11th Circuit Case Commentaries

Accrual of Personal-Injury Claims for Defective Pelvic Mesh: Convergence of Manifest-Injury and Discovery Rules

Date: May 2, 2025

Accrual of Personal-Injury Claims for Defective Pelvic Mesh: Convergence of Manifest-Injury and Discovery Rules Introduction This case arises from Rowena and Robert Crowe’s lawsuit against Johnson &...

Alford Pleas as Admissible 404(b) Evidence: United States v. Booker

Date: May 1, 2025

Alford Pleas as Admissible 404(b) Evidence: United States v. Booker Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s opinion in United States v. Robert Booker, Sr. (No. 23-14041, decided April 30, 2025) addresses...

Employers’ Wages as “Money or Property” in Wire Fraud: United States v. Nadege Auguste

Date: May 1, 2025

Employers’ Wages as “Money or Property” in Wire Fraud: United States v. Nadege Auguste Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s decision in United States v. Nadege Auguste, 24-10741 & 24-10757 (11th Cir....

Attorneys’ Duty to Monitor E-Filing Systems and the Limits of Excusable Neglect Under Rule 60(b)

Date: May 1, 2025

Attorneys’ Duty to Monitor E-Filing Systems and the Limits of Excusable Neglect Under Federal Rule 60(b) Introduction Mesfin Solomon Shibeshi v. E*TRADE Securities, LLC (11th Cir. Apr. 30, 2025)...

Plain-Meaning Interpretation of “In Connection With” Under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B)

Date: May 1, 2025

Plain-Meaning Interpretation of “In Connection With” Under U.S.S.G. § 2K2.1(b)(6)(B) Introduction United States v. Alphonso L. James is a pivotal Eleventh Circuit decision clarifying how sentencing...

Reasoned Denial of Compassionate Release: Defining “Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons” under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) and U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13

Date: May 1, 2025

Reasoned Denial of Compassionate Release: Defining “Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons” under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A) and U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13 Introduction In United States v. Luis Batista, No....

Wire Fraud and Traditional Property Interests: Recognizing Wages and Benefits as “Money or Property” and Restricting the “Right to Control” Theory

Date: May 1, 2025

Wire Fraud and Traditional Property Interests: Recognizing Wages and Benefits as “Money or Property” and Restricting the “Right to Control” Theory 1. Introduction United States v. Nadege Auguste...

Clarifying “Legally Responsible” in Florida’s Health Care Clinic Act Wholly Owned Exemption

Date: May 1, 2025

Clarifying “Legally Responsible” in Florida’s Health Care Clinic Act Wholly Owned Exemption Introduction State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Michael LaRocca (11th Cir. 2025) presented a...

Affirmation of Lanham Act Statutory Damages Within Congressional Range and Limits

Date: May 1, 2025

Affirmation of Lanham Act Statutory Damages Within Congressional Range and Limits Introduction Top Tobacco, L.P., Republic Technologies (NA), LLC, and Republic Tobacco, L.P. (collectively “Republic”)...

Reaffirming the Border Search Exception: No Reasonable Suspicion for Forensic Analysis of Electronic Devices

Date: Apr 30, 2025

Reaffirming the Border Search Exception: No Reasonable Suspicion for Forensic Analysis of Electronic Devices Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s decision in United States v. Stephen Gordon Grimes,...

Strict Application of Claim Preclusion to Repetitive Pro Se Land Use Claims

Date: Apr 30, 2025

Strict Application of Claim Preclusion to Repetitive Pro Se Land Use Claims 1. Introduction The appeal arises from Benedict Mohit’s pro se challenge to the City of Haines City’s land‐use regulations,...

The Forensic Border Search Exception Reaffirmed: No Reasonable Suspicion Required for Electronic Device Searches at the Border

Date: Apr 30, 2025

The Forensic Border Search Exception Reaffirmed: No Reasonable Suspicion Required for Electronic Device Searches at the Border Introduction In United States v. Stephen Gordon Grimes, Jr., 23-12455...

Reaffirmation of §3582(c)(1)(A) Framework: §3553(a) Assessment Before Extraordinary Circumstances

Date: Apr 30, 2025

Reaffirmation of §3582(c)(1)(A) Framework: §3553(a) Assessment Before Extraordinary Circumstances Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s decision in United States v. Miguel Pedraza (No. 24-11944, April...

Defining Constructive Possession and Judicial Discretion in Evidentiary Reopening

Date: Apr 30, 2025

Defining Constructive Possession and Judicial Discretion in Evidentiary Reopening Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s decision in United States v. Dennis Thompson (No. 24-10418, Apr. 29, 2025)...

Clarification of “Exchange for Valuable Consideration” Enhancement Under Amended U.S.S.G. §2G2.2(b)(3)(B)

Date: Apr 30, 2025

Clarification of “Exchange for Valuable Consideration” Enhancement Under Amended U.S.S.G. §2G2.2(b)(3)(B) Introduction United States v. Eugene Douglas Reid, III, 23-14078 (11th Cir. Apr. 29, 2025)...

Border Search Exception for Electronic Devices and Restitution Notice Flexibility in United States v. Grimes

Date: Apr 30, 2025

Border Search Exception for Electronic Devices and Restitution Notice Flexibility Introduction United States v. Stephen Gordon Grimes, Jr., decided by the Eleventh Circuit on April 29, 2025,...

The Extraterritorial High-Seas Jurisdiction Principle Under the MDLEA

Date: Apr 29, 2025

The Extraterritorial High-Seas Jurisdiction Principle Under the MDLEA Introduction United States v. Yeiner Herrera-Barroz, No. 24-10149 (11th Cir. Apr. 28, 2025), addresses the U.S. government’s...

United States v. Marcle: Standards for Imposing Post-Revocation Supervised Release

Date: Apr 29, 2025

United States v. Marcle: Standards for Imposing Post-Revocation Supervised Release Introduction The Eleventh Circuit’s decision in United States v. Jerry William Marcle (No. 25-10362, decided April...

Clarifying MDLEA Jurisdiction: EEZ Inclusion, Stateless Vessel Definition, and Nexus Irrelevance

Date: Apr 29, 2025

Clarifying MDLEA Jurisdiction: EEZ Inclusion, Stateless Vessel Definition, and Nexus Irrelevance Introduction United States v. Genaro Sanchez is an Eleventh Circuit decision handed down on April 28,...

EEZ as High Seas: Jurisdiction Under the MDLEA Affirmed

Date: Apr 29, 2025

EEZ as High Seas: Jurisdiction Under the MDLEA Affirmed Introduction In United States v. Gustavo Brito-Fernandez (11th Cir. Apr. 28, 2025), the Eleventh Circuit addressed challenges to federal...