1st Circuit Case Commentaries

First Circuit Establishes 'Reasonable Probability' Standard for Amount in Controversy under CAFA

Date: Feb 14, 2009

First Circuit Establishes 'Reasonable Probability' Standard for Amount in Controversy under CAFA Introduction The case of Frederick Amoche; Jon Valliere; Diane Dauphinais v. Guarantee Trust Life...

NOONAN v. STAPLES, Inc.: Redefining Actual Malice in Corporate Libel Cases

Date: Feb 14, 2009

NOONAN v. STAPLES, Inc.: Redefining Actual Malice in Corporate Libel Cases Introduction NOONAN v. STAPLES, Inc. is a landmark case heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on...

First Circuit Upholds Reasonable Accommodation in Disability Discrimination Case

Date: Jan 24, 2009

First Circuit Upholds Reasonable Accommodation in Disability Discrimination Case Introduction In the landmark case of Ke v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, adjudicated by the United States Court of...

Arbitration Clause Validity: Courts vs. Arbitrators - A Comprehensive Analysis of Awuah v. Coverall North America, Inc.

Date: Jan 24, 2009

Arbitration Clause Validity: Courts vs. Arbitrators Introduction In the landmark case of Awuah v. Coverall North America, Inc., the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit addressed a...

Affirmation of Equitable Tolling Denial in Employment Discrimination Claims: Abraham v. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute

Date: Jan 23, 2009

Affirmation of Equitable Tolling Denial in Employment Discrimination Claims: Abraham v. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Introduction The case of Nathaniel Abraham v. Woods Hole Oceanographic...

Limiting Supervised Release Conditions: Internet and Pornography Bans in Perazza-Mercado

Date: Jan 22, 2009

Limiting Supervised Release Conditions: Internet and Pornography Bans in Perazza-Mercado Introduction The case United States of America v. Jose Angel Perazza-Mercado addresses the validity of two...

Clarifying Unjust Enrichment and Chapter 93A in Pharmaceutical Patent Negotiations: MEEI v. QLT Phototherapeutics

Date: Jan 13, 2009

Clarifying Unjust Enrichment and Chapter 93A in Pharmaceutical Patent Negotiations: MEEI v. QLT Phototherapeutics Introduction The case of Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) v. QLT...

MORELLI v. WEBSTER: Defining the Limits of Qualified Immunity in Excessive Force Claims

Date: Jan 8, 2009

MORELLI v. WEBSTER: Defining the Limits of Qualified Immunity in Excessive Force Claims Introduction MORELLI v. WEBSTER, 552 F.3d 12 (1st Cir. 2009), is a pivotal case addressing the intricate...

Strict Enforcement of §2255 Timeliness in Statutory Jurisdiction Challenges

Date: Dec 25, 2008

Strict Enforcement of §2255 Timeliness in Statutory Jurisdiction Challenges Introduction In the case of Barreto-Barreto et al. v. United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the First...

Limitations on Retroactive Amendment Application in Career Offender Sentencing: United States v. Caraballo

Date: Dec 23, 2008

Limitations on Retroactive Amendment Application in Career Offender Sentencing: United States v. Caraballo Introduction United States v. Caraballo is a pivotal case decided by the United States Court...

First Circuit Upholds Massachusetts SDP Statute, Affirming Due Process Protections in Civil Commitment Proceedings

Date: Dec 12, 2008

First Circuit Upholds Massachusetts SDP Statute, Affirming Due Process Protections in Civil Commitment Proceedings Introduction In the landmark case of Da v. d M. DUTIL, adjudicated on December 11,...

Affirmation of Qualified Immunity in Bennett Estate v. Defendants: Implications for Fourth Amendment Claims

Date: Nov 27, 2008

Affirmation of Qualified Immunity in Bennett Estate v. Defendants: Implications for Fourth Amendment Claims Introduction The case of ESTATE OF Daniel BENNETT, II, Arlene Bedard, Isabel Bedard, and...

VINEBERG v. BISSONNETTE: Upholding Ownership Rights Over Nazi-Seized Art

Date: Nov 20, 2008

VINEBERG v. BISSONNETTE: Upholding Ownership Rights Over Nazi-Seized Art Introduction VINEBERG v. BISSONNETTE, 548 F.3d 50 (1st Cir. 2008), is a pivotal case that addresses the restitution of artwork...

Declaratory Judgment and Claim Preclusion under Massachusetts Law: Insights from Robinson v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co.

Date: Nov 11, 2008

Declaratory Judgment and Claim Preclusion under Massachusetts Law: Insights from Robinson v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co. Introduction Robinson v. Hartford Fire Insurance Co. (547 F.3d 48) is a...

Res Judicata Bars §1983 Claims: Comprehensive Analysis of Giragosian v. Ryan

Date: Nov 11, 2008

Res Judicata Bars §1983 Claims: Comprehensive Analysis of Giragosian v. Ryan Introduction The case of Paul S. Giragosian v. Frederick Ryan and Town of Arlington, MA explores the intersection of...

Excessive Force and Qualified Immunity: Analysis of Parker v. Gerrish

Date: Nov 6, 2008

Excessive Force and Qualified Immunity: Analysis of Parker v. Gerrish (547 F.3d 1) Introduction Parker v. Gerrish is a significant appellate decision from the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Material Misrepresentation in Title Insurance: Enhancing Duty of Disclosure – Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. v. IDC Properties, Inc.

Date: Nov 6, 2008

Material Misrepresentation in Title Insurance: Enhancing Duty of Disclosure – Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. v. IDC Properties, Inc. Introduction Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co.,...

Establishing Boundaries on Deceptive Interrogation Tactics in False Statement Prosecutions: United States v. Boskic

Date: Oct 23, 2008

Establishing Boundaries on Deceptive Interrogation Tactics in False Statement Prosecutions: United States v. Boskic Introduction United States v. Boskic (545 F.3d 69, 1st Cir. 2008) addresses...

Modification of Fee Awards under CAFRA in Forfeiture Cases: The FLASH II Precedent

Date: Oct 21, 2008

Modification of Fee Awards under CAFRA in Forfeiture Cases: The FLASH II Precedent Introduction The case of United States of America v. One Star Class Sloop Sailboat Built in 1930 with Hull Number...

Summary Judgment Affirmed in SEC v. Ficken: Establishing Precedents on Scienter and Market Timing Violations

Date: Oct 21, 2008

Summary Judgment Affirmed in SEC v. Ficken: Establishing Precedents on Scienter and Market Timing Violations Introduction The case SEC v. Justin F. Ficken (546 F.3d 45) adjudicated by the United...