6th Circuit Case Commentaries

“Fair-Chance” Actuarial Estimates: The Sixth Circuit’s 50/50 Rule for ERISA Withdrawal Liability — Ace-Saginaw Paving Co. v. Operating Engineers Local 324 Pension Fund

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“Fair-Chance” Actuarial Estimates: The Sixth Circuit’s 50/50 Rule for ERISA Withdrawal Liability — Ace-Saginaw Paving Co. v. Operating Engineers Local 324 Pension Fund Introduction Ace-Saginaw Paving...

“The 50/50 Best-Estimate Rule”: Commentary on Ace-Saginaw Paving Co. v. Operating Engineers Local 324 Pension Fund

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“The 50/50 Best-Estimate Rule” under ERISA § 1393: A Comprehensive Commentary on Ace-Saginaw Paving Co. v. Operating Engineers Local 324 Pension Fund, 25 F.4th 1288 (6th Cir. 2025) Introduction...

No Associational Standing Without a Direct Nexus: Sixth Circuit Bars Forum-Shopping by Regional Trade Associations

Date: Aug 13, 2025

No Associational Standing Without a Direct Nexus: Sixth Circuit Bars Forum-Shopping by Regional Trade Associations Introduction In Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., No....

“Direct-Government-Notice” Rule for Pleading Manufacturer Knowledge – A Commentary on Jodi Tapply v. Whirlpool Corp., 25a0212p.06 (6th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 13, 2025

“Direct-Government-Notice” Rule for Pleading Manufacturer Knowledge Commentary on Jodi Tapply v. Whirlpool Corp., Sixth Circuit, No. 23-1666 (Aug. 6 2025) 1. Introduction In Jodi Tapply v. Whirlpool...

Limiting Retributive Considerations in Supervised-Release Revocations: United States v. Hoyle (6th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 13, 2025

Limiting Retributive Considerations in Supervised-Release Revocations: United States v. Hoyle (6th Cir. 2025) 1. Introduction On 6 August 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth...

United States v. Hoyle: Post-Esteras Prohibition on § 3553(a)(2)(A) Factors in Supervised-Release Revocation Sentences

Date: Aug 13, 2025

United States v. Hoyle: Post-Esteras Prohibition on § 3553(a)(2)(A) Factors in Supervised-Release Revocation Sentences 1. Introduction United States v. Malcolm L. Hoyle, Nos. 23-3977/3978 (6th Cir....

United States v. Abbott: Sixth Circuit Broadens Prosecutorial Latitude on Joinder and 404(b) Intent Evidence in Civil-Rights Prosecutions

Date: Aug 13, 2025

United States v. Abbott: Sixth Circuit Broadens Prosecutorial Latitude on Joinder and 404(b) Intent Evidence in Civil-Rights Prosecutions 1. Introduction In United States v. Tanner M. Abbott (6th...

Clarifying Standing and Upholding Consent-Conditioned Rental Inspections: The Sixth Circuit’s Decision in Herschfus v. City of Oak Park (2025)

Date: Aug 7, 2025

Clarifying Standing and Upholding Consent-Conditioned Rental Inspections: The Sixth Circuit’s Decision in Herschfus v. City of Oak Park (2025) 1. Introduction In Brian H. Herschfus v. City of Oak...

“No Implied Release without Express Words”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies UCC § 9-315 and the Buyer-in-Ordinary-Course Defense in HBKY, LLC v. Elk River Export, LLC

Date: Aug 7, 2025

“No Implied Release without Express Words”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies UCC § 9-315 and the Buyer-in-Ordinary-Course Defense in HBKY, LLC v. Elk River Export, LLC I. Introduction HBKY, LLC v. Elk River...

The “Lowe Rule”: Impeachment-Only Hearsay Cannot Sustain an ELCRA Age-Discrimination Verdict

Date: Aug 7, 2025

The “Lowe Rule”: Impeachment-Only Hearsay Cannot Sustain an ELCRA Age-Discrimination Verdict Introduction Case: Kenneth James Lowe v. Walbro, LLC – United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth...

