7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Clarifying the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine and Summary Judgment Standards: Crawford v. Countrywide Home Loans

Date: Jul 22, 2011

Clarifying the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine and Summary Judgment Standards: Crawford v. Countrywide Home Loans Introduction In L.V. Crawford and Yvette Crawford v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 647 F.3d...

Timely Service of Process: Cardenas v. City of Chicago Establishes Strict Adherence to Rule 4(m)

Date: Jul 21, 2011

Timely Service of Process: Cardenas v. City of Chicago Establishes Strict Adherence to Rule 4(m) Introduction Maria Cardenas, et al. v. City of Chicago, 646 F.3d 1001 (7th Cir. 2011) is a pivotal...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Luster v. Illinois Department of Corrections Establishes Rigorous Standards for Prima Facie Discrimination Cases

Date: Jul 20, 2011

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Luster v. Illinois Department of Corrections Establishes Rigorous Standards for Prima Facie Discrimination Cases Introduction In Milton Luster v. Illinois...

Reedsburg Utility Commission v. Grede Foundries: Narrowing Automatic Stay Exceptions for Municipal Liens

Date: Jul 14, 2011

Reedsburg Utility Commission v. Grede Foundries: Narrowing Automatic Stay Exceptions for Municipal Liens Introduction Reedsburg Utility Commission v. Grede Foundries, Inc., 651 F.3d 786 (7th Cir....

Failure to Establish Similarly Situated Comparators in §1983 Equal Protection Claims: Insights from Harvey v. Town of Merrillville

Date: Jul 12, 2011

Failure to Establish Similarly Situated Comparators in §1983 Equal Protection Claims: Insights from Harvey v. Town of Merrillville Introduction In Harvey, Jr., et al. v. Town of Merrillville, 649...

Seventh Circuit Upholds Statute of Limitations in § 1983 Conspiracy Claims: Logan v. Wilkins

Date: Jul 9, 2011

Seventh Circuit Upholds Statute of Limitations in § 1983 Conspiracy Claims: Logan v. Wilkins Introduction In the case of John A. Logan v. Donna Wilkins, M.D., et al. (644 F.3d 577), the United States...

Waiver of Appeal Rights Due to Failure to Respond to Motions to Dismiss: Insights from Alioto v. Town of Lisbon

Date: Jul 8, 2011

Waiver of Appeal Rights Due to Failure to Respond to Motions to Dismiss: Insights from Alioto v. Town of Lisbon Introduction In the case of Gaetano "Tom" Alioto v. Town of Lisbon, the United States...

Affirmation of Qualified Immunity in Resisting Arrest: Brooks v. City of Aurora

Date: Jul 7, 2011

Affirmation of Qualified Immunity in Resisting Arrest: Brooks v. City of Aurora Introduction In the case of Michael A. Brooks v. City of Aurora, Illinois, et al., adjudicated by the United States...

Precedential Importance of Second Amendment Protections on Firing Range Bans: An Analysis of Ezell v. City of Chicago

Date: Jul 7, 2011

Precedential Importance of Second Amendment Protections on Firing Range Bans: An Analysis of Ezell v. City of Chicago Introduction The case of Rhonda Ezell, et al. v. City of Chicago (651 F.3d 684,...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Time Warner Cable v. Davis: Implications for Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Claims

Date: Jul 6, 2011

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Time Warner Cable v. Davis: Implications for Racial Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Introduction The case of Roberthenry Davis, Sr. v. Time Warner Cable of...

Affirmative Defense of Regulatory Violations in Promissory Note Litigation: Costello v. Grundon

Date: Jun 29, 2011

Affirmative Defense of Regulatory Violations in Promissory Note Litigation: Costello v. Grundon Introduction The case of John W. Costello, as Litigation Trustee Under the Comdisco Litigation Trust,...

Establishing Probable Cause in Malicious Prosecution: Analysis of Holland v. City of Chicago

Date: Jun 24, 2011

Establishing Probable Cause in Malicious Prosecution: Analysis of Holland v. City of Chicago Introduction Holland v. City of Chicago is a landmark case adjudicated by the United States Court of...

Vitrano v. United States: Clarifying AEDPA's Restrictions on §2255 Motions

Date: Jun 22, 2011

Vitrano v. United States: Clarifying AEDPA's Restrictions on §2255 Motions Introduction Vitrano v. United States, 643 F.3d 229 (7th Cir. 2011), is a pivotal case that addresses the complexities...

Affirmation of Conviction in United States v. Chambers: Establishing Standards for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

Date: Jun 17, 2011

Affirmation of Conviction in United States v. Chambers: Establishing Standards for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Introduction In the case of UNITED STATES of America v. Jeffrey Dean Chambers, heard...

Seventh Circuit Clarifies Rule 60(b)(4) for Vacating Default Judgments on Personal Jurisdiction Grounds

Date: Jun 16, 2011

Seventh Circuit Clarifies Rule 60(b)(4) for Vacating Default Judgments on Personal Jurisdiction Grounds Introduction In the case of PHILOS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. v. PHILOS D, INC., et al., the United...

Public Employee Speech and Retaliation: Insights from Wackett v. City of Beaver Dam

Date: Jun 14, 2011

Public Employee Speech and Retaliation: Insights from Wackett v. City of Beaver Dam Introduction Wackett v. City of Beaver Dam, 642 F.3d 578 (7th Cir. 2011), is a pivotal case addressing the...

Comprehensive Commentary on Ellis v. CCA of Tennessee LLC: Affirmation of Summary Judgment on Discrimination Claims

Date: Jun 10, 2011

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Ellis v. CCA of Tennessee LLC: Implications for Hostile Work Environment Claims Introduction The case of Harriett Ellis, et al. v. CCA of Tennessee LLC, adjudicated...

Merger Doctrine and Copyright Preemption: Analysis of Ho v. Taflove

Date: Jun 7, 2011

Merger Doctrine and Copyright Preemption: Analysis of Ho v. Taflove Introduction Ho v. Taflove, 648 F.3d 489 (7th Cir. 2011), is a pivotal case addressing the intersection of copyright law and state...

Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Under Title VII: Seventh Circuit Upholds Employer's Defense in Vance v. Ball State University

Date: Jun 4, 2011

Hostile Work Environment and Retaliation Under Title VII: Seventh Circuit Upholds Employer's Defense in Vance v. Ball State University Introduction In the seminal case of Maetta VANCE,...

Credibility Determinations in Social Security Disability Claims: Insights from McKinzey v. Astrue

Date: Jun 4, 2011

Credibility Determinations in Social Security Disability Claims: Insights from McKinzey v. Astrue Introduction The case of Debra McKINZEY v. Michael J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security (641...