1st Circuit Case Commentaries

First Circuit Upholds Reviewability of BIA's Sua Sponte Reopening Decisions in Pardon Waiver Context

Date: May 22, 2020

First Circuit Upholds Reviewability of BIA's Sua Sponte Reopening Decisions in Pardon Waiver Context Introduction In the case of Richard Marvin Thompson v. William P. Barr, Attorney General, the...

Affirmation of SSD Disability Benefits Through Overwhelming Evidence: Sacilowski v. Saul

Date: May 16, 2020

Affirmation of SSD Disability Benefits Through Overwhelming Evidence: Sacilowski v. Saul Introduction Sacilowski v. Saul, 959 F.3d 431 (1st Cir. 2020), is a pivotal case adjudicated by the United...

1st Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in ADEA Claim: Zabala-De Jesus v. Sanofi-Aventis Puerto Rico

Date: May 14, 2020

1st Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in ADEA Claim: Zabala-De Jesus v. Sanofi-Aventis Puerto Rico Introduction The case of Hector Zabala-De Jesus, et al. v. Sanofi-Aventis Puerto Rico, Inc., et al....

Standing in Federal Courts: Insights from Dantzler v. PRPA

Date: May 2, 2020

Standing in Federal Courts: Insights from Dantzler v. Puerto Rico Ports Authority Introduction The case of Dantzler, Inc. et al. v. Puerto Rico Ports Authority (PRPA), adjudicated by the United...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Brandt v. MDOC Reinforces Strict Burden in Title VII Discrimination Claims

Date: Apr 23, 2020

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Brandt v. MDOC Reinforces Strict Burden in Title VII Discrimination Claims Introduction Brandt v. Fitzpatrick et al. is a significant case adjudicated by the United...

Kirstie Trahan v. Wayfair Maine, LLC: Affirmation of Employer's Right to Enforce Conduct Rules Over Disability Protections

Date: Apr 22, 2020

Kirstie Trahan v. Wayfair Maine, LLC: Affirmation of Employer's Right to Enforce Conduct Rules Over Disability Protections Introduction The case of Kirstie Trahan v. Wayfair Maine, LLC addresses the...

Zell v. Dually: Clarifying Standards for Procedural Due Process and Class-of-One Equal Protection Claims in Educational Disciplinary Actions

Date: Apr 21, 2020

Zell v. Dually: Clarifying Standards for Procedural Due Process and Class-of-One Equal Protection Claims in Educational Disciplinary Actions Introduction In the landmark case of Beth Zell,...

Personal Jurisdiction in the Digital Era: Limiting General and Specific Jurisdiction for Online Educational Institutions

Date: Apr 16, 2020

Personal Jurisdiction in the Digital Era: Limiting General and Specific Jurisdiction for Online Educational Institutions Introduction The case of Kuan Chen v. United States Sports Academy, Inc. (956...

Affirmation of Strong Scienter Standard Under the PSLRA: In re Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. Sec. Litig.

Date: Apr 10, 2020

Affirmation of Strong Scienter Standard Under the PSLRA: In re Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. Sec. Litig. Introduction The case of In re Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. Securities Litigation explores the...

First Step Act Provides Sentence Reduction for Minor Crack Cocaine Distribution: Smith v. USA

Date: Apr 9, 2020

First Step Act Provides Sentence Reduction for Minor Crack Cocaine Distribution: Smith v. USA Introduction In United States of America v. Carl Smith, 954 F.3d 446 (1st Cir. 2020), the United States...

Choice-of-Law Provisions in Employment Contracts Upheld: Analysis of NuVasive, Inc. v. Timothy Day

Date: Apr 9, 2020

Choice-of-Law Provisions in Employment Contracts Upheld: Analysis of NuVasive, Inc. v. Timothy Day Introduction In the landmark case of NuVasive, Inc. v. Timothy Day, adjudicated by the United States...

1st Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of "So Help Me God" in Naturalization Oath

Date: Apr 4, 2020

1st Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of "So Help Me God" in Naturalization Oath Introduction In the case of Olga Paule Perrier-Bilbo v. United States, adjudicated by the United States Court of...

Clarendon National Insurance v. Philadelphia Indemnity: Defining the Duty to Defend under Massachusetts Law

Date: Apr 2, 2020

Clarendon National Insurance v. Philadelphia Indemnity: Defining the Duty to Defend under Massachusetts Law Introduction The case of Clarendon National Insurance Company v. Philadelphia Indemnity...

Lyman v. Baker: Upholding the Winner-Take-All Electoral System

Date: Apr 1, 2020

Lyman v. Baker: Upholding the Winner-Take-All Electoral System Introduction In the case of Richard J. Lyman, William F. Weld, and Robert D. Capodilupo v. Charles D. Baker, the appellants, three...

Reaffirming Article III Standing Requirements: Amrhein v. eClinicalWorks

Date: Mar 28, 2020

Reaffirming Article III Standing Requirements: Amrhein v. eClinicalWorks Introduction In Amrhein v. eClinicalWorks, LLC, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit addressed critical...

Affirmation of Dismissal in Squeri v. Mount Ida College Establishes Absence of Fiduciary Duty Between Students and Educational Institutions

Date: Mar 26, 2020

Affirmation of Dismissal in Squeri v. Mount Ida College Establishes Absence of Fiduciary Duty Between Students and Educational Institutions Introduction Squeri v. Mount Ida College is a landmark...

First Circuit Establishes Limits on DOJ's Authority to Condition Formula Grants on Unrelated Law Enforcement Priorities

Date: Mar 25, 2020

First Circuit Establishes Limits on DOJ's Authority to Condition Formula Grants on Unrelated Law Enforcement Priorities Introduction In the case of City of Providence and City of Central Falls v....

Extending the Community Caretaking Doctrine to Private Premises: An Analysis of Caniglia v. Strom

Date: Mar 14, 2020

Extending the Community Caretaking Doctrine to Private Premises: An Analysis of Caniglia v. Strom Introduction The case of Edward A. Caniglia v. Robert F. Strom, adjudicated by the United States...

Application of McDonnell Douglas Framework to ADEA Age Discrimination and Retaliation Claims: Insights from Robinson v. Town of Marshfield

Date: Feb 15, 2020

Application of McDonnell Douglas Framework to ADEA Age Discrimination and Retaliation Claims: Insights from Robinson v. Town of Marshfield Introduction Robinson v. Town of Marshfield is a pivotal...

Affirmation of Second-Degree and Attempted Murder as ‘Violent Felonies’ under the Armed Career Criminal Act: Insights from United States v. Báez-Martínez

Date: Feb 12, 2020

Affirmation of Second-Degree and Attempted Murder as ‘Violent Felonies’ under the Armed Career Criminal Act: Insights from United States v. Báez-Martínez Introduction United States of America v....