Cost-Saving Measures and “Understaffing” Allegations Are Not Enough: Evidence of a Systemic Breakdown Is Required for Monell Liability (and Officers May Rely on Medical Judgment) Case: Steven...
Substance over Caption in Post-Judgment Motions and “Outside-the-Four-Corners” Loan-Modification Promises as Oral Contracts Introduction In Amy Schneider v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 25-2163 (7th...
Common-Law First Use Defeats Federal Registration; Seventh Circuit Reaffirms Presumptive Prejudgment Interest Under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(a) 1. Introduction Grunt Style LLC v. TWD, LLC (7th Cir. June 10,...
“Force Only as a Last Resort” Prison Use-of-Force Rules Are Not Unconstitutionally Vague as Applied to Officers I. Introduction In Derek Hundley v. Dee Dee Brookhart, the U.S. Court of Appeals for...
Illinois Minimum Wage Law Overtime: No Portal-to-Portal “Preliminary Activities” Exclusion and No General “Benefit of the Employer” Limitation Case: Lisa Johnson v. Amazon.com Services LLC (7th Cir....
Meaningless Medicaid Bills Do Not Create Article III Standing for Prospective Injunctive Relief I. Introduction In Salvatore Arcidiacono v. Elizabeth Whitehorn (7th Cir. June 8, 2026), four Illinois...
18 U.S.C. § 1589 Reaches Counties: Civil Immigration Detainee Labor Cannot Be Coerced by Solitary Confinement Introduction In Aleksey Ruderman v. Kenosha County, Wisconsin, et al. (7th Cir. June 5,...
Seventh Circuit: No Qualified First Amendment Right for Press or Public to Witness State Executions Absent Historical Openness I. Introduction Associated Press, et al. v. Ron Neal and Lloyd Arnold...
Arbitration and Delegation Fail for Lack of Mutual Assent When They Require Application of Nonexistent (and Unilaterally Inventable) Tribal Contract Law I. Introduction In Joshua Harris v. W6LS,...
Adam Walsh Act “No-Risk” Determinations Are Unreviewable in Both Outcome and Method; Constitutional/Legal Challenges Are Channeled to Removal Petitions for Review I. Introduction Anqi Liu v....
Title VII Promotion Claims: Pretext Requires Materially Comparable Comparators, and Internal Complaints Must Clearly Allege Sex Discrimination to Be Protected Activity 1. Introduction In Bowei Xi v....
Drug-Premises Enhancement in a Residence: “Primary Use” Shown by Tools of the Trade, Drug Quantity, and Context; Minor Sentencing Misstatements Harmless Absent Reliance Case: United States v. Maurice...
Revocation Sentencing After Esteras: Incorporating “New-Sentence” Reasoning Is Permissible When Revocation Rests on Public Protection and Violation Seriousness Introduction United States v. Thomas...
Strategic Delay and “Grab Bag” Pleading Can Justify Denial of Leave to Add Title VII Claims at the Pleading Stage Introduction James Engstrom v. United Airlines, Inc. (7th Cir. June 1, 2026) arises...
Rule 46 Sanctions for AI-Hallucinated Appellate Briefs: Counsel’s Nondelegable Duty to Verify Citations, Quotations, and Record Facts Case: Heriberto Perez-Castillo v. Todd W. Blanche (7th Cir. June...
Deference Under Connick/Pickering Turns on Mission, Not a “Paramilitary” Label: Coast Guard Auxiliary May Discipline Members Who Speak While Holding Themselves Out in Uniform 1. Introduction James C....
Delay-of-Treatment Eighth Amendment Claims Require Verifying Medical Evidence; No Monell Liability Without an Underlying Constitutional Violation 1. Introduction In Leon Barnes v. Wexford Health...
Joinder (Not Substitution) of an Adult SSI Claimant When a Childhood Application Reaches the Court of Appeals Case: Jamie Cosenza v. Frank Bisignano, No. 21-1970 (7th Cir. June 1, 2026)...
Firestone Deference Extends to LMRA § 301 Trust-Agreement Interpretation; MPPAA § 1401 Bars Pre-Arbitration Withdrawal-Date Declaratory Claims Case: Penske Truck Leasing, LP v. Central States...
Hague Service Convention Exclusivity: Email Service on China-Based Defendants Is Prohibited Where the Convention Applies 1. Introduction Kangol LLC v. Hangzhou Chuanyue Silk Import & Export Co., Ltd....