That Stayed the District Court’s Authority to Remand a Removed Case Back to State Court”
Fourth Circuit Provides Guidance on the Division of Bench and Jury Duties in an Eminent Domain Proceeding under Fed. R. Civ. P. 71.1(h), Noting a Split with the First Circuit
In Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC v. 9.89 Acres of Land, No. 23-2129 (4th Cir. Jan. 27, 2025), the Fourth Circuit addresses an issue of apparent first impression about the division of bench and jury duties under Fed. R. Civ. P. 71.1(h), governing federal eminent domain proceedings. On the admissibility of expert testimony, the panel issuesContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Provides Guidance on the Division of Bench and Jury Duties in an Eminent Domain Proceeding under Fed. R. Civ. P. 71.1(h), Noting a Split with the First Circuit”
Fourth Circuit Holds Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(A) Applies to Interlocutory Appeals, Creating a Split with the Eleventh Circuit
In Gelin v. Baltimore Cnty., No. 23-1541 (4th Cir. Dec. 4, 2024), the Fourth Circuit holds an appeal before it “in abeyance” until the district court decides a pending Fed. R. Civ. P. 59 motion. The panel has occasion to decide that Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(A) – which provides that certain motions in theContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Holds Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(4)(A) Applies to Interlocutory Appeals, Creating a Split with the Eleventh Circuit”
Fourth Circuit Castigates District Court for Reopening Case on Remand, Even Though a Concurring Judge Originally Suggested That Possibility
In R.A. v. McClenahan, No. 24-1008 (4th Cir. Dec. 3, 2024), the Fourth Circuit reverses a district court’s action granting leave to the plaintiff to amend their complaint after remand from the first appeal, despite that a panelist on the first appeal (who has since taken senior status) expressly suggested that course in a separateContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Castigates District Court for Reopening Case on Remand, Even Though a Concurring Judge Originally Suggested That Possibility”
Fourth Circuit Holds District Court Did Not Abuse Discretion in Striking Complaint Filed Pro Se Via Fax Machine
In Folse v. Hoffman, No. 23-1709 (4th Cir. Nov. 20, 2024), the Fourth Circuit finds no error in the district court striking a complaint and dismissing an action, where the pro se plaintiff attempted to file the action “electronically,” by way of a fax machine. “Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5(d)(3)(B)(i) says pro se litigantsContinue reading “Fourth Circuit Holds District Court Did Not Abuse Discretion in Striking Complaint Filed Pro Se Via Fax Machine”
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
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”
Fourth Circuit Holds That It Lacks Appellate Jurisdiction Under Perlman Doctrine to Review Criminal Defendant’s Interlocutory Appeal Concerning a Grand Jury Subpoena
In In re Grand Jury 2021 Subpoenas, No. 22-1654 (4th Cir. Nov. 22, 2023), the Fourth Circuit holds that because of Mohawk Industries, Inc. v. Carpenter, 558 U.S. 100 (2009) – which scaled back the collateral-order doctrine as applied to attorney-client privilege – it must reassess the continued viability of the Perlman doctrine (Perlman v.Continue reading “Fourth Circuit Holds That It Lacks Appellate Jurisdiction Under Perlman Doctrine to Review Criminal Defendant’s Interlocutory Appeal Concerning a Grand Jury Subpoena”
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