11th Circuit Case Commentaries

“High-Seas” Jurisdiction Embraces the Exclusive Economic Zone: A Commentary on United States v. Jose Junior Bailon Franco (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 25, 2025

“High-Seas” Jurisdiction Embraces the Exclusive Economic Zone: A Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Jose Junior Bailon Franco (11th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction United States v. Jose Junior...

“EEZ = High Seas”: The Eleventh Circuit’s Unpublished Re-affirmation of Congress’s Plenary Power under the MDLEA

Date: Jul 25, 2025

“EEZ = High Seas”: The Eleventh Circuit’s Unpublished Re-affirmation of Congress’s Plenary Power under the MDLEA 1. Introduction United States v. Nilson Olaya Grueso, Nos. 22-11929, 22-11932,...

Lozman III – Tidal Influence as a Stand-Alone Test for Navigability under the Rivers & Harbors Act

Date: Jul 24, 2025

Lozman III – Tidal Influence as a Stand-Alone Test for Navigability under the Rivers & Harbors Act Introduction In United States v. Fane Lozman, No. 24-11477 (11th Cir. 2025), the Eleventh Circuit...

United States v. Franco-Constante: Appellate Confirmation of Broad District Court Discretion to Withhold § 5K1.1 Departures in Retroactive Amendment 821 Proceedings

Date: Jul 24, 2025

United States v. Franco-Constante: Appellate Confirmation of Broad District Court Discretion to Withhold § 5K1.1 Departures in Retroactive Amendment 821 Proceedings Introduction The Eleventh...

Eleventh Circuit Bars Unjust-Enrichment Claims Where Disability Policy Governs: A Cautionary Tale on Drafting Claw-Back Provisions

Date: Jul 24, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Bars Unjust-Enrichment Claims Where Disability Policy Governs: MONY Life Insurance Co. v. Perez (2025) Introduction This appeal from the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Inflation-Adjusted Replacement-Cost Damages Plus Pre-Judgment Interest Do Not Constitute Double Recovery – 11th Cir. Clarifies Waiver and Damage Principles in Central Baptist Church v. Church Mutual (2025)

Date: Jul 24, 2025

Inflation-Adjusted Replacement-Cost Damages Plus Pre-Judgment Interest Do Not Constitute Double Recovery Central Baptist Church of Albany, Georgia Inc. v. Church Mutual Insurance Co., 22-11082 (11th...

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies “Scrivener’s Error,” Continuing-Violation Limits, and Comparator Standards in Federal Employment Litigation – Commentary on Joseph Jimenez v. Acting U.S. Attorney General

Date: Jul 24, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Clarifies “Scrivener’s Error,” Continuing-Violation Limits, and Comparator Standards in Federal Employment Litigation Commentary on Joseph Jimenez v. Acting U.S. Attorney General,...

Self-Inflicted Compliance Costs Are Not “Concrete Injuries”: Nelson v. Experian and the Eleventh Circuit’s New Limitation on Article III Standing under the FCRA

Date: Jul 24, 2025

Self-Inflicted Compliance Costs Are Not “Concrete Injuries”: The Eleventh Circuit Redefines Article III Standing for Undisclosed Credit-File Errors in Jessica Nelson v. Experian Information Solutions...

Brooks v. U.S. Attorney General (11th Cir. 2025): Re-affirming the Exhaustion Mandate and Clarifying “Particularly Serious Crime” Analysis in Immigration Proceedings

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Brooks v. U.S. Attorney General (11th Cir. 2025): Re-affirming the Exhaustion Mandate and Clarifying “Particularly Serious Crime” Analysis in Immigration Proceedings Introduction Ricardo Brooks, a...

Austin v. Mullins: Eleventh Circuit’s Robust Re-affirmation of Absolute Judicial Immunity in State Child-Support Proceedings

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Austin v. Mullins: Eleventh Circuit’s Robust Re-affirmation of Absolute Judicial Immunity in State Child-Support Proceedings Introduction The case of Robert Austin v. Leatha Mullins presented the...

