3d Circuit Case Commentaries

Confirming Arbitration Awards in Law-Firm Dissolution Disputes: Strict Vacatur Limits, No “Manifest Disregard” Without Clearly Governing Law, and Enforcing Mediation-First Clauses

Date: Mar 12, 2026

Confirming Arbitration Awards in Law-Firm Dissolution Disputes: Strict Vacatur Limits, No “Manifest Disregard” Without Clearly Governing Law, and Enforcing Mediation-First Clauses Introduction In...

Rule 37 Exclusion for Untimely Expert Reports: Related Litigation Does Not Revive Expired Scheduling Deadlines

Date: Mar 12, 2026

Rule 37 Exclusion for Untimely Expert Reports: Related Litigation Does Not Revive Expired Scheduling Deadlines Introduction In Lakeview Pharmacy of Racine, Inc. v. Catamaran Corporation (3d Cir. Mar....

Speculation, “Young Fresh Faces” Remarks, and Pandemic-Era Hiring Modifications Are Insufficient to Show ADEA/PHRA Pretext Under Fuentes

Date: Mar 9, 2026

Speculation, “Young Fresh Faces” Remarks, and Pandemic-Era Hiring Modifications Are Insufficient to Show ADEA/PHRA Pretext Under Fuentes Case: Theresa A. Gallagher v. Central Valley School District...

Ames-Driven Abolition of New Jersey’s “Background Circumstances” Burden in NJLAD Reverse-Discrimination Claims

Date: Mar 9, 2026

Ames-Driven Abolition of New Jersey’s “Background Circumstances” Burden in NJLAD Reverse-Discrimination Claims Case: Christopher Massey v. Borough of Bergenfield Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the...

Prior Successful Internal Relocation Rebuttal (and Harmless-Error Review) in Domestic-Violence Asylum and CAT Claims

Date: Mar 9, 2026

Prior Successful Internal Relocation Rebuttal (and Harmless-Error Review) in Domestic-Violence Asylum and CAT Claims Case: Mierna Chilel-Chilel v. Attorney General United States of America (3d Cir....

Notice-and-Opportunity Permits Sua Sponte Guidelines Enhancements; False Submissions to Pretrial/Probation Constitute Obstruction and Support Restitution When PSR Is Undisputed

Date: Mar 8, 2026

Notice-and-Opportunity Permits Sua Sponte Guidelines Enhancements; False Submissions to Pretrial/Probation Constitute Obstruction and Support Restitution When PSR Is Undisputed 1. Introduction United...

Different Degrees-of-Murder Outcomes for Codefendants Do Not, Without More, Prove Inconsistent Prosecutorial Theories (and Thus Do Not Establish Strickland Deficiency)

Date: Mar 8, 2026

Different Degrees-of-Murder Outcomes for Codefendants Do Not, Without More, Prove Inconsistent Prosecutorial Theories (and Thus Do Not Establish Strickland Deficiency) Introduction In Jose Mendez v....

Discriminatory Intent (Not Disparate Impact) Governs Title VI and Pa. Const. Art. I § 29 Challenges to Charter-Closure Tools; School Closures Do Not Alone Implicate Pennsylvania’s Education Clause

Date: Mar 8, 2026

Discriminatory Intent (Not Disparate Impact) Governs Title VI and Pa. Const. Art. I § 29 Challenges to Charter-Closure Tools; School Closures Do Not Alone Implicate Pennsylvania’s Education Clause...

Contextual § 3553(a) Explanation Suffices on Plain-Error Review Even Without Explicit Discussion of Youth Mitigation

Date: Mar 8, 2026

Contextual § 3553(a) Explanation Suffices on Plain-Error Review Even Without Explicit Discussion of Youth Mitigation 1. Introduction In United States v. Quaheem Bethea (3d Cir. Mar. 5, 2026) (not...

Admitted Material Breach Triggers NJFPA § 56:10-9 Defense; Implied-Covenant Claim Requires Proof of Bad Motive and Is Forfeited if Not Raised Below

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Admitted Material Breach Triggers NJFPA § 56:10-9 Defense; Implied-Covenant Claim Requires Proof of Bad Motive and Is Forfeited if Not Raised Below Introduction In SAT Agiyar LLC v. 7 Eleven Inc (3d...

