7th Circuit Case Commentaries

United States v. Musselman: Harmless-Foreperson Internet “Roadmap” Misconduct and Heightened-Duty Willful Blindness for the Ostrich Instruction

Date: Aug 29, 2026

United States v. Musselman: Harmless-Foreperson Internet “Roadmap” Misconduct and Heightened-Duty Willful Blindness for the Ostrich Instruction Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit...

United States v. Carrie Musselman: Waiver of Remmer Uncertainty and “Ostrich” Knowledge in Healthcare-Billing Fraud

Date: Aug 29, 2026

Waiver of Remmer Uncertainty & Willful-Blindness (“Ostrich”) Knowledge in Medicare Billing Fraud Case: United States v. Carrie Musselman (Nos. 25-2173 & 25-2494) Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the...

Ambiguity in “Any Person” Robbery Statutes Requires a Realistic-Probability Showing; Indiana Robbery Remains a Guidelines “Crime of Violence”

Date: Aug 28, 2026

Ambiguity in “Any Person” Robbery Statutes Requires a Realistic-Probability Showing; Indiana Robbery Remains a Guidelines “Crime of Violence” 1. Introduction In United States v. Sergio Gamez (7th...

ERISA Permits State PBM Cost Regulation and “Necessitated, Incidental” Reporting to Enforce It

Date: Aug 28, 2026

ERISA Permits State PBM Cost Regulation and “Necessitated, Incidental” Reporting to Enforce It 1. Introduction In Central States SE & SW Areas Health & Welfare Fund v. Alan McClain, the Seventh...

Conduct Reports Alone May Constitute “Some Evidence” Supporting Prison Restitution Amounts

Date: Aug 28, 2026

Conduct Reports Alone May Constitute “Some Evidence” Supporting Prison Restitution Amounts (Even Without Medical Bills) 1. Introduction In John Hawkins v. Nathan Angle, an Indiana prisoner (John...

RLUIPA Requires Record Evidence—not Conclusory Cost Assertions—to Reject Prepackaged Halal-Meat Alternatives at the Preliminary-Injunction Stage

Date: Aug 28, 2026

RLUIPA Requires Record Evidence—not Conclusory Cost Assertions—to Reject Prepackaged Halal-Meat Alternatives at the Preliminary-Injunction Stage Case: Timothy Mayberry v. Ron Neal, et al. Court:...

Reaffirming Valid Faretta Waivers and Intended-Loss Sentencing in PPP/EIDL Fraud (Anders Dismissal)

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Reaffirming Valid Faretta Waivers and Intended-Loss Sentencing in PPP/EIDL Fraud (Anders Dismissal) 1. Introduction In United States v. Divine-Seven El (7th Cir. Aug. 25, 2026) (nonprecedential), the...

Stanley’s Home-Privacy Shield Bars § 1466A(b)(1) as Applied to In-Home Possession of Obscene, AI-Generated “Virtual CSAM” Not Depicting Real Children

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Stanley’s Home-Privacy Shield Bars § 1466A(b)(1) as Applied to In-Home Possession of Obscene, AI-Generated “Virtual CSAM” Not Depicting Real Children Introduction In United States v. Steven Anderegg...

Word-Limit Rejection of Prison Grievance Appeals Constitutes Non-Exhaustion Under the PLRA; § 1997e(a) Dismissals Must Be Without Prejudice

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Word-Limit Rejection of Prison Grievance Appeals Constitutes Non-Exhaustion Under the PLRA; § 1997e(a) Dismissals Must Be Without Prejudice 1. Introduction In Brandon Porter v. Christopher Hoch (7th...

Consistent, Supplemented Hiring Explanations Do Not Show Pretext Absent Evidence of Mendacity

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Consistent, Supplemented Hiring Explanations Do Not Show Pretext Absent Evidence of Mendacity 1. Introduction Richard Highbaugh v. Exelead, Inc. (7th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026) arises from a failed...

