3d Circuit Case Commentaries

Concrete “Would Have” FDA-Approval Proof Required for Antitrust Injury in Reverse-Payment (Pay-for-Delay) Cases

Date: Aug 14, 2026

Concrete “Would Have” FDA-Approval Proof Required for Antitrust Injury in Reverse-Payment (Pay-for-Delay) Cases 1. Introduction In re: Lipitor Antitrust Litigation (3d Cir. Aug. 13, 2026) arises from...

Reverse-Payment Antitrust Standing Requires Proof FDA Approval Would Have Been Earlier (Not Merely Could Have)

Date: Aug 14, 2026

Reverse-Payment Antitrust Standing Requires Proof FDA Approval Would Have Been Earlier (Not Merely Could Have) I. Introduction In re: Lipitor Antitrust Litigation (3d Cir. Aug. 13, 2026) arises from...

Timmons v. Bohinski: Sworn § 1746 Declarations Can Create a Triable PLRA “Unavailability by Intimidation” Dispute Under Rule 56

Date: Aug 13, 2026

Timmons v. Bohinski: Sworn § 1746 Declarations Can Create a Triable PLRA “Unavailability by Intimidation” Dispute Under Rule 56 1. Introduction In Brandon Timmons v. Bohinski (3d Cir. Aug. 12, 2026),...

Strickland Prejudice in § 2255 Requires a Concrete Showing that a Missed U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c) Concurrency Argument Would Likely Change the Sentencing Court’s Discretionary Choice

Date: Aug 12, 2026

Strickland Prejudice in § 2255 Requires a Concrete Showing that a Missed U.S.S.G. § 5G1.3(c) Concurrency Argument Would Likely Change the Sentencing Court’s Discretionary Choice 1. Introduction In...

Res Judicata and Absolute Immunities Bar Serial Collateral Civil Suits Over Prior Proceedings

Date: Aug 12, 2026

Res Judicata and Absolute Immunities Bar Serial Collateral Civil Suits Over Prior Proceedings Introduction In Jameson Rosado v. Joseph A. Dickson (3d Cir. Aug. 11, 2026) (non-precedential), the Third...

Producer-Controlled Hiring Defeats Union Liability and “Average Age” Comparisons: ADEA Causation and Hiring-Hall Limits Under Producer’s Choice

Date: Aug 11, 2026

Producer-Controlled Hiring Defeats Union Liability and “Average Age” Comparisons: ADEA Causation and Hiring-Hall Limits Under Producer’s Choice Introduction In Timothy McLaughlin v. International...

Second Amendment Does Not Extend to Unlicensed Export of Firearms Abroad; AECA’s U.S. Munitions List Delegation Sustained

Date: Aug 11, 2026

Second Amendment Does Not Extend to Unlicensed Export of Firearms Abroad; AECA’s U.S. Munitions List Delegation Sustained 1. Introduction In United States v. Derby Clerfe (3d Cir. Aug. 10, 2026), the...

Standing to Enjoin Allegedly Racist Policing Requires (1) a Plausible Policy/Pattern and (2) a Real, Immediate Personal Threat—Advocacy Resource-Diversion Is Not Organizational Injury

Date: Aug 11, 2026

Standing to Enjoin Allegedly Racist Policing Requires (1) a Plausible Policy/Pattern and (2) a Real, Immediate Personal Threat—Advocacy Resource-Diversion Is Not Organizational Injury Case: NAACP...

Third Circuit: Arbitrators May Clarify an Ambiguous Interim Liability Award Under the Functus Officio “Ambiguity Exception,” Even When Damages Remain Open

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Third Circuit: Arbitrators May Clarify an Ambiguous Interim Liability Award Under the Functus Officio “Ambiguity Exception,” Even When Damages Remain Open I. Introduction In Prospect Capital...

Patient “Cost-Support” Fax Can Be a TCPA Advertisement Even with Informational Content: S.A.S.B. CORP v. Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc.

