4th Circuit Case Commentaries

Fourth Circuit Recognizes Clearly Established First Amendment Right for Inmates to File Grievances Without Retaliation

Date: Apr 29, 2017

Fourth Circuit Recognizes Clearly Established First Amendment Right for Inmates to File Grievances Without Retaliation Introduction In the landmark case of Patrick L. Booker v. South Carolina...

Bresler v. Wilmington Trust Company: Setting New Standards for Expert Witness Disclosure in Breach of Contract Cases

Date: Apr 21, 2017

Bresler v. Wilmington Trust Company: Setting New Standards for Expert Witness Disclosure in Breach of Contract Cases Introduction In the landmark case of Bresler v. Wilmington Trust Company, the...

Reaffirming the Inevitable-Discovery Doctrine in Warrantless Vehicle Searches

Date: Apr 21, 2017

Reaffirming the Inevitable-Discovery Doctrine in Warrantless Vehicle Searches Introduction The case of United States of America v. Raymond Bullette, III explores the boundaries of the Fourth...

Porter v. Clarke: Voluntary Policy Changes Do Not Necessarily Render Eighth Amendment Prisoners' Conditions of Confinement Claims Moot

Date: Mar 25, 2017

Porter v. Clarke: Voluntary Policy Changes Do Not Necessarily Render Eighth Amendment Prisoners' Conditions of Confinement Claims Moot Introduction In Porter v. Clarke, the United States Court of...

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: Fourth Circuit Vacates Dismissal in Custis v. Davis

Date: Mar 24, 2017

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: Fourth Circuit Vacates Dismissal in Custis v. Davis Introduction Custis v. Davis is a pivotal case from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth...

Affirmation of ACCA Application in United States v. McDonald: A Comprehensive Analysis

Date: Mar 10, 2017

Affirmation of ACCA Application in United States v. McDonald: A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction The case of United States of America v. Dominic Xavier McDonald, 850 F.3d 640 (4th Cir. 2017),...

Fourth Circuit Upholds USCIS Discretion in Denying I-130 Petitions Based on Criminal History

Date: Mar 9, 2017

Fourth Circuit Upholds USCIS Discretion in Denying I-130 Petitions Based on Criminal History Introduction In Robert S. Roland; Wan Hang Gloria Chan v. United States Citizenship and Immigration...

Strict Standard for Comparators in Title VII Race Discrimination Claims Upheld: Hurst v. District of Columbia

Date: Mar 8, 2017

Strict Standard for Comparators in Title VII Race Discrimination Claims Upheld: Hurst v. District of Columbia Introduction Hurst v. District of Columbia is a notable case adjudicated by the United...

Affirmation of Conviction in United States v. Powell: Juror Ambiguity and the Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Standard

Date: Mar 2, 2017

Affirmation of Conviction in United States v. Powell: Juror Ambiguity and the Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Standard Introduction The case of United States v. Marvin W. Powell (850 F.3d 145)...

Enhancing Deaf Rights in Corrections: Heyer v. United States Bureau of Prisons

Date: Feb 24, 2017

Enhancing Deaf Rights in Corrections: Heyer v. United States Bureau of Prisons Introduction The case Thomas Heyer, Plaintiff-Appellant, and Robert Paul Boyd, Plaintiff, v. United States Bureau of...

Residual Functional Capacity Determination in Disability Claims: Cuffee v. Berryhill

Date: Feb 24, 2017

Residual Functional Capacity Determination in Disability Claims: Cuffee v. Berryhill Introduction The case Denise Cuffee v. Nancy A. Berryhill deliberated before the United States Court of Appeals...

Affirmation of Maryland Firearm Safety Act: Upholding Restrictions on Assault Weapons and Large-Capacity Magazines

Date: Feb 22, 2017

Affirmation of Maryland Firearm Safety Act: Upholding Restrictions on Assault Weapons and Large-Capacity Magazines Introduction The case of Kolbe v. Hogan revolves around the constitutionality of...

Public Employment and Conflict of Interest: Comprehensive Analysis of Loftus v. Bobzien

Date: Feb 9, 2017

Public Employment and Conflict of Interest: Comprehensive Analysis of Loftus v. Bobzien Introduction The case of Nancy Loftus v. David Bobzien, adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for...

Gray v. Ballard: Affirmation of Timeliness Doctrine in Habeas Corpus Petitions

Date: Feb 9, 2017

Gray v. Ballard: Affirmation of Timeliness Doctrine in Habeas Corpus Petitions Introduction Gray v. Ballard, 848 F.3d 318 (4th Cir. 2017), is a significant case in the realm of federal habeas corpus...

Fourth Circuit Upholds Article III Standing Requirements in Privacy Act Data Breach Cases

Date: Feb 7, 2017

Fourth Circuit Upholds Article III Standing Requirements in Privacy Act Data Breach Cases Introduction The case of Richard G. Beck et al. v. Robert A. McDonald et al. (848 F.3d 262) adjudicated by...

Refining Probable Cause in Arrest Warrants: Comprehensive Analysis of Smith v. Munday

Date: Feb 4, 2017

Refining Probable Cause in Arrest Warrants: Comprehensive Analysis of Smith v. Munday Introduction In the landmark case of April Smith v. Jason Munday et al. (848 F.3d 248), decided by the United...

Iraq Middle Market Development Foundation v. Alharmoosh: Balancing Arbitration Clauses and Foreign Judgment Recognition

Date: Feb 3, 2017

Iraq Middle Market Development Foundation v. Alharmoosh: Balancing Arbitration Clauses and Foreign Judgment Recognition Introduction The case of Iraq Middle Market Development Foundation v. Mohammad...

Affirmation of Carjacking as a Crime of Violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c): United States v. Jamaal Eugene Evans

Date: Feb 3, 2017

Affirmation of Carjacking as a Crime of Violence under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c): United States v. Jamaal Eugene Evans Introduction The case United States of America v. Jamaal Eugene Evans (848 F.3d 242,...

Fourth Circuit Strengthens Daubert Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Exclusion of Unreliable Expert Evidence

Date: Feb 2, 2017

Fourth Circuit Strengthens Daubert Standards in Product Liability Litigation: Exclusion of Unreliable Expert Evidence Introduction The case of Howard E. Nease; Nancy Nease v. Ford Motor Company...

ERISA §502(a) Complete Preemption Affirmed in Prince v. Sears Holdings Corp.

Date: Jan 28, 2017

ERISA §502(a) Complete Preemption Affirmed in Prince v. Sears Holdings Corp. Introduction The case of Billy E. Prince, indi v. Sears Holdings Corporation, decided by the United States Court of...