Sixth Circuit Clarifies Prosecutorial Absolute Immunity for Post-Charge Witness Preparation and Affirms Broad Release under Michigan’s WICA

Date: Aug 7, 2025

Sixth Circuit Clarifies Prosecutorial Absolute Immunity for Post-Charge Witness Preparation and Affirms Broad Release under Michigan’s WICA Introduction In Larry Smith v. Wayne County, Michigan, No....

“One Ignored Complaint Is Enough” – The Sixth Circuit’s Dual Ruling on Excessive-Force Handcuffing and Michigan Gross-Negligence Immunity

Date: Aug 7, 2025

“One Ignored Complaint Is Enough” – The Sixth Circuit’s Dual Ruling on Excessive-Force Handcuffing and Michigan Gross-Negligence Immunity Introduction Sherrell King v. City of Lincoln Park, Mich.,...

“No Accident in Self-Defense”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies that Intentional Self-Defense Shootings Are Not “Occurrences” Under Michigan Homeowner Policies

Date: Aug 7, 2025

“No Accident in Self-Defense”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies that Intentional Self-Defense Shootings Are Not “Occurrences” Under Michigan Homeowner Policies 1. Introduction State Farm Fire & Casualty Co....

“Foreseeability over Self-Defense” – Sixth Circuit Clarifies the Threshold for an “Occurrence” under Michigan Homeowner Policies

Date: Aug 6, 2025

“Foreseeability over Self-Defense” – Sixth Circuit Clarifies the Threshold for an “Occurrence” under Michigan Homeowner Policies Introduction State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. v. Daniele Giannone, Nos....

United States v. Autry: Strengthening Judicial Discretion to Depart Upward for Category VI Offenders under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3

Date: Aug 6, 2025

United States v. Autry: Strengthening Judicial Discretion to Depart Upward for Category VI Offenders under U.S.S.G. § 4A1.3 1. Introduction The Sixth Circuit’s unpublished decision in United States...

United States v. Moore: The Sixth Circuit’s Blueprint on Judicial Neutrality, Digital-Evidence Authentication, and Expert Qualifications

Date: Aug 6, 2025

United States v. Moore: The Sixth Circuit’s Blueprint on Judicial Neutrality, Digital-Evidence Authentication, and Expert Qualifications 1. Introduction In United States v. Marchello Moore (6th Cir.,...

United States v. Pancholi: Sixth Circuit Declares Bad-Faith Is NOT Required to Exclude Surprise Defense Witnesses

Date: Aug 6, 2025

United States v. Pancholi: Sixth Circuit Declares Bad-Faith Is NOT Required to Exclude Surprise Defense Witnesses Introduction In United States v. Yogesh K. Pancholi, No. 24-1127 (Aug. 5, 2025), the...

From Possibility to Probability: Sixth Circuit Clarifies Causation Standard in Tennessee Products-Liability Actions

Date: Aug 6, 2025

From Possibility to Probability: Sixth Circuit Clarifies Causation Standard in Tennessee Products-Liability Actions Introduction This commentary examines the Sixth Circuit’s unpublished opinion in...

“No Categorical ‘Idiocy’ Exemption”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies the Boundary between Ford Competency Claims and Atkins Intellectual-Disability Claims in Successive Habeas Petitions

Date: Aug 5, 2025

“No Categorical ‘Idiocy’ Exemption”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies the Boundary between Ford Competency Claims and Atkins Intellectual-Disability Claims in Successive Habeas Petitions 1. Introduction In In...

“Statute-of-Conviction” Supremacy in First Step Act Motions: A Commentary on United States v. Ervin Junius Thornton, II (6th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 5, 2025

“Statute-of-Conviction” Supremacy in First Step Act Motions A Comprehensive Commentary on United States v. Ervin Junius Thornton, II, 6th Cir., Aug. 1 2025 I. Introduction In United States v. Ervin...