Stay Pending Appeal Abused Where Court Rewrites Unambiguous Mediated Agreement to Add Extra Preconditions to Regulatory “Support” Obligations

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Stay Pending Appeal Abused Where Court Rewrites Unambiguous Mediated Agreement to Add Extra Preconditions to Regulatory “Support” Obligations Case: In re: Ligado Networks LLC (3d Cir. Mar. 4, 2026)...

Plan Document as Standalone Arbitration Offer: Mailbox Presumption and Opt-Out Inaction Establish Assent Under New Jersey Law

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Plan Document as Standalone Arbitration Offer: Mailbox Presumption and Opt-Out Inaction Establish Assent Under New Jersey Law 1. Introduction In Curtis Stabile v. Macys Inc, the U.S. Court of Appeals...

Stay Pending Appeal Vacated Where District Court Misread an Unambiguous Mediated Agreement and Found Speculative “Irreparable Harm”

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Stay Pending Appeal Vacated Where District Court Misread an Unambiguous Mediated Agreement and Found Speculative “Irreparable Harm” Introduction In re Ligado Networks LLC (3d Cir. Mar. 4, 2026)...

Step-Three Mental-Listings Review: No Paragraph A Finding Required When Paragraph B and C Are Unmet; Holistic ALJ Reasoning and Harmless Listing Errors

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Step-Three Mental-Listings Review: No Paragraph A Finding Required When Paragraph B and C Are Unmet; Holistic ALJ Reasoning and Harmless Listing Errors Introduction In Michael Pendergrass v....

Qualified Immunity for Warrant Searches: Reliance on Ethics-Commission Expertise and the Requirement of Fact-Specific “Clearly Established” Fourth Amendment Law

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Qualified Immunity for Warrant Searches: Reliance on Ethics-Commission Expertise and the Requirement of Fact-Specific “Clearly Established” Fourth Amendment Law 1. Introduction In Robert Boyer v....

NJFPA “Substantial Noncompliance” Bars Unreasonable-Standards Claims; Implied-Covenant Liability Requires Proof of Bad Motive Beyond Contract Enforcement

Date: Mar 7, 2026

NJFPA “Substantial Noncompliance” Bars Unreasonable-Standards Claims; Implied-Covenant Liability Requires Proof of Bad Motive Beyond Contract Enforcement 1. Introduction SAT Agiyar, LLC v. 7 Eleven,...

Third Circuit Affirms Mandatory Life Under § 841(b)(1)(C) and Career-Offender Treatment of Pennsylvania § 780-113(a)(30) Priors; Reserves Conflict-Based Ineffective Assistance Claims for § 2255

Date: Mar 7, 2026

Third Circuit Affirms Mandatory Life Under § 841(b)(1)(C) and Career-Offender Treatment of Pennsylvania § 780-113(a)(30) Priors; Reserves Conflict-Based Ineffective Assistance Claims for § 2255...

EAJA Fee Awards for Immigration-Detention Habeas Petitions: “Any Civil Action” Includes § 2241 in the Third Circuit

Date: Mar 6, 2026

EAJA Fee Awards for Immigration-Detention Habeas Petitions: “Any Civil Action” Includes § 2241 in the Third Circuit Case: Adolph Michelin v. Warden Moshannon Valley Correctional Center (consolidated...

Minor IDRS Transcript Errors Do Not Defeat Admissibility or Create a Genuine Dispute Over Installment-Agreement Termination

Date: Mar 6, 2026

Minor IDRS Transcript Errors Do Not Defeat Admissibility or Create a Genuine Dispute Over Installment-Agreement Termination Introduction In United States v. Albert Boufarah (3d Cir. Mar. 2, 2026)...

Waiver of Household Vehicle Exclusion: Insurer Must Timely Plead Policy Exclusions as Affirmative Defenses; Mione Did Not “Change” Pennsylvania Law

Date: Mar 6, 2026

Waiver of Household Vehicle Exclusion: Insurer Must Timely Plead Policy Exclusions as Affirmative Defenses; Mione Did Not “Change” Pennsylvania Law I. Introduction In Haley Rodd v. James McCoy;...