Where the relator’s False Claims Act claims were based on “classic conclusory language,” they were properly dismissed for failure to state a claim. And because plaintiffs do not get a “dry run” as a matter of right and district courts ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Julius N. Richardson Tort

Where a professor moderating a microaggression panel allowed a student to speak for several minutes before moving on to another attendee’s question, her refusal to let him continue asking questions was not First Amendment retaliation. Background This memorandum opinion provides ...

Tagged with: Judge Norman K. Moon Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a woman alleged a man sent false and defamatory emails to her employer after their relationship ended, including that she had used government property to harass him, her defamation claim survived his motion to dismiss. Background When a relationship ...

Tagged with: Judge Norman K. Moon Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a disgruntled homeowner sued both federal and private defendants for claims relating to her home purchase, maintenance and foreclosure proceedings, but there was no subject matter jurisdiction over the federal defendants, and the claims against all defendants failed to ...

Tagged with: Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where a former student in the physician assistant studies program at Shenandoah University alleged that university officials made comments about his skills and critical decision making, and raised concerns about patient safety to other university employees that were untrue, he ...

Tagged with: Judge Thomas T. Cullen Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a man alleged that a workers’ compensation carrier defrauded Maryland courts by submitting and resubmitting medical records from another person with the same name as evidence in proceedings related to his workers’ claims for permanent disability benefits, but he ...

Tagged with: Judge Joel Hoppe Tort U.S. District Court - Western District

Where the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his defamation suit before the defendant filed her motion to dismiss in federal court, the defendant wasn’t entitled to recover attorneys’ fees pursuant to the Virginia “anti-SLAPP” statute. The statute and caselaw make it clear ...

Tagged with: Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where policyholders reached a settlement with a long-term care insurer over its disclosures surrounding premium increases, an award of attorneys’ fees to their counsel of at least $1 million, and up to $18.5 million, was fair and reasonable. Background Genworth ...

Tagged with: Judge Robert E. Payne Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where the plaintiff asserted a claim for defamation based upon the defendants’ allegedly false statement that her house was scheduled for foreclosure, her defamation claim was dismissed because there were insufficient allegations the statement was defamatory under the law. Background ...

Tagged with: Judge Robert E. Payne Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where a company asserted a claim under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, or CFAA, based upon the alleged unauthorized access of its database by its opponent, the opponent was granted summary judgment. Certain sections of the database were open ...

Tagged with: Judge Claude M. Hilton Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District