4th Circuit Case Commentaries

Affirmation of Advisory Sentencing Guidelines' Reasonableness and Grouping Provisions in United States v. Johnson

Date: Apr 8, 2006

Affirmation of Advisory Sentencing Guidelines' Reasonableness and Grouping Provisions in United States v. Johnson Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Artez Lamont Johnson (445...

Fourth Circuit Establishes Trustees in Foreclosure as 'Debt Collectors' Under FDCPA

Date: Apr 6, 2006

Fourth Circuit Establishes Trustees in Foreclosure as 'Debt Collectors' Under FDCPA Introduction In the landmark case of Wilson v. Draper Goldberg, P.L.L.C., the United States Court of Appeals for...

Procedural Default and Exhaustion in Capital Habeas Corpus Claims: Hedrick v. True

Date: Apr 1, 2006

Procedural Default and Exhaustion in Capital Habeas Corpus Claims: Hedrick v. True Introduction Brandon Wayne Hedrick, the petitioner-appellant, was convicted of capital murder in the state of...

Affirmation and Remand of Individual Claims in Da v. d Partington

Date: Mar 31, 2006

Affirmation and Remand of Individual Claims in Da v. d Partington Introduction The case of Da v. d Partington, Re (443 F.3d 334) adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth...

Affirming the Discretionary Function Exception for Undercover FBI Operations in FTCA Claims

Date: Mar 29, 2006

Affirming the Discretionary Function Exception for Undercover FBI Operations in FTCA Claims Introduction Suter et al. v. United States of America, 441 F.3d 306 (4th Cir. 2006), is a significant...

Reasonableness of Variance Sentences under § 3553(a) after Booker: Insights from United States v. Hampton

Date: Mar 24, 2006

Reasonableness of Variance Sentences under § 3553(a) after Booker: Insights from United States v. Hampton Introduction The case of United States v. Quiana Ganay Hampton, decided by the United States...

Affirmation of Drug Conspiracy Sentences Amid Booker Sixth Amendment Challenges

Date: Mar 22, 2006

Affirmation of Drug Conspiracy Sentences Amid Booker Sixth Amendment Challenges Introduction In the landmark decision of United States of America v. Terrance Smith, 441 F.3d 254 (4th Cir. 2006), the...

Fourth Circuit Clarifies Res Judicata Law: Emphasizing State Law Over Federal in Diversity Jurisdiction Cases

Date: Mar 21, 2006

Fourth Circuit Clarifies Res Judicata Law: Emphasizing State Law Over Federal in Diversity Jurisdiction Cases Introduction The case of Q International Courier, Incorporated v. Glenn Smoak presents a...

Limitations on Sua Sponte Consideration of Statute of Limitations Defenses in Civil Proceedings

Date: Mar 18, 2006

Limitations on Sua Sponte Consideration of Statute of Limitations Defenses in Civil Proceedings Introduction In the case of Eriline Company S.A.; Edgardo Bakchellian v. James P. Johnson; Uni, the...

Superseding Arbitration Agreements and the Limits of Implied Terms: Insights from Patten v. Signator Insurance

Date: Mar 14, 2006

Superseding Arbitration Agreements and the Limits of Implied Terms: Insights from Patten v. Signator Insurance Introduction The case of Ralph F. Patten, Jr. v. Signator Insurance Agency, Incorporated...

Enhancing Summary Judgment Standards: Rule 56(f) Requirements in Excessive Force Litigation Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Date: Mar 9, 2006

Enhancing Summary Judgment Standards: Rule 56(f) Requirements in Excessive Force Litigation Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Introduction Deborah Jean Ingle, Administrator of the Estate of Christopher James...

Discretion in Dismissals and Removal Procedures: An Analysis of Payne v. Estate of Calzada

Date: Mar 2, 2006

Discretion in Dismissals and Removal Procedures: An Analysis of Payne v. Estate of Calzada Introduction Payne v. Estate of Calzada (439 F.3d 198, 4th Cir. 2006) is a pivotal case adjudicated by the...

Reaffirming the 100:1 Crack-to-Powder Cocaine Sentencing Ratio: Insights from United States v. Eura

Date: Feb 25, 2006

Reaffirming the 100:1 Crack-to-Powder Cocaine Sentencing Ratio: Insights from United States v. Eura Introduction United States of America v. Vincent Carnelius Eura is a pivotal case decided by the...

Fourth Circuit Establishes Limits on Downward Departures for Career Offenders Post-Booker: United States v. Moreland

Date: Feb 23, 2006

Fourth Circuit Establishes Limits on Downward Departures for Career Offenders Post-Booker: United States v. Moreland Introduction United States of America v. Brian A. Moreland is a pivotal case...

Laber v. Harvey (4th Cir. 2006): Clarifying Judicial Review for Federal Employees Seeking Additional Relief Under Title VII

Date: Feb 17, 2006

Laber v. Harvey (4th Cir. 2006): Clarifying Judicial Review for Federal Employees Seeking Additional Relief Under Title VII Introduction In Stan Laber v. Francis J. Harvey, Secretary of the Army, the...

Limitation Period Defenses Preclude Class Certification in Racial Discrimination Claims – Fourth Circuit

Date: Feb 16, 2006

Limitation Period Defenses Preclude Class Certification in Racial Discrimination Claims – Fourth Circuit Introduction In the landmark case of Rose Belle Thorn; Rosa M. Thorn, Individually and as...

Class Action Certification Denied Due to Individualized Statute of Limitations Issues: Thorn v. Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Co.

Date: Feb 16, 2006

Class Action Certification Denied Due to Individualized Statute of Limitations Issues: Thorn v. Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Co. Introduction In Thorn v. Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company, the...

Fourth Circuit Reinforces AEDPA Deference in Eighth and Sixth Amendment Death Penalty Challenges

Date: Feb 15, 2006

Fourth Circuit Reinforces AEDPA Deference in Eighth and Sixth Amendment Death Penalty Challenges Introduction In the landmark case of Robinson v. Polk, decided on February 14, 2006, the United States...

Class Certification in Antitrust Litigation: Exclusion of Enterprise Customers Affirmed

Date: Feb 8, 2006

Class Certification in Antitrust Litigation: Exclusion of Enterprise Customers Affirmed Introduction The case of Paul A. Deiter et al. v. Microsoft Corporation centers on a pivotal decision by the...

Reaffirming Career Offender Standards: United States v. Green

Date: Feb 7, 2006

Reaffirming Career Offender Standards: United States v. Green Introduction In United States v. Green, 436 F.3d 449 (4th Cir. 2006), the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit addressed...