11th Circuit Case Commentaries

ERISA “Any Occupation” Denials: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies that Unsupported FCEs May Be Discounted, SSA Awards Are Non‑Dispositive, and Rule 52 Bench Decisions on Agreed Administrative Records Are Proper

Date: Aug 14, 2025

ERISA “Any Occupation” Denials: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies that Unsupported FCEs May Be Discounted, SSA Awards Are Non‑Dispositive, and Rule 52 Bench Decisions on Agreed Administrative Records Are...

Judicial Notice Has Limits: Eleventh Circuit Bars Reliance on NLRB Dismissal Reasoning at Rule 12(b)(6) and Holds Nepotism Allegations Plausibly State a Duty-of-Fair-Representation Claim

Date: Aug 14, 2025

Judicial Notice Has Limits: Eleventh Circuit Bars Reliance on NLRB Dismissal Reasoning at Rule 12(b)(6) and Holds Nepotism Allegations Plausibly State a Duty-of-Fair-Representation Claim Introduction...

Elevating Indirect and Psychological Harm: The Eleventh Circuit’s Expanded Interpretation of the “Grave-Risk” Defense under the Hague Convention

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Elevating Indirect and Psychological Harm: The Eleventh Circuit’s Expanded Interpretation of the “Grave-Risk” Defense under the Hague Convention Introduction In Israel Bassat v. Sapir Swissa Dana,...

“From Ancient Warrants to Modern Torture Claims” – The Eleventh Circuit Clarifies the Evidentiary Threshold for CAT Protection When Persecution Occurred Decades Ago

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“From Ancient Warrants to Modern Torture Claims” – The Eleventh Circuit Clarifies the Evidentiary Threshold for CAT Protection When Persecution Occurred Decades Ago Introduction In Olakunle A. Oshodi...

United States v. Jones (11th Cir. 2025): Reinforcing the Oral-Pronouncement Rule for Standard Conditions of Supervised Release and the Mandatory “Jones Colloquy”

Date: Aug 13, 2025

United States v. Jones (11th Cir. 2025): Reinforcing the Oral-Pronouncement Rule for Standard Conditions of Supervised Release and the Mandatory “Jones Colloquy” 1. Introduction In United States v....

“Still Presumptively Lawful” – Eleventh Circuit’s Post-Rahimi Endorsement of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) in United States v. Williams

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“Still Presumptively Lawful” – Eleventh Circuit’s Post-Rahimi Endorsement of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) in United States v. Williams Introduction Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit...

Concurrent-Sentence Doctrine Shields Guideline Miscalculations in Supervised-Release Revocations – A Commentary on United States v. Lawrence Braswell, Jr. (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Concurrent-Sentence Doctrine Shields Guideline Miscalculations in Supervised-Release Revocations – A Commentary on United States v. Lawrence Braswell, Jr. (11th Cir. 2025) Introduction In United...

United States v. Batista: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Evidentiary Threshold and Fact-Finding Duty for §3C1.1 Obstruction Enhancements

Date: Aug 13, 2025

United States v. Batista: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Evidentiary Threshold and Fact-Finding Duty for §3C1.1 Obstruction Enhancements 1. Introduction In United States v. Roberto Batista Jean Francois...

“Presumed Jury Prejudice ≠ Presumed Ineffective Assistance” – A Commentary on Michael & Stewart Parnell v. United States (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“Presumed Jury Prejudice ≠ Presumed Ineffective Assistance” – Commentary on Parnell v. United States, 79 F.4th ____ (11th Cir. 2025) Introduction The consolidated appeal of Stewart Parnell and...

“The Parnell Doctrine” – Why a Skilling Presumption of Jury Prejudice Does NOT Dispense with Strickland’s Performance Prong

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“The Parnell Doctrine” – Why a Skilling Presumption of Jury Prejudice Does NOT Dispense with Strickland’s Performance Prong 1. Introduction Stewart and Michael Parnell, former executives of Peanut...

Eleventh Circuit Re-Affirms that Bankruptcy Rule 4007(c) Cannot Be Equitably Tolled: Actual Notice Alone Triggers the Creditor’s Duty to Act

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Re-Affirms that Bankruptcy Rule 4007(c) Cannot Be Equitably Tolled: Actual Notice Alone Triggers the Creditor’s Duty to Act 1. Introduction In TL90108 LLC v. Joseph Louis Ford, III,...

Clarifying Waiver of Speedy-Trial Act Rights and the Effect of COVID-19 Delays – Commentary on United States v. Francisco Louis

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Clarifying Waiver of Speedy-Trial Act Rights and the Validity of Pandemic-Related Delays – A Commentary on United States v. Francisco Louis (11th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s...

“Continuing-Conspiracy” Doctrine Reaffirmed: Post-Arrest Co-Conspirator Statements Admissible under Rule 801(d)(2)(E) — Commentary on United States v. Diego Fagundez, 11th Cir. (2025)

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“Continuing-Conspiracy” Doctrine Reaffirmed: Post-Arrest Co-Conspirator Statements Admissible under Rule 801(d)(2)(E) Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Diego Fagundez (11th Cir. 2025) I....

Mandatory FMLA Medical Certification as an ADA “Inquiry” – A Comprehensive Commentary on Mullin v. Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Mandatory FMLA Medical Certification as an ADA “Inquiry” – A Comprehensive Commentary on Mullin v. Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 1. Introduction Case: Aileen Mullin v. Secretary,...

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Non-Jurisdictional Nature of Interstate-Commerce Element in Child-Sex-Trafficking Prosecutions

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Non-Jurisdictional Nature of Interstate-Commerce Element in Child-Sex-Trafficking Prosecutions Introduction In United States v. Ralph Kevin Tovar, No. 23-10755 (11th Cir....

“Every Person” Still Means “State Actor” – The Eleventh Circuit Re-Affirms the State-Action Requirement in § 1983 Suits

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“Every Person” Still Means “State Actor” – The Eleventh Circuit Re-Affirms the State-Action Requirement in § 1983 Suits Introduction In Albert Clayton Simmons, II v. American Institute of Certified...

Peterka v. FDOC: Eleventh Circuit Confirms Minimal-Notice, Three-Step Grievance Suffices for Prison Email Censorship

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Peterka v. FDOC: Eleventh Circuit Confirms Minimal-Notice, Three-Step Grievance Suffices for Prison Email Censorship Introduction In Daniel Jon Peterka v. Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections...

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies View-Point Neutrality in Limited Public Forums: Habersham County’s “Impertinent or Derogatory Remarks” Rule Held Constitutionally Suspect

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies View-Point Neutrality in Limited Public Forums: Habersham County’s “Impertinent or Derogatory Remarks” Rule Held Constitutionally Suspect 1. Introduction In Elena Lyadina...

Lopez v. Costco: Treating Physicians & Rule 26 Reports—Retroactive Force of Cedant and the Revived Duty to Issue Conditional New-Trial Rulings under Rule 50(c)(1)

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Lopez v. Costco: Treating Physicians & Rule 26 Reports—Retroactive Force of Cedant and the Revived Duty to Issue Conditional New-Trial Rulings under Rule 50(c)(1) 1. Introduction Tania Maria Lopez, a...

United States v. Brown: Clarifying the “Imminence” Test for §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) Firearm-in-Connection Enhancements

Date: Aug 13, 2025

United States v. Brown: Clarifying the “Imminence” Test for §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) Firearm-in-Connection Enhancements Introduction In United States v. Gabriel Brown, No. 23-13804 (11th Cir. Aug. 7, 2025)...