“Say Why or Try Again” – The First Circuit’s Clarion Call for Explicit Treatment of Core Mitigation Arguments in Upward Variance Sentences A Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Flores-Nater,...
First Circuit Extends Rule 32.1 Confrontation Rights to the Entire Revocation Process – United States v. Garcia-Oquendo 1. Introduction The First Circuit’s decision in United States v. Garcia-Oquendo...
“Silent Standards, Loud Deference” – The First Circuit’s Re-affirmation of Highly Deferential Review in Cancellation-of-Removal Hardship Cases Goncalves Leao v. Bondi, No. 24-1239 (1st Cir. July 14,...
First Circuit Invalidates Maine’s “5% Foreign-Ownership” Election-Spending Ban Central Maine Power Co. v. Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, No. 24-1265 (1st Cir. 2025) 1....
Clarifying the Four-Part Mitigating Role Analysis Under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.2 Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Ceballos, No. 23-1610 (1st Cir. 2025) Introduction The First Circuit’s decision...
Re-Defining the Reach of Universal Injunctions: The First Circuit’s Post-CASA Remand Protocol in State of New Jersey v. Trump Introduction On 3 July 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the...
United States v. Rosario-Sánchez: The First Circuit Re-Affirms the “Apples-to-Apples” Standard for Co-Defendant Sentencing-Disparity Claims 1. Introduction The First Circuit’s decision in United...
Extending the “Ready-Willing-Able” Doctrine to Commercial Sales Commissions A Comprehensive Commentary on Moncada Alaniz v. Bay Promo, LLC, 1st Cir. 2025 1. Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic...
Commission Entitlement Survives Buyer Non-Payment When Seller’s Own Breach Scuttles the Deal: First Circuit Extends Florida’s “Ready, Willing, and Able” Doctrine Beyond Real-Estate Brokerage...
“No Bootstrap through Mathis” – The First Circuit Narrows Johnson II Relief in United States v. Capozzi 1. Introduction United States v. Capozzi, No. 22-1243 (1st Cir. July 2, 2025) clarifies the...
“No Substance, No Violation” – The First Circuit Confirms that Replacing Pseudonyms with Actual Victim Names Is a Permissible Formal Amendment Commentary on United States v. De Souza Prado, 93 F.4th...
“Co-Conspirator Liability and Cooperative-Witness Authentication” Commentary on United States v. Reyes-Rosario, 79 F.4th ___ (1st Cir. 2025) I. Introduction United States v. Reyes-Rosario is a...
“Prima Facie” ≠ “Only”: The First Circuit Confirms That § 1173 of the Maine Dealers Act Does Not Bar the Res Judicata Effect of Franchise Board Decisions I. Introduction Better Way Ford, LLC v. Ford...
Affidavit of Sale as Constructive Notice: First Circuit Confirms Extinguishment of Equity of Redemption Cannot Be Avoided under §544(a)(3) I. Introduction In Tran v. Citizens Bank, N.A., No. 24-1101...
Heightened Evidentiary Requirement for 18 U.S.C. § 666 “Benefits”: A Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Evans, 92 F.4th ___ (1st Cir. 2025) I. Introduction The First Circuit’s decision in...
Rodrigues da Silva v. Silveira da Silva – First Circuit Adopts a Holistic Totality-of-the-Circumstances Test for the “Now Settled” Defense under the Hague Convention 1. Introduction In Rodrigues da...
The Burgos-Montes Doctrine: Untreated Serious Medical Needs as “Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons” and the Finality of Denials “Without Prejudice” in Compassionate-Release Litigation Introduction...
But-For Causation and Particularized Pleading Under the FCA & AKS: A Commentary on Flanagan v. Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., No. 23-1305 (1st Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction The United States...
First Circuit Clarifies COVID-19 Contract Defenses: Frustration of Purpose Demands Fact-Intensive Inquiry Introduction In SMS Financial Recovery Services, LLC v. Samaritan Senior Village, Inc. (1st...
First Circuit Narrows Judicial Review of “Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship” Findings After Wilkinson v. Garland Introduction In Xiquin Xirum v. Bondi, the United States Court of Appeals for...