Date: Aug 8, 2026

Patient “Cost-Support” Fax Can Be a TCPA Advertisement Even with Informational Content 1. Introduction In S.A.S.B. CORP v. Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. (3d Cir. Aug. 7, 2026), S.A.S.B....

Third Circuit: Arbitrators May Clarify an Ambiguous Merits Award (Even After Issuance) When AAA Rules Delegate Functus Officio Boundaries

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Third Circuit: Arbitrators May Clarify an Ambiguous Merits Award (Even After Issuance) When AAA Rules Delegate Functus Officio Boundaries 1. Introduction In Prospect Capital Management L.P. v....

Vacatur Required When a Preliminary-Injunction Dispute Becomes Moot Before the District Court Rules

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Vacatur Required When a Preliminary-Injunction Dispute Becomes Moot Before the District Court Rules 1. Introduction Case: Ryan Castaneira v. C. Fox (3d Cir. Aug. 4, 2026) (not precedential). Parties:...

Third Circuit Defines FCA § 3730(h) “Other Efforts” Protected Activity: Objectively Reasonable Belief of False Claims Required; Rule 9(b) Does Not Apply

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Third Circuit Defines FCA § 3730(h) “Other Efforts” Protected Activity: Objectively Reasonable Belief of False Claims Required; Rule 9(b) Does Not Apply 1. Introduction In Paul Lisenby v. Olympus...

Third Circuit: “Reference vs. Reliance” Controls Due-Process Sentencing Claims (Plain-Error Review), and Unraised § 3553(a)(6) Disparity Arguments Rarely Succeed

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Third Circuit: “Reference vs. Reliance” Controls Due-Process Sentencing Claims (Plain-Error Review), and Unraised § 3553(a)(6) Disparity Arguments Rarely Succeed Case: United States v. Christian...

Rule 403 and Rule 701 Limits on “Murder-Trial” Proof in a § 922(g) Case—Errors Deemed Harmless Amid Strong Circumstantial Evidence

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Rule 403 and Rule 701 Limits on “Murder-Trial” Proof in a § 922(g) Case—Errors Deemed Harmless Amid Strong Circumstantial Evidence I. Introduction United States v. Lamar McCullough (3d Cir. Aug. 4,...

Third Circuit Treats 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) (Online Enticement/Attempt) as Categorical “Sexual Abuse of a Minor” Aggravated Felony—No Actual Minor Required

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Third Circuit Treats 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b) (Online Enticement/Attempt) as Categorical “Sexual Abuse of a Minor” Aggravated Felony—No Actual Minor Required 1) Introduction In Dameon Allen v. Attorney...

Pro Se Removal Proceedings: Immigration Judges Must Develop the Record on Dispositive, Favorable Issues Raised by the Applicant

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Pro Se Removal Proceedings: Immigration Judges Must Develop the Record on Dispositive, Favorable Issues Raised by the Applicant I. Introduction Ildar Ruzmetovich Niyazov v. Attorney General United...

Plaintiff-Caused Foreign Delay and Ongoing Parallel Proceedings Support Forum Non Conveniens Dismissal Despite Defendant’s New Jersey Home Forum

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Plaintiff-Caused Foreign Delay and Ongoing Parallel Proceedings Support Forum Non Conveniens Dismissal Despite Defendant’s New Jersey Home Forum Introduction In Martin and Harris Private Ltd v. Merck...

Rejected BIA eFilings Are Treated as Unfiled—and Thus Unreviewable on Petition for Review

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Rejected BIA eFilings Are Treated as Unfiled—and Thus Unreviewable on Petition for Review 1. Introduction In Arefin Chowdhury v. Attorney General United States of America (3d Cir. Aug. 6, 2026)...

Fifth-Amendment Unavailability as “Good Cause” and Video-Corroborated Reliability for Hearsay at Supervised-Release Revocation

Date: Aug 7, 2026

Fifth-Amendment Unavailability as “Good Cause” and Video-Corroborated Reliability for Hearsay at Supervised-Release Revocation 1. Introduction In United States v. Delrico Clyburn (3d Cir. Aug. 6,...