4th Circuit Case Commentaries

Particularity in Civil Forfeiture Complaints: Upholding Rule E(2)(a) in United States v. Mondragon

Date: Dec 14, 2002

Particularity in Civil Forfeiture Complaints: Upholding Rule E(2)(a) in United States v. Mondragon Introduction The case of United States of America v. Lolita Mondragon, 313 F.3d 862 (4th Cir. 2002),...

Thompson v. Potomac Electric Power Company: Upholding Standards for Training Denial and Retaliation under Title VII and Section 1981

Date: Dec 13, 2002

Thompson v. Potomac Electric Power Company: Upholding Standards for Training Denial and Retaliation under Title VII and Section 1981 Introduction In Thompson v. Potomac Electric Power Company...

Franks v. Ross: Fourth Circuit Clarifies Statute of Limitations and Upholds EX PARTE YOUNG in Environmental Discrimination Case

Date: Dec 5, 2002

Franks v. Ross: Fourth Circuit Clarifies Statute of Limitations and Upholds EX PARTE YOUNG in Environmental Discrimination Case Introduction In the case of Jerry Franks; Laverne Cofield; Easton Acres...

Qualified Immunity and Jury Verdict Integrity in Figg v. Schroeder & Anthony

Date: Dec 4, 2002

Qualified Immunity and Jury Verdict Integrity in Figg v. Schroeder & Anthony Introduction The case of Gayle W. Figg et al. v. John A. Schroeder, Sergeant; Michael J. Anthony, Sergeant was adjudicated...

EPlus Technology v. Aboud: Establishing Personal Jurisdiction and RICO Liability in Fraudulent Bust-Out Schemes

Date: Dec 4, 2002

EPlus Technology v. Aboud: Establishing Personal Jurisdiction and RICO Liability in Fraudulent Bust-Out Schemes Introduction The case of EPlus Technology, Inc. v. Patricia Aboud explores the...

Setting Standards for Conspiracy Claims under the Sherman Act and Affirming the Indirect Purchaser Rule

Date: Oct 29, 2002

Setting Standards for Conspiracy Claims under the Sherman Act and Affirming the Indirect Purchaser Rule Introduction The case of Mark H. Dickson et al. v. Microsoft Corporation et al. (309 F.3d 193,...

Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Martin Becker v. Westinghouse Savannah River Company: Government Knowledge Negates FCA Violation

Date: Sep 28, 2002

Fourth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Martin Becker v. Westinghouse Savannah River Company: Government Knowledge Negates FCA Violation Introduction In the case of United States of America, ex...

Dow v. Jones: Standards for Legal Malpractice and the Necessity of Specificity in Actual Malice Claims

Date: Sep 27, 2002

Dow v. Jones: Standards for Legal Malpractice and the Necessity of Specificity in Actual Malice Claims Introduction Dow v. Jones, 232 F. Supp. 2d 491 (D. Md. 2002), is a pivotal case that delves into...

Appealability of §1631 Transfer Orders in the Context of Personal Jurisdiction: Carefirst of Maryland, Inc. Decision

Date: Sep 26, 2002

Appealability of §1631 Transfer Orders in the Context of Personal Jurisdiction: Carefirst of Maryland, Inc. v. Carefirst Urgent Care Center, LLC Introduction In the case of Carefirst of Maryland,...

De Novo Review Standard in ERISA Benefit Denials: Gallagher v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co.

Date: Sep 26, 2002

De Novo Review Standard in ERISA Benefit Denials: Gallagher v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. Introduction Patrick L. Gallagher, a long-term employee of Goodwill Publishing, Inc. (GWP), filed a...

Requirement of Actual Damages for Statutory Recovery Under the Privacy Act

Date: Sep 21, 2002

Requirement of Actual Damages for Statutory Recovery Under the Privacy Act Introduction In the landmark case of Robert DOE, a/k/a Virginia Pri v. cy Litigation; Tays Doe, a/k/a Virginia Pri (306 F.3d...

Fourth Circuit Establishes Punitive Damages Admissible with Back Pay Alone in Title VII Gender Discrimination

Date: Sep 19, 2002

Fourth Circuit Establishes Punitive Damages Admissible with Back Pay Alone in Title VII Gender Discrimination Introduction The case of Adrienne C. Corti v. Storage Technology Corporation addresses...

Deference to Administrative Findings in IDEA Cases: Insights from MM v. School District of Greenville County

Date: Sep 7, 2002

Deference to Administrative Findings in IDEA Cases: Insights from MM v. School District of Greenville County Introduction MM v. School District of Greenville County is a pivotal case adjudicated by...

Overbreadth of Public Decency Regulations Confirmed by Fourth Circuit in Giovani Carandola, Ltd. v. Bason

Date: Aug 31, 2002

Overbreadth of Public Decency Regulations Confirmed by Fourth Circuit in Giovani Carandola, Ltd. v. Bason Introduction Giovani Carandola, Ltd., a North Carolina corporation, along with dancer Janel...

Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements in Employment Contracts: Curtis M. Adkins v. Labor Ready, Inc.

Date: Aug 31, 2002

Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements in Employment Contracts: Curtis M. Adkins v. Labor Ready, Inc. Introduction In the landmark case of Curtis M. Adkins v. Labor Ready, Inc., the United States...

Robles v. Prince George’s County: Fourth Circuit Defines Boundaries of Qualified Immunity and Punitive Damages in Civil Rights Cases

Date: Aug 27, 2002

Robles v. Prince George’s County: Fourth Circuit Defines Boundaries of Qualified Immunity and Punitive Damages in Civil Rights Cases Introduction Nelson O. Robles v. Prince George's County, Maryland;...

Banks Do Not Owe Duty of Care to Noncustomers in Fraud Cases: Eisenberg v. Wachovia

Date: Aug 27, 2002

Banks Do Not Owe Duty of Care to Noncustomers in Fraud Cases: Eisenberg v. Wachovia Introduction The case of Eric Eisenberg v. Wachovia Bank, N.A. examined critical issues surrounding a bank's duty...

Establishing Jurisdictional Boundaries in Anticybersquatting Cases: Porsche Cars North America v. Porsche.net

Date: Aug 24, 2002

Establishing Jurisdictional Boundaries in Anticybersquatting Cases: Porsche Cars North America v. Porsche.net Introduction The case of Porsche Cars North America, Incorporated; Dr. Ing. H.C.F....

Interpretation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(d)(2): Extending In Rem Actions to Trademark Infringement and Dilution

Date: Aug 24, 2002

Interpretation of 15 U.S.C. § 1125(d)(2): Extending In Rem Actions to Trademark Infringement and Dilution Introduction The case HARRODS LIMITED v. SIXTY INTERNET DOMAIN NAMES addresses critical...

Strict Standards for EAJA Fee Awards in Hyatt v. Barnhart

Date: Aug 23, 2002

Strict Standards for EAJA Fee Awards in Hyatt v. Barnhart Introduction Hyatt v. Barnhart, 315 F.3d 239, is a pivotal decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, rendered on...