7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Limitations on Tortious Interference Claims in Employment: Insights from Pierce v. Zoetis, Inc.

Date: Mar 16, 2016

Limitations on Tortious Interference Claims in Employment: Insights from Pierce v. Zoetis, Inc. Introduction Pierce v. Zoetis, Inc. is a pivotal case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for...

Affirming Summary Judgment in Reverse Discrimination and Retaliation Claims: Formella v. Brennan

Date: Mar 11, 2016

Affirming Summary Judgment in Reverse Discrimination and Retaliation Claims: Formella v. Brennan Introduction In Robert Formella v. Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General, United States Postal Service,...

Defining "Employer" Under the ADEA: Insights from Bridge v. New Holland Logansport

Date: Mar 10, 2016

Defining "Employer" Under the ADEA: Insights from Bridge v. New Holland Logansport Introduction The case of William Bridge v. New Holland Logansport, Inc. (815 F.3d 356) serves as a pivotal...

Boston v. U.S. Steel: Affirming Summary Judgment on Retaliation Claims Under Title VII and ADEA

Date: Mar 5, 2016

Boston v. U.S. Steel: Affirming Summary Judgment on Retaliation Claims Under Title VII and ADEA Introduction Boston v. U.S. Steel Corporation (816 F.3d 455) is a significant appellate decision by the...

Exclusive Jurisdiction of ICC Over ARES Reparation Claims: Analysis of Peggy Zahn v. North American Power & Gas, LLC

Date: Mar 5, 2016

Exclusive Jurisdiction of ICC Over ARES Reparation Claims: Analysis of Peggy Zahn v. North American Power & Gas, LLC Introduction The case of Peggy Zahn v. North American Power & Gas, LLC (815 F.3d...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in I-69 Extension Case Reinforces Agency Discretion in NEPA SEIS Requirements

Date: Mar 4, 2016

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in I-69 Extension Case Reinforces Agency Discretion in NEPA SEIS Requirements Introduction The case of CITIZENS FOR APPROPRIATE RURAL ROADS, et al. v. Anthony F. Foxx,...

Procedural Default and Magistrate Judge Authority in Felony Pleas: McCoy v. United States

Date: Mar 3, 2016

Procedural Default and Magistrate Judge Authority in Felony Pleas: McCoy v. United States Introduction Christopher H. McCoy was indicted in the Southern District of Illinois on five felony child...

Statute of Limitations and Retaliatory Motive in §1983 First Amendment Retaliation Claims: Analysis of Mark Gekas v. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

Date: Mar 2, 2016

Statute of Limitations and Retaliatory Motive in §1983 First Amendment Retaliation Claims: Analysis of Mark Gekas v. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Introduction The case...

Seventh Circuit Establishes Grievance Process Unavailability as Exception to PLRA Exhaustion Requirement – Hernandez v. Dart

Date: Feb 27, 2016

Seventh Circuit Establishes Grievance Process Unavailability as Exception to PLRA Exhaustion Requirement – Hernandez v. Dart Introduction In the landmark case of Hernandez v. Dart, adjudicated by the...

Unreasonable Mistake of Law in Traffic Stops: The Stanbridge Case Sets New Precedent

Date: Feb 24, 2016

Unreasonable Mistake of Law in Traffic Stops: The Stanbridge Case Sets New Precedent Introduction In the landmark case United States of America v. LeShawn Stanbridge, 813 F.3d 1032 (7th Cir. 2016),...

Establishing Credibility of Pain in Disability Claims: Stark v. Colvin

Date: Feb 23, 2016

Establishing Credibility of Pain in Disability Claims: Stark v. Colvin Introduction In the case of Kathy Ann Stark, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security...

7th Circuit Reverses SSI Disability Denial Due to Improper Evaluation of New Medical Evidence and Expert Testimony

Date: Feb 10, 2016

7th Circuit Reverses SSI Disability Denial Due to Improper Evaluation of New Medical Evidence and Expert Testimony Introduction In Debbie A. Stage v. Carolyn W. Colvin, the United States Court of...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Case: Bagwe v. Sedgwick

Date: Jan 27, 2016

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Employment Discrimination Case: Bagwe v. Sedgwick Introduction In Ratna Bagwe v. Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc., 811 F.3d 866 (7th Cir. 2016), the United...

Successive Habeas Corpus Petitions and Procedural Default: Flores–Ramirez v. Foster

Date: Jan 23, 2016

Successive Habeas Corpus Petitions and Procedural Default: Flores–Ramirez v. Foster Introduction The case of Cesar Flores–Ramirez v. Brian Foster, decided on January 22, 2016, by the United States...

Incorporation of Attorney's Fees Provisions under the CISG: Refusal to Impose Unilateral Contract Modifications

Date: Jan 22, 2016

Incorporation of Attorney's Fees Provisions under the CISG: Refusal to Impose Unilateral Contract Modifications Introduction The case of VLM Food Trading International, Inc. v. Illinois Trading...

Preemption of State Wage Laws by Federal Transportation Regulations: The BeavEx, Inc. Case

Date: Jan 20, 2016

Preemption of State Wage Laws by Federal Transportation Regulations: The BeavEx, Inc. Case Introduction The legal landscape governing employment classifications and wage protections has become...

Loveless v. Colvin: Upholding ALJ's Credibility Findings in Social Security Disability Claims

Date: Jan 14, 2016

Loveless v. Colvin: Upholding ALJ's Credibility Findings in Social Security Disability Claims Introduction Loveless v. Colvin is a pivotal case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Narrow Interpretation of "Wages" Under the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act Affirmed in Enger v. Chicago Carriage Cab Corp

Date: Jan 12, 2016

Narrow Interpretation of "Wages" Under the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act Affirmed in Enger v. Chicago Carriage Cab Corp Introduction In Enger et al. v. Chicago Carriage Cab Corp. et al.,...

First Amendment Retaliation in Public Employment: Kubiak v. City of Chicago

Date: Jan 12, 2016

First Amendment Retaliation in Public Employment: Kubiak v. City of Chicago Introduction In Kubiak v. City of Chicago, 810 F.3d 476 (7th Cir. 2016), the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh...

Williams v. Brooks: Affirmation of Probable Cause and Reasonable Force in Traffic Stop Arrests

Date: Jan 6, 2016

Williams v. Brooks: Affirmation of Probable Cause and Reasonable Force in Traffic Stop Arrests Introduction In the case of Tracy Williams v. Brandon Brooks et al., the United States Court of Appeals...