Sixth Circuit – Page 2 – Paul Mollica's Federal Courts Blog

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”

Sixth Circuit Rejects “Juridical Link” Doctrine to Extend Class Standing to Defendant Who Did Not Injure the Named Plaintiff, Splitting with Seventh Circuit

In Fox v. Saginaw Cnty., Mich., No. 11-1265 (6th Cir. Apr. 28, 2023), the Sixth Circuit holds that even in a putative Fed. R. Civ. P. 23 class action, a representative plaintiff only has standing to sue the entities that injured them. It rejects the “juridical link” doctrine adopted by the Seventh Circuit in PaytonContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Rejects “Juridical Link” Doctrine to Extend Class Standing to Defendant Who Did Not Injure the Named Plaintiff, Splitting with Seventh Circuit”

Sixth Circuit Disapproves of “Administrative Closure” of Case by District Court As “Irreconcilable With the Requirements Set Forth in the [Federal] Rules” for Closing Cases

In Rodriguez v. Hirshberg Acceptance Corp., No. 20-2184 (6th Cir. Mar. 14, 2023), the Sixth Circuit – while recognizing the district court’s “tremendous freedom in managing their caseload” – holds that a common procedural method of tabling inactive litigation, the “administrative closure,” has no foundation in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and recommends aContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Disapproves of “Administrative Closure” of Case by District Court As “Irreconcilable With the Requirements Set Forth in the [Federal] Rules” for Closing Cases”

Sixth Circuit Holds District Court Lacked Power to Order a Forensic Examination of a Juror’s Personal Electronics to Investigate Alleged Misconduct in a Criminal Case

In In re Sittenfeld, No. 22-3694 (6th Cir. Sept. 23, 2022), the Sixth Circuit denies a mandamus petition and thus leaves undisturbed the denial of an order sought by a criminal defendant to compel the forensic examination of a juror’s cellphone, computer, or “any electronic device that [the juror] used to make electronic communications.” “InContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Holds District Court Lacked Power to Order a Forensic Examination of a Juror’s Personal Electronics to Investigate Alleged Misconduct in a Criminal Case”

Sixth Circuit Holds That 18 U.S.C. § 3731 Gives It Appellate Jurisdiction Over Order Denying Motion to Admit Government’s Evidence in Terrorism Prosecution

In United States v. Musaibli, No. 22-1013 (6th Cir. Aug. 2, 2022), holds that 18 U.S.C. § 3731, which gives the court of appeals jurisdiction to hear the U.S. Government’s appeal of any “decision or order of a district court suppressing or excluding evidence” also applies to a lower-court order denying the government’s motion toContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Holds That 18 U.S.C. § 3731 Gives It Appellate Jurisdiction Over Order Denying Motion to Admit Government’s Evidence in Terrorism Prosecution”

A Failure to Timely Cross-Appeal an Issue Is Not Jurisdictional and Thus Objection to Such an Omission Can Be Forfeited, Holds Sixth Circuit

In Georgia-Pacific Consumer Prods. v. NCR Corp., No.18-1806 (6th Cir. July 14, 2022), in an order denying rehearing en banc, the panel amends its original order with an appendix to hold that any objection to a party’s failure to timely cross-appeal from a final judgment does not go to subject-matter jurisdiction, and thus may beContinue reading “A Failure to Timely Cross-Appeal an Issue Is Not Jurisdictional and Thus Objection to Such an Omission Can Be Forfeited, Holds Sixth Circuit”

Sixth Circuit Adopts Narrower “Forum State” Approach to Nationwide Service of Process under 18 U.S.C. § 1965(b) of RICO Act, Joining Majority View in Circuit Split

In Peters Broadcast Eng’g, Inc. v. 24 Capital, LLC, No. 21-3849 (6th Cir. July 13, 2022), the Sixth Circuit joins six other circuits in holding that, for nationwide service of process under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), 18 U.S.C. § 1965, at least one defendant must be subject to personal jurisdiction inContinue reading “Sixth Circuit Adopts Narrower “Forum State” Approach to Nationwide Service of Process under 18 U.S.C. § 1965(b) of RICO Act, Joining Majority View in Circuit Split”

Mandamus Appropriate Remedy to Correct Violation of Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 and Rejection of Plea Agreement, Sixth Circuit Holds

In In re United States, No. 21-1318 (6th Cir. Apr. 26, 2022), the Sixth Circuit grants a writ of mandamus against a district court’s rejection of a plea bargain – and violation of Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 – based on the judge’s “longstanding practice” of rejecting plea agreements containing appeal waivers. During a pretrialContinue reading “Mandamus Appropriate Remedy to Correct Violation of Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 and Rejection of Plea Agreement, Sixth Circuit Holds”

Interlocutory Appeal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) Should Not Be Granted Where It Will “Not Accelerate [the] End” of Litigation, Holds Sixth Circuit

In In re Nicholas Paul Somberg, No. 22-0101 (6th Cir. Apr. 21, 2022), the Sixth Circuit in a published but unsigned order denied a certified appeal of denial of summary judgment under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b). Despite that the district court certified the appeal and defendant did not oppose it, the panel holds that theContinue reading “Interlocutory Appeal Under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) Should Not Be Granted Where It Will “Not Accelerate [the] End” of Litigation, Holds Sixth Circuit”