7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Clarifying Protected Property Interests in Employment: Cole v. Milwaukee Area Technical College District

Date: Feb 25, 2011

Clarifying Protected Property Interests in Employment: Cole v. Milwaukee Area Technical College District Introduction The case of Darnell E. Cole v. Milwaukee Area Technical College District...

Reevaluating Qualified Immunity: Insights from I v. N. Hernandez et al., 634 F.3d 906 (7th Cir. 2011)

Date: Feb 25, 2011

Reevaluating Qualified Immunity: Insights from I v. N. Hernandez et al., 634 F.3d 906 (7th Cir. 2011) Introduction The case I v. N. Hernandez et al., decided by the United States Court of Appeals for...

Absolute Immunity and the Heck Doctrine: Insights from Polzin v. Gage

Date: Feb 19, 2011

Absolute Immunity and the Heck Doctrine: Insights from Polzin v. Gage Introduction Gerald L. Polzin v. Michael W. Gage, et al., 636 F.3d 834 (7th Cir. 2011), is a pivotal case that delves into the...

Righi v. SMC Corporation: Clarifying FMLA Notice Requirements and Employer Enforcement

Date: Feb 15, 2011

Righi v. SMC Corporation: Clarifying FMLA Notice Requirements and Employer Enforcement Introduction Righi v. SMC Corporation of America, 632 F.3d 404 (7th Cir. 2011), involves an employment dispute...

Kartman v. State Farm: Seventh Circuit Sets New Precedent on Class Action Certification for Injunctive Relief in Insurance Disputes

Date: Feb 15, 2011

Kartman v. State Farm: Seventh Circuit Sets New Precedent on Class Action Certification for Injunctive Relief in Insurance Disputes Introduction Cynthia Kartman, et al. v. State Farm Mutual...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in False Arrest Claim under Section 1983: Randy Mucha v. Village of Oak Brook

Date: Feb 15, 2011

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in False Arrest Claim under Section 1983: Randy Mucha v. Village of Oak Brook Introduction The case of Randy Mucha v. Village of Oak Brook addresses significant issues...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in First Amendment §1983 Claim: Political Affiliation and Employment Demotion

Date: Feb 15, 2011

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in First Amendment §1983 Claim: Political Affiliation and Employment Demotion Introduction The case of Pablo Delapaz and Michael Sarkauskas v. Robert Richardson (634...

Municipal Police Departments Not Suable Under 42 U.S.C. §1983 in Indiana: The Sow v. Fortville Police Department Decision

Date: Feb 12, 2011

Municipal Police Departments Not Suable Under 42 U.S.C. §1983 in Indiana: The Sow v. Fortville Police Department Decision Introduction The case of Mouhamadou M. Sow v. Fortville Police Department et...

Cat's Paw Theory Reinforced in Schandelmeier-Bartels v. Chicago Park District

Date: Feb 9, 2011

Cat's Paw Theory Reinforced in Schandelmeier-Bartels v. Chicago Park District 1. Introduction In the landmark case Cathleen Schandelmeier-Bartels v. Chicago Park District (634 F.3d 372), the United...

Lawful Detention of Visitors During Execution of Search Warrants: United States v. Bullock

Date: Feb 2, 2011

Lawful Detention of Visitors During Execution of Search Warrants: United States v. Bullock 1. Introduction United States v. Derrick L. Bullock, 632 F.3d 1004 (7th Cir. 2011), addresses critical...

Deliberate Indifference in Prison Medical Care: Establishing New Precedent in Roe v. Elyea

Date: Jan 29, 2011

Deliberate Indifference in Prison Medical Care: Establishing New Precedent in Roe v. Elyea Introduction Roe v. Elyea, 631 F.3d 843 (7th Cir. 2011), marks a significant development in the...

Habeas Corpus Limitations in Challenging Prison Medical Care: Robinson v. Sherrod

Date: Jan 27, 2011

Habeas Corpus Limitations in Challenging Prison Medical Care: Robinson v. Sherrod Introduction In Charles R. Robinson, IV v. William A. Sherrod (631 F.3d 839, 7th Cir. 2011), the United States Court...

Adhering to Plausibility Standards in Civil Rights Litigation: ATKINS v. CITY OF CHICAGO

Date: Jan 26, 2011

Adhering to Plausibility Standards in Civil Rights Litigation: ATKINS v. CITY OF CHICAGO Introduction The case of Brandie Atkins, as administrator of the estate of William O. Atkins, deceased, versus...

Seventh Circuit Clarifies Proper Application of §1782 Discovery for Foreign Litigation

Date: Jan 25, 2011

Seventh Circuit Clarifies Proper Application of §1782 Discovery for Foreign Litigation Introduction The case of HERAEUS KULZER, GmbH v. BIOMET, INC. presents a significant examination of the...

Limits on Class Certification under ERISA for Defined-Contribution Plans: Analysis of Spano and Beesley v. Boeing and International Paper

Date: Jan 22, 2011

Limits on Class Certification under ERISA for Defined-Contribution Plans: Analysis of Spano and Beesley v. Boeing and International Paper Introduction The cases of Spano, et al. v. The Boeing...

Pleading Standards in Fraud Claims: Insights from Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corporation Retiree Medical Benefits Trust v. Walgreen Company

Date: Jan 22, 2011

Pleading Standards in Fraud Claims: Insights from Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corporation Retiree Medical Benefits Trust v. Walgreen Company Introduction The case of Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corporation...

Punzio v. Astrue: Upholding the Weight of Treating Psychiatrists in Disability Determinations

Date: Jan 22, 2011

Punzio v. Astrue: Upholding the Weight of Treating Psychiatrists in Disability Determinations Introduction The case of Patricia Punzio v. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security revolves...

Affirmation of ERISA Section 404(c) Safe Harbor in Defined-Contribution Plans: Motorola v. Appellants

Date: Jan 22, 2011

Affirmation of ERISA Section 404(c) Safe Harbor in Defined-Contribution Plans: Motorola v. Appellants Introduction The consolidated cases of Bruce G. Howell, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Motorola, Inc., et...

Res Judicata in Successive Federal Discrimination Claims: Czarniecki v. City of Chicago

Date: Jan 22, 2011

Res Judicata in Successive Federal Discrimination Claims: Czarniecki v. City of Chicago Introduction Wojciech Czarniecki filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Chicago, alleging wrongful...

Res Judicata Reinforced: Seventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal in Arlin-Golf v. Village of Arlington Heights

Date: Jan 22, 2011

Res Judicata Reinforced: Seventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal in Arlin-Golf v. Village of Arlington Heights Introduction The case of Arlin-Golf, LLC, Ronald Popp, and Victor Valenti v. The Village of...