Express Power-of-Attorney Authority Required to Waive ERISA Spousal Survivor Annuity Rights Under Wis. Stat. § 244.41(1)(f) Case: Nancy Lyon Havlik v. University of Chicago, No. 25-2821 (7th Cir....
Rule 412 Excludes Minor Victim’s Sexting with Others; Similar Grooming Admissible Under Rule 404(b) to Prove Identity in § 2251(a) Cases I. Introduction In United States v. Andrew Boltz (7th Cir....
Title IX Deliberate-Indifference Safe Harbor: Readmission After Acquittal with an Effective No‑Contact Order Is Not “Clearly Unreasonable” 1. Introduction Case: Isabelle Arana v. Board of Regents of...
Objective Medical Evidence and De Minimis Force: Limits on Eighth Amendment Excessive-Force and Deliberate-Indifference Claims at Summary Judgment 1. Introduction In Dante Small v. Lynn Pittman, et...
Unequal Subclass Allocations Require Separate Representation: Structural Adequacy as a Prerequisite to Class-Settlement Approval I. Introduction In In re: Clearview AI, Inc. Consumer Privacy...
Homeowner’s Contents Become “Business Property” When Used to Operate a Rental/Event Venue, Triggering the $25,000 Sublimit Introduction In Wesley Gibson v. Chubb National Insurance Company (7th Cir....
Rule 4(b)(4) Without a Motion: Seventh Circuit Requires District-Court Good-Cause/Excusable-Neglect Finding Before Dismissing a Criminal Appeal Filed Within the 30-Day Extension Window 1....
Upward Variances Affirmed When District Courts Tie the Degree of Deviation to § 3553(a) and Reliably Supported Uncharged Conduct (Seventh Circuit) 1. Introduction United States v. Travis L. Withers...
Participation Without Reservation Waives Non‑Signatory Arbitrability Objections in Labor Arbitration Introduction Elmar Hotel Management, LLC v. Unite Here Local 1 (7th Cir. July 17, 2026) concerns...
Fraud Sentencing in the Seventh Circuit: Intended-Loss Reliance on a Reliable PSR and § 2B1.1(b)(9)(A) Applied to a “Non-Existent” Government Agency 1. Introduction United States v. Minister Zakar...
U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(b)(9)(A) Enhancement Applies to Purported “Diplomats” of a Nonexistent Government Entity; PSR-Based Intended-Loss Findings Stand Absent “Real Doubt” 1. Introduction In United States...
Extortion-for-Money Defeats Asylum Nexus; Child’s SIJS Does Not Reopen Parent’s Case Absent Independent Relief Case: Gladis Chavez-Pineda v. Todd W. Blanche (7th Cir. July 17, 2026) (nonprecedential)...
Agee v. Hickenbottom: Class-of-One Equal Protection Amendments Are Not Futile Unless Probable Cause Is Certain on the Pleadings I. Introduction In Jacqueline Agee v. Paige Hickenbottom (7th Cir. July...
Extortion-as-Profit Motive Defeats Asylum Nexus: Seventh Circuit Affirms Denial Where “Single-Mother” PSG Evidence Does Not Show a Central Reason 1. Introduction In Gladis Chavez-Pineda v. Todd W....
Reliable PSR Controls Intended-Loss Findings and “Government-Agency” Fraud Enhancement Applies Even to a Non-Existent “Consulate” (Seventh Circuit) 1. Introduction In United States v. Aziz Hassan Bey...
Pretrial Detainee Suicide Claims: Objective Unreasonableness Requires Evidence that a Reasonable Mental-Health Professional Would Have Acted Differently Introduction In Estate of Anthony Mouradian v....
Agee v. Hickenbottom: Leave to Amend Must Be Granted Unless Probable Cause (and Futility) Is Certain on the Face of the Proposed Class-of-One Equal Protection Pleading I. Introduction Case:...
Armstrong Deference Confirmed for ESOP Sale Decisions Absent Conflict; Market Deal Price Anchors Fair-Market-Value and Damages 1. Introduction Bruce Rush v. GreatBanc Trust Company (7th Cir. July 17,...
Withdrawing an EEO Complaint Does Not Negate Protected Activity, but Temporal Proximity Alone Will Not Prove Title VII Retaliation Absent Corroboration When the Employer Honestly Relies on Admitted...
Revocation Sentencing After Esteras: “Consequences” and “Accountability” Are Permissible When Tied to Deterrence, Rehabilitation, and Breach of Trust—not Retribution for the Underlying Offense 1....