Deception Without Financial Loss: The Eleventh Circuit Clarifies “Intent to Defraud” under 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(1)

Date: Jul 23, 2025

Deception Without Financial Loss: The Eleventh Circuit Clarifies “Intent to Defraud” under 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(1) Introduction In United States v. Alfred Davis, the Eleventh Circuit confronted a...

“File It or Lose It” – Fuller v. Carollo Establishes a Bright-Line Duty to File a Post-Judgment Notice of Appeal in the Eleventh Circuit

Date: Jul 23, 2025

“File It or Lose It” – Fuller v. Carollo Establishes a Bright-Line Duty to File a Post-Judgment Notice of Appeal in the Eleventh Circuit 1. Introduction In William O. Fuller & Martin A. Pinilla, II...

“The Senters Clarification”: Specificized Pleading of Medical-Necessity Falsity under the False Claims Act in the Eleventh Circuit

Date: Jul 23, 2025

“The Senters Clarification”: Specificized Pleading of Medical-Necessity Falsity under the False Claims Act in the Eleventh Circuit Introduction Barbara Senters v. Quest Diagnostics, Inc., No....

“Competency-Aware” Enforcement of Appeal Waivers – The Legacy of United States v. Tenzin Orgil

Date: Jul 23, 2025

“Competency-Aware” Enforcement of Appeal Waivers – The Legacy of United States v. Tenzin Orgil Introduction On 16 July 2025, the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit handed down its...

Eleventh Circuit Validates “Good-Cause” Tenure for Administrative Law Judges – Commentary on Walmart, Inc. v. King (2025)

Date: Jul 17, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Validates “Good-Cause” Tenure for Administrative Law Judges A Commentary on Walmart, Inc. v. Chief ALJ (OCAHO), 24-11733 (11th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction In Walmart, Inc. v. King,...

United States v. Mikkelson: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Harmless-Error Treatment of Criminal-History Miscalculations and Re-affirms Broad Judicial Discretion for Upward Variances in Violent RICO Sentencings

Date: Jul 16, 2025

United States v. Mikkelson: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies Harmless-Error Treatment of Criminal-History Miscalculations and Re-affirms Broad Judicial Discretion for Upward Variances in Violent RICO...

Eleventh Circuit Upholds Continuing Ancillary Jurisdiction to Enforce Restitution After Probation – A Commentary on United States v. Mikel Mims (2025)

Date: Jul 16, 2025

Continuing Ancillary Jurisdiction to Enforce Restitution Orders After Completion of Probation: United States v. Mikel Mims (11th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction In United States v. Mikel Mims, the...

When State Law Speaks, Federal Panels Must Listen: United States v. Rowe and the Supremacy of Intervening State-Court Interpretations in Federal Sentencing Analysis

Date: Jul 16, 2025

When State Law Speaks, Federal Panels Must Listen: United States v. Rowe and the Supremacy of Intervening State-Court Interpretations in Federal Sentencing Analysis Introduction United States v....

No Duty to Warn of “Open-and-Obvious” Fuel-Fire Risks and the “High-Probability” Threshold for Reckless Design: A Commentary on Anthony Leslie v. Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Date: Jul 16, 2025

No Duty to Warn of “Open-and-Obvious” Fuel-Fire Risks and the “High-Probability” Threshold for Reckless Design: Commentary on Anthony Leslie v. Daimler Trucks North America LLC 1. Introduction In...

Tug Master’s Non-Delegable Duty to Verify Tow Clearance: A Comment on Jersey Shore Boat Towing & Salvage, Inc. v. Abdel-Illah Zidal (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Jul 16, 2025

Tug Master’s Non-Delegable Duty to Verify Tow Clearance before Passing Fixed Obstructions Jersey Shore Boat Towing & Salvage, Inc. v. Abdel-Illah Zidal, 24-13009 (11th Cir. July 15 2025) 1....