Harmless-Error Affirmance Where Disputed Lay/Expert Yield Estimates Do Not Cure a Failure of Proof on Conversion

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Harmless-Error Affirmance Where Disputed Lay/Expert Yield Estimates Do Not Cure a Failure of Proof on Conversion 1. Introduction Valley View Farms v. BOS Dairy LLC (7th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026) arises out...

Qualified Immunity Demands Fact-Specific “Clearly Established” Law: No Clearly Established Right for a Non-Custodial Uncle to Cohabitate with Minor Nieces

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Qualified Immunity Demands Fact-Specific “Clearly Established” Law: No Clearly Established Right for a Non-Custodial Uncle to Cohabitate with Minor Nieces 1. Introduction In Kilroy Watkins v. Sharon...

“Equal-Opportunity Incivility” and the Proof Gap: No Hostile Environment, Constructive Discharge, Pretext, or Retaliation Without Evidence Tying Mistreatment to Protected Status

Date: Aug 26, 2026

“Equal-Opportunity Incivility” and the Proof Gap: No Hostile Environment, Constructive Discharge, Pretext, or Retaliation Without Evidence Tying Mistreatment to Protected Status I. Introduction In...

Vague Self-Harm Threats and Conservative Hand-Injury Care Do Not Show Eighth Amendment Deliberate Indifference; Referring Doctor Not Liable for Post-Transfer Scheduling Delays

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Vague Self-Harm Threats and Conservative Hand-Injury Care Do Not Show Eighth Amendment Deliberate Indifference; Referring Doctor Not Liable for Post-Transfer Scheduling Delays 1. Introduction In...

Certification on Indiana’s “One Action” Statute: Applicability to Mortgage Guaranties and Enforceability of Waiver

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Certification on Indiana’s “One Action” Statute: Applicability to Mortgage Guaranties and Enforceability of Waiver 1. Introduction Merchants Bank of Indiana v. David Craik (7th Cir. Aug. 19, 2026)...

Strickland Prejudice in Late-Stage Plea Advice Claims: No § 2255 Hearing When the Record Forecloses Acceptance and a Lower Outcome

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Strickland Prejudice in Late-Stage Plea Advice Claims: No § 2255 Hearing When the Record Forecloses Acceptance and a Lower Outcome I. Introduction In Derek Fields v. United States (7th Cir. Aug. 17,...

Passenger Officers Must Protect Shackled, Unbelted Inmates from Reckless Prison Transports—Qualified Immunity Still Demands Fact-Specific Notice for “Rough Ride” Variants

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Passenger Officers Must Protect Shackled, Unbelted Inmates from Reckless Prison Transports—Qualified Immunity Still Demands Fact-Specific Notice for “Rough Ride” Variants 1. Introduction Case: Kevin...

Seventh Circuit: Shelby County “Equal Sovereignty” and City of Boerne “Congruence and Proportionality” Do Not Invalidate NVRA’s State Exemption Under the Elections Clause

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Seventh Circuit: Shelby County “Equal Sovereignty” and City of Boerne “Congruence and Proportionality” Do Not Invalidate NVRA’s State Exemption Under the Elections Clause Introduction In Public...

Illinois Defamation and Paywalled Journalism: Innocent Construction Applies Where the Public Preview Supports a Non-Defamatory Reading; Per Quod Requires Non-Speculative Special Damages Under Rule 9(g)

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Illinois Defamation and Paywalled Journalism: Innocent Construction Applies Where the Public Preview Supports a Non-Defamatory Reading; Per Quod Requires Non-Speculative Special Damages Under Rule...

Class-Action Arbitration Waiver: Pre-Certification Conduct Counts; Lakeridge-Guided Appellate Review of Orders Denying Motions to Compel

Date: Aug 21, 2026

Class-Action Arbitration Waiver: Pre-Certification Conduct Counts; Lakeridge-Guided Appellate Review of Orders Denying Motions to Compel 1. Introduction In George Moore v. Club Exploria, LLC (7th...