4th Circuit Case Commentaries

Enhancing Whistleblower Protections and Clarifying Pleading Standards under the False Claims Act: Grant v. United Airlines

Date: Dec 27, 2018

Enhancing Whistleblower Protections and Clarifying Pleading Standards under the False Claims Act: Grant v. United Airlines Introduction In the landmark case of United States ex rel. David Grant v....

Strengthening Due Process Protections for Pretrial Detainees: Williamson v. Stirling Sets New Standards in Solitary Confinement Cases

Date: Dec 22, 2018

Strengthening Due Process Protections for Pretrial Detainees: Williamson v. Stirling Sets New Standards in Solitary Confinement Cases Introduction In the landmark case of Williamson v. Stirling, the...

Deliberate Indifference Under Title IX: A Comprehensive Analysis of Feminist Majority Foundation v. Hurley

Date: Dec 20, 2018

Deliberate Indifference Under Title IX: A Comprehensive Analysis of Feminist Majority Foundation v. Hurley Introduction In the landmark case Feminist Majority Foundation; Feminists United on Campus;...

Enhanced Sentencing Guidelines for Public Officials in Fraud Conspiracies

Date: Dec 7, 2018

Enhanced Sentencing Guidelines for Public Officials in Fraud Conspiracies Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Patricia G. Sullivan (No. 17-4457), the United States Court of...

Lester v. Flournoy: Establishing the Applicability of 28 U.S.C. §2241 for Sentencing Errors

Date: Dec 1, 2018

Lester v. Flournoy: Establishing the Applicability of 28 U.S.C. §2241 for Sentencing Errors Introduction The case of Stoney Lester v. J.V. Flournoy (909 F.3d 708, 4th Cir. 2018) serves as a pivotal...

Deference to Local Zoning Authorities Reinforced in Pulte v. Montgomery County

Date: Nov 30, 2018

Deference to Local Zoning Authorities Reinforced in Pulte v. Montgomery County Introduction In the landmark case Pulte Home Corporation; Shiloh Farm Investments LLC v. Montgomery County, Maryland,...

Establishing Employer Liability in Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Claims: Tamika Ray v. International Paper Company

Date: Nov 29, 2018

Establishing Employer Liability in Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Claims: Tamika Ray v. International Paper Company Introduction In the landmark case of Tamika Ray v. International Paper...

Limits on Protected Activity under Title VII: Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Information

Date: Nov 16, 2018

Limits on Protected Activity under Title VII: Unauthorized Disclosure of Confidential Information Introduction In the case of Catherine D. Netter v. Sheriff BJ Barnes, decided by the United States...

Affirmation of RICO and VICAR Convictions for MS-13 Members in United States v. Zelaya et al.

Date: Nov 15, 2018

Affirmation of RICO and VICAR Convictions for MS-13 Members in United States v. Zelaya et al. Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Miguel Zelaya, Luis Ordonez-Vega, Jorge Sosa, and...

Ketter v. United States: Unitary Sentencing and Supervised Release Implications

Date: Nov 9, 2018

Ketter v. United States: Unitary Sentencing and Supervised Release Implications Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Shelton Demond Ketter, the United States Court of Appeals for...

Fourth Circuit Enhances First Amendment Protections Against Overbroad Gag Orders in Civil Nuisance Cases

Date: Oct 30, 2018

Fourth Circuit Enhances First Amendment Protections Against Overbroad Gag Orders in Civil Nuisance Cases Introduction In the landmark case In re: Murphy-Brown, LLC, the United States Court of Appeals...

Affirmation of SSA's Disability Determination Based on Credibility and Residual Functional Capacity: Ladda v. Berryhill

Date: Oct 19, 2018

Affirmation of SSA's Disability Determination Based on Credibility and Residual Functional Capacity: Ladda v. Berryhill Introduction The case of Leon L. Ladda, Jr. v. Nancy A. Berryhill addresses the...

Affirmation of Wire Fraud and Hobbs Act Extortion Convictions in Political Bribery: United States v. Burfoot

Date: Aug 9, 2018

Affirmation of Wire Fraud and Hobbs Act Extortion Convictions in Political Bribery: United States v. Burfoot Introduction The case of United States of America v. Anthony L. Burfoot (899 F.3d 326)...

Consideration Required for Contract Modifications: Analysis of JTH TAX, INC. v. Gregory Aime

Date: Aug 9, 2018

Consideration Required for Contract Modifications: Analysis of JTH TAX, INC. d/b/a Liberty Tax Service v. Gregory Aime Introduction The case JTH TAX, INC., d/b/a Liberty Tax Service; SIEMPRETAX+ LLC...

Appellate Waiver and Factual Basis in Plea Agreements: Insights from United States v. McCoy

Date: Jul 14, 2018

Appellate Waiver and Factual Basis in Plea Agreements: Insights from United States v. McCoy Introduction United States v. Alex Lenard McCoy is a pivotal case adjudicated by the United States Court of...

Establishing Prima Facie Retaliation under Title VII: Strothers v. City of Laurel, Maryland

Date: Jul 7, 2018

Establishing Prima Facie Retaliation under Title VII: Strothers v. City of Laurel, Maryland Introduction Felicia Strothers v. City of Laurel, Maryland, 895 F.3d 317 (4th Cir. 2018), serves as a...

Broadening Anti-Retaliation Protections Under Title VII: Strothers v. City of Laurel

Date: Jul 7, 2018

Broadening Anti-Retaliation Protections Under Title VII: Strothers v. City of Laurel Introduction Strothers v. City of Laurel, Maryland (895 F.3d 317, 4th Cir. 2018) marks a significant advancement...

Formica v. Aylor: Standards for Deliberate Indifference in Inmate Medical Care

Date: Jun 26, 2018

Formica v. Aylor: Standards for Deliberate Indifference in Inmate Medical Care Introduction Formica v. Aylor is a pivotal case adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit...

Refining Qualified Immunity: Insights from Wilson v. Prince George's County

Date: Jun 18, 2018

Refining Qualified Immunity: Insights from Wilson v. Prince George's County Introduction In the landmark case of Wilson v. Prince George's County, Maryland, the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Expanded Standing Criteria in Data Breach Litigation: Hutton and Kaeochinda v. National Board of Examiners in Optometry

Date: Jun 13, 2018

Expanded Standing Criteria in Data Breach Litigation: Hutton and Kaeochinda v. National Board of Examiners in Optometry Introduction The case of Rhonda L. Hutton, O.D.; Tawny P. Kaeochinda, O.D. on...