2d Circuit Case Commentaries

Cunha v. Freden — Section 1225(b)(2)(A) Mandatory Detention Limited to Noncitizens “Seeking Admission,” Not Long-Present Interior Entrants

Date: May 5, 2026

Section 1225(b)(2)(A) Mandatory Detention Is Limited to Noncitizens “Seeking Admission”; Long-Present Interior Entrants Are Detained (and Bond-Eligible) Under Section 1226(a) I. Introduction Cunha v....

FLSA Collective Action Notice Requires Personal Jurisdiction Over Each Opt-In Claim Under Rule 4(k)

Date: May 5, 2026

FLSA Collective Action Notice Requires Personal Jurisdiction Over Each Opt-In Claim Under Rule 4(k) 1. Introduction Provencher v. Bimbo Foods Bakeries Distribution LLC (2d Cir. May 4, 2026) addresses...

Griffin v. LaManna: Certificate of Appealability Required to Appeal Denial of Rule 4(a)(5) Extension in State Habeas

Date: May 5, 2026

Griffin v. LaManna: Certificate of Appealability Required to Appeal Denial of Rule 4(a)(5) Extension in State Habeas 1. Introduction In Griffin v. LaManna (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2026), the Second Circuit...

Class Membership in the Payment Card Settlement Turns on Contractual Intent—not a “Direct Payor” Rule; Settlement Release Bars Later State-Law Indirect-Purchaser Claims

Date: May 5, 2026

Class Membership in the Payment Card Settlement Turns on Contractual Intent—not a “Direct Payor” Rule; Settlement Release Bars Later State-Law Indirect-Purchaser Claims 1. Introduction This Second...

Rule 60(b)(3) “Misconduct” in the Second Circuit Requires More Than Negligent Discovery Errors

Date: May 5, 2026

Rule 60(b)(3) “Misconduct” in the Second Circuit Requires More Than Negligent Discovery Errors Introduction In Adidas America, Inc. v. Thom Browne, Inc. (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2026), adidas sought to...

Government Employees Not Covered by the LHWCA May Bring Sieracki Unseaworthiness Claims, and State Volunteer Firefighter Exclusivity Cannot Bar General Maritime Negligence

Date: May 5, 2026

Government Employees Not Covered by the LHWCA May Bring Sieracki Unseaworthiness Claims, and State Volunteer Firefighter Exclusivity Cannot Bar General Maritime Negligence 1. Introduction Case: In...

Forfeiture and Evidence Limits in NYCHRL/NYSHRL Employer Liability for Employee Sexual Misconduct (Eckhart v. Fox News)

Date: Apr 26, 2026

Forfeiture and Evidence Limits in NYCHRL/NYSHRL Employer Liability for Employee Sexual Misconduct Commentary on Eckhart v. Fox News Network, LLC, No. 25-1538 (2d Cir. Apr. 24, 2026) (Summary Order)....

Hiya v. United States: Reaffirming the Presumption Against Bail Pending Extradition and Rejecting Private-Security “Self-Detention” Absent Wealth-Driven Flight Risk

Date: Apr 26, 2026

Hiya v. United States: Reaffirming the Presumption Against Bail Pending Extradition and Rejecting Private-Security “Self-Detention” Absent Wealth-Driven Flight Risk 1. Introduction In Hiya v. United...

Kulmann v. U.S. Postal Serv.: The FTCA “Postal Exception” Bars Damages Claims for Intentional Non-Delivery of Mail, and Federal Criminal Statutes Create No Private Civil Cause of Action

Date: Apr 26, 2026

Kulmann v. U.S. Postal Serv.: The FTCA “Postal Exception” Bars Damages Claims for Intentional Non-Delivery of Mail, and Federal Criminal Statutes Create No Private Civil Cause of Action 1....

Full-Video Republishing Is Hard to Dismiss as Fair Use on the Pleadings; Prominent Screenshots Aren’t De Minimis; YouTube TOS License Authorizes Embeds

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Full-Video Republishing Is Hard to Dismiss as Fair Use on the Pleadings; Prominent Screenshots Aren’t De Minimis; YouTube TOS License Authorizes Embeds 1. Introduction In Richardson v. Townsquare...

