Free Newsletter
Free speech and whistleblower claims dismissed in edva high school teacher suit
Zenaida Perez's free speech and whistleblower claims against Fairfax County School Board were dismissed by the EDVA court due to immunity and insufficient allegations.
Patent and trademark – Amazon largely prevails on patent claims
Amazon largely prevails on patent infringement claims in EDVA, securing summary judgment on noninfringement and no willful infringement findings.
Criminal – Sentence for ‘unusually heinous’ conduct is affirmed
The 4th Circuit affirmed the sentence of Joseph Bourabah for unusually heinous harassment conduct in EDVA, rejecting his challenges to counsel and plea withdrawal.
Appeals – Waiver in plea agreement forecloses most arguments on appeal
The 4th Circuit affirmed in part and dismissed in part an appeal based on the appeal waiver in Ceara Smith's plea agreement in EDVA.
Appeals – Appellant’s informal brief forfeited appellate review
Tremel Marquis Rosser forfeited appellate review by failing to challenge district court dismissals in his informal brief in the 4th Circuit EDVA.
Employment – Failure to exhaust administrative remedies dooms Title VII suit
Avala Rose's Title VII suit was dismissed by the 4th Circuit for failure to exhaust administrative remedies after missing the 15-day filing deadline.
Criminal – Defendant agreed to allow statement of facts at trial
The EDVA court ruled that Sohaib Akhter's statement of facts in a plea agreement is admissible despite his withdrawal, affirming the agreement's enforceability.
Criminal – Defendant granted resentencing for violation of supervised release
The 4th Circuit vacated and remanded the resentencing of Preston Mills Jr. for violation of supervised release in EDVA due to failure to consider credit for time served.
Criminal – Claimed sentencing error deemed harmless
The 4th Circuit affirmed sentencing for Xavier Holley in EDVA, ruling any claimed grouping error in his Hobbs Act robbery convictions was harmless.
Tort- Suit over alleged denied Medicaid benefits to child is dismissed
A Virginia federal court dismissed a suit alleging denial of Medicaid benefits to a child, finding no private right of action under the Medicaid Act provisions cited.
Contract – Source of duty/economic loss rule bars conversion claim
Moog Inc. sued TurboChef Technologies in EDVA over purchase order disputes. Court bars conversion claim under source of duty and economic loss rules.
Bankruptcy- Bankruptcy court didn’t err in rejecting debtor’s plan
The 4th Circuit affirmed the bankruptcy court’s rejection of Christopher Cook’s first bankruptcy plan due to lack of good faith and documentation issues.
Legal Tech
- AI in practice: How new technology is affecting litigation practice
- Experts foresee legal malpractice risk for those who eschew AI
- Legal Decoder launches AI-powered billing analytics interface
Verdicts & Settlements
- Negligence and Tort – E-bike collision leads to neck injury, psoriasis flare
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – ‘Daydreaming’ driver hit plaintiff walking by road
- Motor Vehicle Negligence 92-year-old dies after being hit by vehicle
- Motor Vehicle Negligence – Motorcyclist suffers severe injuries in vehicle accident
- Medical Malpractice – Patient dies after alleged improper medicine admin
Opinion Digests
- Criminal – Doctor convicted of unauthorized distribution of oxycodone
- Tort – Assault and battery claims against postal employee are dismissed
- Immigration – Petitioner failed to connect fear of persecution to PSG
- Civil Procedure – District court won’t revisit three-year old decision
- Bankruptcy – Pro se debtor’s myriad motions and challenges are denied
- Criminal – Firearm possession sentence was not substantively unreasonable
- Appeals – Inmate’s untimely appeal is dismissed
