3d Circuit Case Commentaries

Heck Does Not Bar § 1983 Eighth Amendment Overdetention Claims That Do Not Impugn the Validity of the Conviction or Maximum Sentence

Date: Mar 15, 2025

Heck Does Not Bar § 1983 Eighth Amendment Overdetention Claims That Do Not Impugn the Validity of the Conviction or Maximum Sentence Case: Jeffrey Herrera v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation and...

Pleading a Title VII Religious-Accommodation Conflict: Scripture Cannot “Cloak” Medical or Political Objections to COVID Testing

Date: Mar 15, 2025

Pleading a Title VII Religious-Accommodation Conflict: Scripture Cannot “Cloak” Medical or Political Objections to COVID Testing Case: Jill Gatto v. Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (3d Cir. Mar. 14,...

Rescission of COVID-19 Vaccine Executive Orders Moots Prospective Constitutional Challenges Absent a Reasonable Expectation of Reissuance

Date: Mar 15, 2025

Rescission of COVID-19 Vaccine Executive Orders Moots Prospective Constitutional Challenges Absent a Reasonable Expectation of Reissuance 1. Introduction Sczesny v. Murphy (3d Cir. Mar. 14, 2025)...

Clarifying the Standard of Review for Hardship Determinations in Cancellation-of-Removal Proceedings

Date: Mar 14, 2025

Clarifying the Standard of Review for Hardship Determinations in Cancellation-of-Removal Proceedings Introduction The case of Situ Kamu Wilkinson v. Attorney General United States of America...

Forfeiture Bars Consideration of Federal Equitable Tolling in § 1983 Limitations Disputes Absent Developed Appellate Argument

Date: Mar 14, 2025

Forfeiture Bars Consideration of Federal Equitable Tolling in § 1983 Limitations Disputes Absent Developed Appellate Argument Case: Richard Weber v. County of Erie (No. 24-1477) Court: United States...

EMTALA Liability Turns on Hospital Capability and Actual Knowledge: No Screening Violation Without Available Diagnostic Services; No Stabilization Duty for Undetected Conditions

Date: Mar 14, 2025

EMTALA Liability Turns on Hospital Capability and Actual Knowledge: No Screening Violation Without Available Diagnostic Services; No Stabilization Duty for Undetected Conditions 1. Introduction In...

Commercial Use of a “Stash” Apartment Does Not Create Fourth Amendment Standing (Even with Keys and Payment)

Date: Mar 14, 2025

Commercial Use of a “Stash” Apartment Does Not Create Fourth Amendment Standing (Even with Keys and Payment) Case: United States v. Furad Loyal (3d Cir. Mar. 13, 2025) (not precedential) 1....

Limiting Compassionate Release Based on Non-Retroactive Law Changes: A Commentary on UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SEAN L. HAGINS

Date: Mar 13, 2025

Limiting Compassionate Release Based on Non-Retroactive Law Changes Introduction The case of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SEAN L. HAGINS involves a procedural dispute regarding the denial of both a...

Clarifying the Knowledge Requirement in Money Laundering Conspiracy Cases

Date: Mar 13, 2025

Clarifying the Knowledge Requirement in Money Laundering Conspiracy Cases Introduction The case of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. OLUGBENGA LAWAL, a/k/a Razak Aolugbengela, addressed intricate issues...

Clarifying Supervised Release Boundaries: Judicial Limits on Pornography Restrictions and the First Amendment

Date: Mar 13, 2025

Clarifying Supervised Release Boundaries: Judicial Limits on Pornography Restrictions and the First Amendment Introduction The case of United States of America v. Michael Shane Waggoner addresses...

FAA § 10(a)(4) Deference and Bad-Faith Vacatur Sanctions: Attorney’s Fees Stand When Contracts and Submissions Contemplate Fee-Shifting

Date: Mar 13, 2025

FAA § 10(a)(4) Deference and Bad-Faith Vacatur Sanctions: Attorney’s Fees Stand When Contracts and Submissions Contemplate Fee-Shifting Case: Davison Design & Development Inc v. Mario Scorza (3d Cir....

Affirming Within-Guidelines Sentences for False-Statement Firearms Purchases: Meaningful § 3553(a) Consideration, Deference on Substantive Review, and Plain-Error Limits

Date: Mar 13, 2025

Affirming Within-Guidelines Sentences for False-Statement Firearms Purchases: Meaningful § 3553(a) Consideration, Deference on Substantive Review, and Plain-Error Limits Case: United States v. Zhi...

Third Circuit Adopts Substantial-Evidence Review for “Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship” Determinations in Cancellation of Removal

Date: Mar 12, 2025

Third Circuit Adopts Substantial-Evidence Review for “Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship” Determinations in Cancellation of Removal 1. Introduction Situ Kamu Wilkinson v. Attorney General...

Nonretroactive Guideline Amendments Are Not “Extraordinary and Compelling” Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13(b)(6) in the Third Circuit (Absent Retroactivity)

Date: Mar 11, 2025

Nonretroactive Guideline Amendments Are Not “Extraordinary and Compelling” Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.13(b)(6) in the Third Circuit (Absent Retroactivity) Case: United States v. Sean Hagins (3d Cir. Mar....

Circumstantial Evidence and Banking Red Flags Can Establish Knowledge in § 1956(h) Money-Laundering Conspiracies

Date: Mar 11, 2025

Circumstantial Evidence and Banking Red Flags Can Establish Knowledge in § 1956(h) Money-Laundering Conspiracies Case: United States v. Olugbenga Lawal (3d Cir. Mar. 10, 2025) (Not Precedential) 1....

Vacatur of Ambiguous Adult-Pornography Bans and Bar on Probation-Officer Delegation in Supervised-Release Conditions

Date: Mar 11, 2025

Vacatur of Ambiguous Adult-Pornography Bans and Bar on Probation-Officer Delegation in Supervised-Release Conditions Case: United States v. Michael Waggoner Court: Third Circuit Date: March 10, 2025...

Judicial Boundaries of Self-Representation: Clarifying the Revocation and Discipline of Pro Se Conduct

Date: Mar 10, 2025

Judicial Boundaries of Self-Representation: Clarifying the Revocation and Discipline of Pro Se Conduct Introduction The case of United States of America v. James Taric Byrd presents a complex...

Express Authorization in Settlement Agreements: Ensuring Clear Client Consent

Date: Mar 10, 2025

Express Authorization in Settlement Agreements: Ensuring Clear Client Consent Introduction The case under review, SERVIS ONE INC, d/b/a BSI Financial Services, Inc. et al. v. OKS GROUP LLC et al.,...

Municipal Immunity in Inmate Assault Cases: The Limits of Deliberate Indifference

Date: Mar 10, 2025

Municipal Immunity in Inmate Assault Cases: The Limits of Deliberate Indifference Introduction The Judgment in Richard Hightower, Appellant v. City of Philadelphia addresses the question of municipal...

Grand Jury Presentments and the Presumption of Probable Cause: A Clarification in Malicious Prosecution Claims

Date: Mar 10, 2025

Grand Jury Presentments and the Presumption of Probable Cause: A Clarification in Malicious Prosecution Claims Introduction The case of Carl E. Rodgers v. Pennsylvania State Police involves a civil...