Golden v. NBCUniversal Media: Reaffirming Solomon’s “Ordinary Person” Test for VPPA PII and Narrowing the “Intervening Supreme Court” Escape Hatch

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Golden v. NBCUniversal Media: Reaffirming Solomon’s “Ordinary Person” Test for VPPA PII and Narrowing the “Intervening Supreme Court” Escape Hatch 1. Introduction Golden v. NBCUniversal Media, LLC...

Severe Emotional Distress for New York IIED Includes Pre-Death Trauma from Witnessing a Spouse’s Fatal Injury, and Liability Is Distinct from Solatium Damages

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Severe Emotional Distress for New York IIED Includes Pre-Death Trauma from Witnessing a Spouse’s Fatal Injury, and Liability Is Distinct from Solatium Damages 1. Introduction Theodoridis v. Islamic...

Seriousness of Supervised-Release Violation Conduct May Support a New Supervised-Release Term; § 3553(a)(2)(A)’s “Offense Seriousness” Bar Targets Only the Underlying Conviction

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Seriousness of Supervised-Release Violation Conduct May Support a New Supervised-Release Term; § 3553(a)(2)(A)’s “Offense Seriousness” Bar Targets Only the Underlying Conviction Introduction In...

ERISA Plan-Asset “Look-Through” Treats RMBS Trust Certificates as Equity (Beneficial Trust Interests), but Not Indenture RMBS Notes Lacking Substantial Equity Features

Date: Apr 24, 2026

ERISA Plan-Asset “Look-Through” Treats RMBS Trust Certificates as Equity (Beneficial Trust Interests), but Not Indenture RMBS Notes Lacking Substantial Equity Features 1. Introduction Powell v. Ocwen...

Compliance with a State Tax Warrant Does Not Convert a Bank into a State Actor; Account “Holds” Are Not EFTA Electronic Fund Transfers; Supplemental State Claims Must Be Without Prejudice

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Compliance with a State Tax Warrant Does Not Convert a Bank into a State Actor; Account “Holds” Are Not EFTA Electronic Fund Transfers; Supplemental State Claims Must Be Without Prejudice 1....

Explicit Appeal Waivers Bar Second Amendment Attacks on § 922(g)(1) Convictions and Substantive-Reasonableness Sentencing Appeals

Date: Apr 24, 2026

Explicit Appeal Waivers Bar Second Amendment Attacks on § 922(g)(1) Convictions and Substantive-Reasonableness Sentencing Appeals Introduction In United States v. Mitchell (2d Cir. Apr. 22, 2026)...

Youngpoong Corp. v. PedalPoint Holdings — § 1782 Intel Analysis: Nonparty “Obtainability” and Non-Speculative Foreign-Privilege Assertions

Date: Apr 24, 2026

§ 1782 After Youngpoong: The First Intel Factor Focuses on Practical Obtainability (Not Admissibility), and the Third Intel Factor Is Not Triggered by Speculative Foreign-Privilege Claims...

Second Circuit: Broad Internet-Activity Monitoring (Including Work Devices) Is Not an “Occupational Restriction” Absent a Specified Job Ban

Date: Apr 23, 2026

Second Circuit: Broad Internet-Activity Monitoring (Including Work Devices) Is Not an “Occupational Restriction” Absent a Specified Job Ban I. Introduction In United States v. Brown (2d Cir. Apr. 21,...

Extortion Is Not “Family-Group” Persecution Without Evidence of Animus or Targeting Beyond a Means-to-an-End

Date: Apr 23, 2026

Extortion Is Not “Family-Group” Persecution Without Evidence of Animus or Targeting Beyond a Means-to-an-End 1. Introduction In Xivir-Ixtos v. Blanche (2d Cir. Apr. 21, 2026) (summary order),...

Poor-Performance Evidence—Including OCR Findings—Defeats Rehabilitation Act and § 1981 Retaliation Claims Absent Proof of Pretext (Second Circuit Summary Order)

Date: Apr 23, 2026

Poor-Performance Evidence—Including OCR Findings—Defeats Rehabilitation Act and § 1981 Retaliation Claims Absent Proof of Pretext (Second Circuit Summary Order) Case: Baptiste v. City Univ. of N.Y....