7th Circuit Case Commentaries

Substantial Equivalence of Wheelchair-Accessible Stadium Seating Under the ADA

Date: Mar 22, 2025

Substantial Equivalence of Wheelchair-Accessible Stadium Seating Under the ADA Introduction The case of David Felimon Cerda v. Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, LLC (7th Cir. 2025) arises from the...

Qualified Immunity Bars Damages for Suggestive Identification Absent Evidence Manufacturing

Date: Mar 21, 2025

Qualified Immunity Bars Damages for Suggestive Identification Absent Evidence Manufacturing Introduction In Eric Blackmon v. Gregory Jones, 23-3288 (7th Cir. Mar. 20, 2025), the Seventh Circuit...

No ADA Discrimination Absent But-For Causation: Hoffstead v. Metra

Date: Mar 21, 2025

No ADA Discrimination Absent But-For Causation: Hoffstead v. Metra Introduction Hoffstead v. Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. (“Metra”) arose after a Metra canine handler, Timothy...

Kelly Rainey v. Jesse Lewis: Clarifying Probable Cause Requirements in §1983 Claims for Arrest and No-Knock Warrant Issuance

Date: Mar 21, 2025

Kelly Rainey v. Jesse Lewis: Clarifying Probable Cause Requirements in §1983 Claims for Arrest and No-Knock Warrant Issuance Introduction In Kelly Rainey v. Jesse Lewis, No. 24-2068 (7th Cir. Mar....

Wolf v. Riverport: No Implied Good Faith Duty to Investigate and Settle Underinsured Motorist Claims

Date: Mar 21, 2025

Wolf v. Riverport: No Implied Good Faith Duty to Investigate and Settle Underinsured Motorist Claims Introduction Suzanne Wolf sustained severe pelvic fractures in a collision with an underinsured...

Clarifying the Limits of the Westfall Act: Savings Provision Excludes PHSA Substituted Claims

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Clarifying the Limits of the Westfall Act: Savings Provision Excludes PHSA Substituted Claims Introduction The case of Denise Evans v. United States of America presents a pivotal judicial examination...

Redefining Standing in Utility Regulation: New Precedents on Dormant Commerce Clause Challenges

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Redefining Standing in Utility Regulation: New Precedents on Dormant Commerce Clause Challenges Introduction The judgment in LSP Transmission Holdings II, LLC, et al. v. James F. Huston, Chairman,...

Remediation and Causation in Student Loan Capitalization Errors: A New Precedent on Mitigation and RICO Claims

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Remediation and Causation in Student Loan Capitalization Errors: A New Precedent on Mitigation and RICO Claims Introduction In the recent appellate decision in Meredith D. Dawson v. Great Lakes...

Refining Asylum Filing Exceptions: The Establishment of a “Reasonable Time” Requirement

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Refining Asylum Filing Exceptions: The Establishment of a “Reasonable Time” Requirement Introduction The judgment in Gayratjon Golibjonivich Gulomjono v. Petitioner, decided by the United States...

Clarifying the Limits of Private Enforcement under Medicaid: The §1396u-2(f) Timely Payment Provision and §1983

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Clarifying the Limits of Private Enforcement under Medicaid: The §1396u-2(f) Timely Payment Provision and §1983 Introduction This commentary examines the recent en banc decision from the United...

The Non-Employment Doctrine for AmeriCorps Participants under the FLSA

Date: Mar 19, 2025

The Non-Employment Doctrine for AmeriCorps Participants under the FLSA Introduction The case of Matthew Burgess v. Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House and Gary Gaston, decided by the United States...

The Definitive Role of Arbitrator’s Contractual Interpretation in Labor Disputes

Date: Mar 19, 2025

The Definitive Role of Arbitrator’s Contractual Interpretation in Labor Disputes Introduction This commentary examines the judgment in Quality Custom Distribution Services LLC v. International...

Extending Bivens Liability to Inmate Medical Neglect: The Brooks Precedent

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Extending Bivens Liability to Inmate Medical Neglect: The Brooks Precedent Introduction In the recent decision rendered by the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Kevin Brooks,...

Waiver of Rule 29(b) Arguments Raised at Oral Argument and Reinstatement of Jury Verdict Under the “Wholly Irrational” Sufficiency Standard

Date: Mar 19, 2025

Waiver of Rule 29(b) Arguments Raised at Oral Argument and Reinstatement of Jury Verdict Under the “Wholly Irrational” Sufficiency Standard Introduction United States v. John Sand (7th Cir. Mar. 18,...

Anders Dismissal Confirms § 1591(c) Is Not Vague and Limits Review to Counsel-Raised Issues

Date: Mar 18, 2025

Anders Dismissal Confirms § 1591(c) Is Not Vague and Limits Review to Counsel-Raised Issues Introduction In United States v. Bashiek Stovall (7th Cir. Mar. 17, 2025) (nonprecedential order), the...

Constructive Trust Over Disputed Funds Held by an “Innocent” Stakeholder Who Invites Judicial Direction (Seventh Circuit Predicting Illinois Law)

Date: Mar 18, 2025

Constructive Trust Over Disputed Funds Held by an “Innocent” Stakeholder Who Invites Judicial Direction (Seventh Circuit Predicting Illinois Law) Introduction LQD Business Finance, LLC v. AKF, Inc....

Section 844(i) Qualifies as “Arson” (and Thus a Career-Offender Crime of Violence) Under U.S.S.G. §4B1.2(a)(2)

Date: Mar 18, 2025

Section 844(i) Qualifies as “Arson” (and Thus a Career-Offender Crime of Violence) Under U.S.S.G. §4B1.2(a)(2) 1. Introduction United States v. Quintin Ferguson (7th Cir. Mar. 17, 2025) addresses a...

Seventh Circuit: “Telephone Solicitation” Under the TCPA Requires Purpose to Urge the Decisionmaker to Pay—Outreach About Free Plan Benefits Is Not Covered

Date: Mar 18, 2025

Seventh Circuit: “Telephone Solicitation” Under the TCPA Requires Purpose to Urge the Decisionmaker to Pay—Outreach About Free Plan Benefits Is Not Covered I. Introduction In James Hulce v. Zipongo...

TCPA “Telephone Solicitation” Requires Purpose to Urge the Decision-Maker to Pay (Not Merely to Use a Free Service)

Date: Mar 18, 2025

TCPA “Telephone Solicitation” Requires Purpose to Urge the Decision-Maker to Pay (Not Merely to Use a Free Service) I. Introduction In James Hulce v. Zipongo Inc., the Seventh Circuit addressed a...

Qualified Immunity Cannot Rest on a Plaintiff’s Sparse Citations: Courts Must Apply All Relevant Terry-Stop Precedent and Retry Intertwined Stop/Detention Claims

Date: Mar 18, 2025

Qualified Immunity Cannot Rest on a Plaintiff’s Sparse Citations: Courts Must Apply All Relevant Terry-Stop Precedent and Retry Intertwined Stop/Detention Claims Introduction Case: Isaiah Taylor v....