1st Circuit Case Commentaries

Redondo Construction Corp. v. Izquierdo: Affirming Contracts Clause Immunity and Reinforcing Supplemental Jurisdiction Over Local Law Claims

Date: Oct 26, 2011

Redondo Construction Corp. v. Izquierdo: Affirming Contracts Clause Immunity and Reinforcing Supplemental Jurisdiction Over Local Law Claims Introduction In Redondo Construction Corp. v. José M....

Defining 'Substantial Limitation' Under the ADA: Ramos-Echevarria v. Pichis Hotel and Convention Center

Date: Oct 22, 2011

Defining 'Substantial Limitation' Under the ADA: Ramos-Echevarria v. Pichis Hotel and Convention Center Introduction Ramos-Echevarria v. Pichis Hotel and Convention Center is a pivotal case...

Ríos v. Municipality of San Juan: Expanding Protections Against Political Discrimination and Free-Speech Retaliation Under §1983

Date: Oct 21, 2011

Ríos v. Municipality of San Juan: Expanding Protections Against Political Discrimination and Free-Speech Retaliation Under §1983 Introduction The case of Emma Velázquez Rodríguez; Ricardo Ríos v....

Partial Courtroom Closure and Procedural Default in 28 U.S.C. §2255 Proceedings: Insights from Bucci v. United States

Date: Oct 14, 2011

Partial Courtroom Closure and Procedural Default in 28 U.S.C. §2255 Proceedings: Insights from Bucci v. United States 1. Introduction Bucci v. United States, 662 F.3d 18 (1st Cir. 2011), presents a...

Attendance as an Essential Function Under the ADA: Insight from COLON-FONTANEZ v. MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JUAN

Date: Oct 13, 2011

Attendance as an Essential Function Under the ADA: Insight from COLON-FONTANEZ v. MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JUAN Introduction In the case of Nitza I. Colón-Fontánez v. Municipality of San Juan, the United...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Bhatti v. Trustees of Boston University: Insufficient Evidence for Discrimination Claims

Date: Oct 4, 2011

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Bhatti v. Trustees of Boston University: Insufficient Evidence for Discrimination Claims Introduction The case of Claudine Bhatti v. Trustees of Boston University...

Facial Takings Claims and Statute of Limitations: Affirmation of Untimeliness in Asociación v. Juarbe-Jiménez

Date: Sep 30, 2011

Facial Takings Claims and Statute of Limitations: Affirmation of Untimeliness in Asociación v. Juarbe-Jiménez Introduction The case of Asociación de Suscripción Conjunta del Seguro de Responsabilidad...

Revising Armed Career Criminal Act Predicate Eligibility: Insights from Torres-Rosario v. USA

Date: Sep 24, 2011

Revising Armed Career Criminal Act Predicate Eligibility: Insights from Torres-Rosario v. USA Introduction The case of United States of America v. Rafael Torres-Rosario, decided by the United States...

HALEY v. CITY OF BOSTON: Clarifying Qualified Immunity and Municipal Liability in Police Evidence Disclosure Obligations

Date: Sep 20, 2011

HALEY v. CITY OF BOSTON: Clarifying Qualified Immunity and Municipal Liability in Police Evidence Disclosure Obligations Introduction In the landmark case of James HALEY v. CITY OF BOSTON, the United...

First Circuit Upholds Board Certification Requirements for Cosmetic Surgery Practice

Date: Sep 17, 2011

First Circuit Upholds Board Certification Requirements for Cosmetic Surgery Practice Introduction In Dr. Efraín González-Droz et al. v. Dr. Luis R. González-Colón et al., decided on September 16,...

First Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment in Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Case: Pérez-Cordero v. Wal-Mart P.R.

Date: Aug 27, 2011

First Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment in Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Case: Pérez-Cordero v. Wal-Mart P.R. Introduction In the landmark case of Pérez-Cordero v. Wal-Mart Puerto Rico, Inc., the...

Glik v. Cuniffe: Affirming the First Amendment Right to Record Police in Public Spaces

Date: Aug 27, 2011

Glik v. Cuniffe: Affirming the First Amendment Right to Record Police in Public Spaces Introduction The case of Simon Glik v. John Cuniffe, 655 F.3d 78 (1st Cir. 2011), presents a significant...

De Jesús-Viera: Upholding Routine Border Search Procedures and Reinforcing Willful Blindness Doctrine in Drug Trafficking Cases

Date: Aug 25, 2011

De Jesús-Viera: Upholding Routine Border Search Procedures and Reinforcing Willful Blindness Doctrine in Drug Trafficking Cases Introduction United States of America v. Ramón De Jesús-Vierá (655 F.3d...

State Action and Actual Knowledge in Educational Liability: Santiago v. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Date: Aug 25, 2011

State Action and Actual Knowledge in Educational Liability: Santiago v. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Introduction The case of Jeraline Santiago, As Next Friend of Her Minor Son, Plaintiff, Appellant,...

Qualified Immunity Reinforced in SOTO-TORRES v. FRATICELLI: A Critical Analysis

Date: Aug 20, 2011

Qualified Immunity Reinforced in SOTO-TORRES v. FRATICELLI: A Critical Analysis Introduction SOTO-TORRES v. FRATICELLI is a pivotal case adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the...

First Circuit Establishes Employer-Only Liability Under ADA in Román-Oliveras v. PREPA

Date: Aug 19, 2011

First Circuit Establishes Employer-Only Liability Under ADA in Román-Oliveras v. PREPA Introduction Román-Oliveras, et al. v. Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), et al., 655 F.3d 43 (1st...

First Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of Maine's PAC Registration and Disclosure Requirements

Date: Aug 12, 2011

First Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of Maine's PAC Registration and Disclosure Requirements Introduction In the landmark case of National Organization for Marriage (NOM) v. Walter F. McKee, the...

Limitations on §1983 Retaliation Claims for Internal Police Department Complaints: Hamilton v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore

Date: Aug 4, 2011

Limitations on §1983 Retaliation Claims for Internal Police Department Complaints: Hamilton v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore Introduction In the case of Frances Hamilton v. Mayor & City Council...

Enhancing Indictment Specificity and Sufficiency in Sexual Conduct with Minors: Insights from United States v. Berk

Date: Jul 28, 2011

Enhancing Indictment Specificity and Sufficiency in Sexual Conduct with Minors: Insights from United States v. Berk Introduction In the landmark case of United States v. Michael A. Berk, the United...

Upholding Prison Security: First Circuit Affirms Shaving Policy as Constitutional

Date: Jul 15, 2011

Upholding Prison Security: First Circuit Affirms Shaving Policy as Constitutional Introduction The case of Albert Kuperman v. William L. Wrenn et al. examines the balance between an inmate's...