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Constitutional: Facial challenge to Maryland internet advertising tax statute is reinstated
Where the Maryland General Assembly enacted a law that taxes the revenues companies produce by advertising on the internet, and restricted the ways that a resulting price increase can be communicated, the district court erred when it dismissed a facial challenge to the statute.
Constitutional: Retaliation claims against law enforcement officer are dismissed
Where the plaintiff argued a law enforcement officer searched his Facebook and Gmail accounts in retaliation for his community advocacy, but he failed to plead facts making it plausible the officer did not have probable cause to search the accounts, the suit was dismissed.
Constitutional: Asheville noise ordinance was not unconstitutionally vague
Where a man who loudly protests outside abortion clinics argued the City of Asheville’s noise ordinance was unconstitutionally vague, because “no reasonable definition of ‘amplified sound’ would include plastic cones,” the court rejected his argument. The statute employs an objective standard with no apparent risk of arbitrary enforcement.
Constitutional: First Amendment retaliation claim is dismissed
Where a man alleged that deputies seized his protest papers and refused to return them in retaliation for his criticisms of the sheriff, this claim was dismissed. There were no allegations that the sheriff participated in, authorized or condoned the seizure, and any failure to return the papers does not rise to the level of a constitutionally adverse action.
Constitutional: Former county employee loses pension because he stole county funds
Where a former Halifax County employee was convicted of felony embezzlement, after it was discovered that he pocketed cash payments for pet adoptions that were supposed to be deposited into the county’s coffers, he lost his pension. Although he argued the loss of pension violated the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments, these arguments were rejected.
Nevada eyes return of Las Vegas Strip crime court
Nevada lawmakers may revive a special court to ban offenders from the Las Vegas Strip, raising legal and civil rights questions amid tourism decline.
SCOTUS reverses Boston judge, reinstates Trump gender ID standard
The U.S. Supreme Court stayed a lower court order blocking the State Department’s rule requiring passports to list sex at birth, citing likely government success.
Constitutional: Department of Defense must replace banned books from five libraries
Students were likely to succeed on their claims that the Department of Defense violated the students’ constitutional rights when it removed library books from five school libraries, and by making changes to curricular material in implementation of various presidential executive orders.
H-1B visa order leaves stakeholders in limbo
Immigration attorneys warn Trump’s $100K H-1B visa fee could devastate U.S. employers as lawsuits challenge the executive order’s legality and impact.
Can marijuana users legally own guns? SCOTUS to decide
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if regular marijuana users can legally own firearms, revisiting federal gun laws after its 2022 gun rights expansion.
Constitutional: Maryland cannabis licensing statute doesn’t violate Dormant Commerce Clause
Where a cannabis license applicant alleged the Maryland licensing scheme discriminates against non-Maryland residents in violation of the Dormant Commerce Clause, this argument was rejected.
Illinois fights Trump over National Guard deployment
SUMMARY · Illinois and Chicago challenge Trump’s National Guard deployment · Court hearing draws large crowds, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson attends · DOJ cites unrest and threats to federal agents […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – 74-year-old injured in two-vehicle crash
- Employment- Arbitrator finds unfair labor practices by school
- Medical Malpractice- Gallbladder removal surgery results in reparative procedure
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Car with mother, two children broadsided, rolled several times
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Driver, passenger suffer injuries after truck crosses into lane
- Fraud – Jury sides with couple in home construction case
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Triathlete suffered fractures after being struck by pickup truck
- Medical Malpractice- Nursing facility patient died after falling, suffering head injury
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Sales manager sustained multiple injuires in Virginia Beach collision
- Products Liability – Workplace accident results in amputation at the wrist
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Railroad worker injured in collision with tractor-trailer
Opinion Digests
- Banks and banking – Bank defeats customer’s conversion claim
- Prisons – Inmate’s lack-of-exercise claim was wrongly dismissed
- Criminal – Gang members convicted on multiple charges
- Employment – District court wrongly dismissed casino employee’s FMLA/USERRA suit
- Tort- Government contractor liable for abuses at Abu Ghraib
- Negligence – Claims narrowed in trucking accident
- Employment – Retaliation claim against Freddie Mac is dismissed
- Civil Practice – Rule 12(b)(6) motion can’t be granted simply because its unopposed
- Municipal – Lynchburg registrar’s attack on adverse jury verdict fails
- Bankruptcy – Chapter 11 petition stays asbestos-exposure lawsuits
- Criminal – Evidence supports conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon
- Consumer Protection – Default judgment entered against auto dealership
