Indefinite Unpaid Leave Is Not an Effective ADA Accommodation When Reassignment to a Vacant Position Is Possible Introduction In Ibrahima Dieng v. Orkin, LLC (4th Cir. Aug. 5, 2026), the Fourth...
Plausibility Pleading for “Cat’s Paw” and Monell Liability in Public-Employer Race-Termination Claims Introduction In Bryan Wardell v. Pitt County, North Carolina (4th Cir. Aug. 5, 2026)...
Hayseeds “Necessity” Requires Insured Cooperation and Meaningful Demand; Bankruptcy-Related Noncooperation Defeats Fee-Shifting Introduction In Bristol Springs Custom Homes, LLC v. Argos Group US,...
Hayseeds “Necessity” Requires More Than Post-Suit Settlement Timing; West Virginia UTPA Subsections (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), and (m) Remain Unavailable to Insureds Introduction In Bristol Springs...
Habeas Jurisdiction Lies in the District of Removal When ICE Conceals Custody Through Rapid, Secret Transfers; INA §§ 1252(g), 1252(b)(9), and 1252(a)(5) Do Not Bar Detention-Only Constitutional...
Permanent SIJ Parentage Bar: SIJ Recipients Cannot Ever Confer Immigration Benefits on Natural or Prior Adoptive Parents 1. Introduction In Josue Fuentes v. United States Citizenship and Immigration...
Direct Evidence that Funds Were Not Reinvested Defeats International Promotion Money Laundering Under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) Case: United States v. Qinbin Chen (4th Cir. July 21, 2026)...
Fourth Circuit Requires Proof of a Distinct Reinvestment Agreement for § 1956(h) Promotional Money-Laundering Conspiracy I. Introduction In United States v. Bisheem Jones (4th Cir. July 21, 2026),...
Nexus for Home Search Warrants: Probable Cause from a Drug Courier Leaving the Residence and Drug-Trafficker-at-Home Inferences (Fourth Circuit) I. Introduction In United States v. Rebecca Barker...
United States v. Ellis: Deliberate Partial Courtroom Closures Are Not “Trivial” and Are Upheld When Supported by a Substantial Reason Under a Modified Waller Test 1. Introduction In United States v....
When Mootness Is Raised First on Appeal, the Fourth Circuit Remands for First-Instance Article III Findings in Post-Settlement Insurance Coverage Declaratory Actions 1. Introduction Covington...
Comcast Requires a Case-Specific, Non-Speculative Classwide Damages Methodology (Not a Generic “Out-of-Pocket” Formula) and a Rigorous Predominance Analysis in Securities-Fraud Class Certification...
Weak Pretext Showings and Compliance Queries Without Anti-Fraud Action Do Not Defeat Summary Judgment (ADA/FCA): Simmons v. UM Capital Region Health Court: United States Court of Appeals for the...
Virginia Code § 18.2-53.1 (Use of a Firearm) Is Not a “Crime of Violence” for USSG § 2K2.1(a)(4)(A) When Tethered to Virginia Robbery I. Introduction In United States v. Rashad Ebron (4th Cir. July...
State Custody Does Not Start the Speedy Trial Act Clock Absent a Solely Federal Hold; An Unseen Show of Authority Is Not a Seizure Case: United States v. Brandon Brown (4th Cir. July 20, 2026)...
AEDPA “Double Deference” Controls Habeas Review of State-Court Manifest-Necessity Mistrials Triggered by Defense Opening Statements Introduction In Keith Wood v. Shawn Straughn (Fourth Circuit, July...
Certification Despite Prior Erie Prediction: Fourth Circuit Sends South Carolina “Adequate Warning vs. Design Defect” Question to State Supreme Court I. Introduction Jesse Near v. Enerco Group, Inc....
Generalized Gang Extortion/Recruitment Motives Do Not Establish Asylum Nexus Without Petitioner-Specific Evidence; BIA Need Not Remand for “Clear Factual or Legal Error” Shorthand Absent Identified...
Non‑Unanimous Court‑Martial Verdict Claims Are Non‑Jurisdictional and Unreviewable on Federal Habeas After “Full and Fair” Military Consideration Introduction In Jamie Brown v. Troy Meink (4th Cir....
Deferred Enforced Departure Is Not an Immigration “Status”: “Admitted in Any Status” Under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(2) Requires Entry in an INA-Recognized Classification Case: Alejandra Montesinos...