7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Unsigned Medical Reports and Comprehensive Impairment Evaluation in Disability Determinations: Terry v. Astrue

Date: Aug 29, 2009

Unsigned Medical Reports and Comprehensive Impairment Evaluation in Disability Determinations: Terry v. Astrue Introduction Lotresia TERRY v. Michael J. ASTRUE, Commissioner of Social Security is a...

Dismissal Sanction Upheld for Attorney's Willful Breach of Confidentiality Agreement

Date: Aug 28, 2009

Dismissal Sanction Upheld for Attorney's Willful Breach of Confidentiality Agreement Introduction In the case of Rhonda Salmeron v. Enterprise Recovery Systems, Inc., adjudicated on August 27, 2009,...

Affirming Bribery Conviction and Admissibility Standards: A Comprehensive Analysis of United States v. Oros

Date: Aug 26, 2009

Affirming Bribery Conviction and Admissibility Standards: A Comprehensive Analysis of United States v. Oros Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Sorin Adrian Oros, decided on...

Substantial Evidence Standard in Disability Determinations: Hopgood v. Astrue

Date: Aug 26, 2009

Substantial Evidence Standard in Disability Determinations: Hopgood v. Astrue Introduction The case Rhoda Hopgood, on behalf of LG, a minor, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of...

Seventh Circuit Establishes Precedent on Inevitable Discovery in Civil Forfeiture: United States v. Marrocco and Fallon

Date: Aug 25, 2009

Seventh Circuit Establishes Precedent on Inevitable Discovery in Civil Forfeiture: United States v. Marrocco and Fallon Introduction In the landmark case United States of America v. Nicholas P....

Affirmation of Dismissal under §1983 and Sovereign Immunity: Brooks v. Ross et al.

Date: Aug 21, 2009

Affirmation of Dismissal under §1983 and Sovereign Immunity: Brooks v. Ross et al. Introduction In Victor Brooks v. Mark Ross, et al., 578 F.3d 574 (7th Cir. 2009), Victor Brooks, a member of the...

Garcetti Reaffirmed: Limitations on First Amendment Protections for Public Employees Reporting Misconduct

Date: Aug 21, 2009

Garcetti Reaffirmed: Limitations on First Amendment Protections for Public Employees Reporting Misconduct Introduction In the case of Roger Fairley and Richard Gackowski v. Dennis Andrews, et al....

Establishing Business Necessity in Employment Evaluations: Analysis of Coffman v. Indianapolis Fire Department

Date: Aug 21, 2009

Establishing Business Necessity in Employment Evaluations: Analysis of Coffman v. Indianapolis Fire Department Introduction Coffman v. Indianapolis Fire Department is a pivotal case adjudicated by...

ERISA Attorney's Fees: Proportionality Not a Limiting Factor - Charles E. Anderson v. AB Painting and Sandblasting Inc.

Date: Aug 21, 2009

ERISA Attorney's Fees: Proportionality Not a Limiting Factor Introduction The case Charles E. Anderson, Trustee on behalf of Painters' District Council No. 30 Health and Welfare Fund, et al.,...

7th Circuit Court Reverses Summary Judgment in Gonzalez v. City of Elgin: New Insights on Probable Cause and Excessive Force under the Fourth Amendment

Date: Aug 21, 2009

7th Circuit Court Reverses Summary Judgment in Gonzalez v. City of Elgin: New Insights on Probable Cause and Excessive Force under the Fourth Amendment Introduction In Jose Gonzalez et al. v. City of...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against Veterans Affairs

Date: Aug 21, 2009

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Race Discrimination and Retaliation Claims Against Veterans Affairs Introduction In the case of Deborah Dear v. Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs (578...

ERISA Preemption and Fiduciary Duty in Employment Benefits Plans: Analysis of Sharp Electronics Corp. v. MetLife

Date: Aug 19, 2009

ERISA Preemption and Fiduciary Duty in Employment Benefits Plans: Analysis of Sharp Electronics Corp. v. MetLife Introduction The case of Sharp Electronics Corporation v. Metropolitan Life Insurance...

State Action Doctrine in §1983 Claims: Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Service

Date: Aug 19, 2009

State Action Doctrine in §1983 Claims: Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Service Introduction Rodriguez v. Plymouth Ambulance Service, 577 F.3d 816 (7th Cir. 2009), is a pivotal case that explores the...

Affirmation of Class-of-One Equal Protection Claims in Policing Post-Engquist: Hanes v. Zurick Analysis

Date: Aug 19, 2009

Affirmation of Class-of-One Equal Protection Claims in Policing Post-Engquist: Hanes v. Zurick Analysis Introduction Hanes v. Zurick, 578 F.3d 491 (7th Cir. 2009), is a pivotal case in the realm of...

Seventh Circuit Establishes Objective Standard for FDCPA Violations in Debt Collection Notices

Date: Aug 18, 2009

Seventh Circuit Establishes Objective Standard for FDCPA Violations in Debt Collection Notices Introduction The case of Alice A. Ruth and Marylou HAHN v. TRIUMPH PARTNERSHIPS, et al. presented before...

Strict Scrutiny of Rule 60(b) Relief in Voluntary Dismissal Cases: Eskridge v. Cook County

Date: Aug 18, 2009

Strict Scrutiny of Rule 60(b) Relief in Voluntary Dismissal Cases: Eskridge v. Cook County Introduction The case of Lanell Eskridge and Margaret Eskridge v. Cook County (577 F.3d 806) heard by the...

Survivability of §1983 Claims under Indiana Law: Susan M. Bentz v. City of Kendallville

Date: Aug 15, 2009

Survivability of §1983 Claims under Indiana Law: Susan M. Bentz v. City of Kendallville Introduction The case of Susan M. Bentz v. City of Kendallville et al. (577 F.3d 776) addresses critical issues...

Municipal Immunity and the Requirements for §1983 Claims: Analysis of Justice v. Town of Cicero

Date: Aug 15, 2009

Municipal Immunity and the Requirements for §1983 Claims: Analysis of Justice v. Town of Cicero Introduction In the case of John Justice and Mike Woodward, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. Town of Cicero,...

Post-Removal Joinder of Nondiverse Defendants and Remand: Schur v. L.A. Weight Loss Centers, Inc.

Date: Aug 15, 2009

Post-Removal Joinder of Nondiverse Defendants and Remand: Schur v. L.A. Weight Loss Centers, Inc. Introduction Schur v. L.A. Weight Loss Centers, Inc., 577 F.3d 752 (7th Cir. 2009), presents a...

UNITED STATES v. Pansier: Affirmation of Tax Fraud and Obstruction Convictions

Date: Aug 13, 2009

UNITED STATES v. Pansier: Affirmation of Tax Fraud and Obstruction Convictions Introduction In the case of UNITED STATES of America v. Gary L. Pansier, decided on August 12, 2009, the United States...