7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Smith v. Bray: Evaluating Individual Liability for Retaliation under 42 U.S.C. §1981

Date: May 25, 2012

Smith v. Bray: Evaluating Individual Liability for Retaliation under 42 U.S.C. §1981 Introduction The case of Darrel Smith v. Denise Bray, adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Affirmation of Batson Standards: 7th Circuit Addresses Racial Discrimination in Peremptory Challenges

Date: May 24, 2012

Affirmation of Batson Standards: 7th Circuit Addresses Racial Discrimination in Peremptory Challenges Introduction The case of James Harris v. Marcus Hardy, adjudicated by the United States Court of...

Kidwell v. Eisenhauer: Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Retaliation Claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983

Date: May 23, 2012

Kidwell v. Eisenhauer: Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Retaliation Claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Introduction Kenneth Kidwell, a sixteen-year veteran sergeant with the Danville, Illinois police...

Seventh Circuit Upholds Jury Credibility Findings in Fourth Amendment False Arrest Claim

Date: May 22, 2012

Seventh Circuit Upholds Jury Credibility Findings in Fourth Amendment False Arrest Claim Introduction In the case of Sarah Whitehead v. Lawrence J. Bond et al., decided on May 21, 2012, the United...

Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity Upheld in Contracts Clause Challenge: Council 31 v. Quinn

Date: May 18, 2012

Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity Upheld in Contracts Clause Challenge: Council 31 v. Quinn Introduction In Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL–CIO...

Navigating 'Class-of-One' Claims under the Equal Protection Clause: Insights from Del Marcelle v. Brown County Corp.

Date: May 18, 2012

Navigating 'Class-of-One' Claims under the Equal Protection Clause: Insights from Del Marcelle v. Brown County Corp. Introduction In the case of Lewis D. Del Marcelle v. Brown County Corp., decided...

Statute of Limitations Tolling in §1983 Claims: Insights from Gomez v. Randle

Date: May 15, 2012

Statute of Limitations Tolling in §1983 Claims: Insights from Gomez v. Randle Introduction In the landmark case of Raul C. Gomez v. Michael P. Randle, 680 F.3d 859 (7th Cir. 2012), the United States...

Refining Pleading Standards for § 1983 and RICO Claims: Analysis of SANTANA v. COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW

Date: May 10, 2012

Refining Pleading Standards for § 1983 and RICO Claims: Analysis of SANTANA v. COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW Introduction Victor SANTANA v. COOK COUNTY BOARD OF REVIEW is a significant case decided by...

7th Circuit Upholds Administrative Exemption for Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives under FLSA

Date: May 9, 2012

7th Circuit Upholds Administrative Exemption for Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives under FLSA Introduction The case of Susan Schaefer–LaRose v. Eli Lilly & Company, along with associated cases...

7th Circuit Establishes First Amendment Protections for Open Audio Recording of Police

Date: May 9, 2012

7th Circuit Establishes First Amendment Protections for Open Audio Recording of Police Introduction In the landmark case American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois v. Anita Alvarez, adjudicated by...

Seventh Circuit Affirms Jury Verdict Under 'Manifest Weight of the Evidence' Standard

Date: May 8, 2012

Seventh Circuit Affirms Jury Verdict Under 'Manifest Weight of the Evidence' Standard Introduction The case of Manuel Galvan v. Thomas Norberg, et al. (678 F.3d 581) presents significant...

Reaffirming Employer Rights in At-Will Termination and Retaliation Claims: Hunt v. DaVita, Inc.

Date: May 5, 2012

Reaffirming Employer Rights in At-Will Termination and Retaliation Claims: Hunt v. DaVita, Inc. Introduction Hunt v. DaVita, Inc. (680 F.3d 775) is a seminal case adjudicated by the United States...

Personal Accountability Essential for §1983 Claims: 7th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Kuhn v. Goodlow

Date: May 3, 2012

Personal Accountability Essential for §1983 Claims: 7th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Kuhn v. Goodlow Introduction In the case of Hans C. Kuhn v. Thaddeus Goodlow, Building Commissioner, City...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Ahmad Jajeh v. County of Cook: Clarifying Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Under Title VII

Date: May 3, 2012

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Ahmad Jajeh v. County of Cook: Clarifying Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Under Title VII Introduction The case of Ahmad Jajeh v. County of Cook centers...

Reaffirming Prosecutorial Immunity in First Amendment Retaliation Claims: Da v. D. L. Lewis

Date: Apr 21, 2012

Reaffirming Prosecutorial Immunity in First Amendment Retaliation Claims: Da v. D. L. Lewis Introduction Da v. D. L. Lewis, 677 F.3d 324 (7th Cir. 2012), is a pivotal case that delves into the...

Dischargeability of Willful and Malicious Injuries in Bankruptcy: Insights from Teri Jendusa–Nicolai v. Larsen

Date: Apr 19, 2012

Dischargeability of Willful and Malicious Injuries in Bankruptcy: Insights from Teri Jendusa–Nicolai v. Larsen Introduction The case of Teri Jendusa–Nicolai, et al., Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. David...

Aggregation of Drug Quantities and Certificate of Appealability in Sentencing: United States v. Fleming

Date: Apr 18, 2012

Aggregation of Drug Quantities and Certificate of Appealability in Sentencing: United States v. Fleming Introduction United States v. Kimani Lanier Fleming, 676 F.3d 621 (7th Cir. 2012), is a pivotal...

Ennenga v. Stars: Affirmation of Legal Malpractice and Fiduciary Duty Principles in Estate Planning

Date: Apr 18, 2012

Ennenga v. Stars: Affirmation of Legal Malpractice and Fiduciary Duty Principles in Estate Planning Introduction The case of George Ennenga, individually and as father and next friend of India...

Affirmation of Non-Discrimination in Employment: Dass v. Chicago Board of Education

Date: Apr 13, 2012

Affirmation of Non-Discrimination in Employment: Dass v. Chicago Board of Education Introduction The case of Veronica Dass versus the Chicago Board of Education explores critical issues surrounding...

Admissibility of Expert Testimony in Conspiracy Cases: Insights from Boros v. United States

Date: Apr 7, 2012

Admissibility of Expert Testimony in Conspiracy Cases: Insights from Boros v. United States Introduction The case of United States of America v. Ricky Boros (668 F.3d 901, 7th Cir. 2012) serves as a...