4th Circuit Case Commentaries

Virginia's Punitive Damages Cap Applies Per Plaintiff in Civil Conspiracy Cases

Date: Jul 2, 2024

Virginia's Punitive Damages Cap Applies Per Plaintiff in Civil Conspiracy Cases Introduction The case of Elizabeth Sines et al. v. Michael Hill et al. represents a landmark decision in the realm of...

Affirmation of Denial of Qualified Immunity in § 1983 Excessive Force Claims: Martin v. Randolph County Deputies

Date: Jun 28, 2024

Affirmation of Denial of Qualified Immunity in § 1983 Excessive Force Claims: Martin v. Randolph County Deputies Introduction In the case of Ka'Lah Martin v. Travis Short et al., the United States...

Fourth Circuit Reverses Dismissal in Title VII Retaliation Claim: Emphasizing Comprehensive Causation Evidence

Date: Jun 25, 2024

Fourth Circuit Reverses Dismissal in Title VII Retaliation Claim: Emphasizing Comprehensive Causation Evidence Introduction In Gabrielle Barbour v. Merrick B. Garland, the United States Court of...

Affirmation of Conviction in United States v. Horsley: Reinforcing Search Incident to Arrest Doctrine

Date: Jun 25, 2024

Affirmation of Conviction in United States v. Horsley: Reinforcing Search Incident to Arrest Doctrine Introduction In the appellate case United States of America v. Quentin Lowell Horsley, decided by...

Protecting Plaintiffs in Correctional Search Claims: 4th Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment in Alexander v. Connor

Date: Jun 25, 2024

Protecting Plaintiffs in Correctional Search Claims: 4th Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment in Alexander v. Connor Introduction The case of Thomas D. Alexander, Plaintiff-Appellant, versus Sergeant...

Clarifying Federal Jurisdiction in Zoning Disputes: Adams Outdoor Advertising v. Beaufort County

Date: Jun 22, 2024

Clarifying Federal Jurisdiction in Zoning Disputes: Adams Outdoor Advertising v. Beaufort County Introduction The case of Adams Outdoor Advertising Limited Partnership v. Beaufort County addresses...

Impact of the First Step Act on Compassionate Release: Analysis of United States v. Smith

Date: Jun 19, 2024

Impact of the First Step Act on Compassionate Release: Analysis of United States v. Smith Introduction In the appellate case United States of America v. Eric Smith, heard by the United States Court...

Fourth Circuit Establishes Firm Standard for Amount in Controversy in Diversity Jurisdiction Cases

Date: Jun 19, 2024

Fourth Circuit Establishes Firm Standard for Amount in Controversy in Diversity Jurisdiction Cases Introduction The case of Ministry of Defence of the State of Kuwait v. Joseph M. Naffa; Naffa &...

Enhancing Transparency: Fourth Circuit Establishes First Amendment Right to Access Sealed Summary Judgment Documents

Date: Jun 19, 2024

Enhancing Transparency: Fourth Circuit Establishes First Amendment Right to Access Sealed Summary Judgment Documents Introduction In the landmark case of United States ex rel. Jon H. Oberg v. Nelnet,...

Mandatory Consideration of Expert Testimony in Evaluating Exceptional Hardship for Cancellation of Removal: Garcia Cortes v. Garland

Date: Jun 18, 2024

Mandatory Consideration of Expert Testimony in Evaluating Exceptional Hardship for Cancellation of Removal: Garcia Cortes v. Garland Introduction Garcia Cortes v. Garland is a pivotal case...

Federal Question Jurisdiction and the Well-Pleaded Complaint Rule in Declaratory Judgment Actions

Date: Jun 18, 2024

Federal Question Jurisdiction and the Well-Pleaded Complaint Rule in Declaratory Judgment Actions Introduction The case of Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. et al. v. City of Raleigh et al. presents...

Affirmation of Qualified Immunity in Prison Strip Search Case: Johnson v. Robinette and Zimmerman

Date: Jun 15, 2024

Affirmation of Qualified Immunity in Prison Strip Search Case: Johnson v. Robinette and Zimmerman Introduction In the case of Johnson v. Robinette; Zimmerman, Officer, the United States Court of...

Appellate Waiver in Plea Agreements: Insights from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARCUS ANTONIO ASHFORD

Date: Jun 13, 2024

Appellate Waiver in Plea Agreements: Insights from UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARCUS ANTONIO ASHFORD Introduction The case of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MARCUS ANTONIO ASHFORD (103 F.4th 1052)...

Rehaif v. United States: Redefining Felon-In-Possession Convictions in the Fourth Circuit

Date: Jun 13, 2024

Rehaif v. United States: Redefining Felon-In-Possession Convictions in the Fourth Circuit Introduction In the landmark decision of United States of America v. Multiple Defendants (104 F.4th 496,...

TEDCO as an Arm of the State: Affirmation of Eleventh Amendment Immunity

Date: Jun 12, 2024

TEDCO as an Arm of the State: Affirmation of Eleventh Amendment Immunity Introduction In the case of Angela Singleton v. Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the United States Court...

Expanding MSPB Jurisdiction: Fourth Circuit Reverses MSPB’s Jurisdictional Dismissal in Whistleblower Retaliation Case

Date: Jun 7, 2024

Expanding MSPB Jurisdiction: Fourth Circuit Reverses MSPB’s Jurisdictional Dismissal in Whistleblower Retaliation Case Introduction In the case of Mark Jones, Michael Taylor, and Fred A. Wynn v....

Waiver of Eleventh Amendment Immunity through State Participation in Federal Litigation: South Carolina v. Google

Date: Jun 6, 2024

Waiver of Eleventh Amendment Immunity through State Participation in Federal Litigation: South Carolina v. Google Introduction The legal landscape surrounding state sovereign immunity under the...

Service Animals Not Considered in SSA Disability Assessments: Analysis of Shue v. O'Malley

Date: Jun 5, 2024

Service Animals Not Considered in SSA Disability Assessments: Analysis of Shue v. O'Malley Introduction The case of Apryl D. Shue v. Martin J. O'Malley revolves around the denial of disability...

Affirmation of the Stream-of-Benefits Theory in Bribery Post McCormick and McDonnell: United States v. McCabe

Date: Jun 4, 2024

Affirmation of the Stream-of-Benefits Theory in Bribery Post McCormick and McDonnell: United States v. McCabe Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Robert James McCabe, 103 F.4th...

4th Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment on Constructive Fraud Claims in Real Estate Litigation

Date: Jun 4, 2024

4th Circuit Vacates Summary Judgment on Constructive Fraud Claims in Real Estate Litigation Introduction In the case of Marcia Mouton Snell v. Rebecca A. Reid, Buffy Jo Gustafson a/k/a Buffy Jo...