7th Circuit Case Commentaries

CAFA Home-State Exception: Remand Must Be Sought Within a Reasonable Time, and Salary-for-Leave “Vacation Buy” Is Not a Wage Assignment

Date: Jun 30, 2026

CAFA Home-State Exception: Remand Must Be Sought Within a Reasonable Time, and Salary-for-Leave “Vacation Buy” Is Not a Wage Assignment 1. Introduction Clayton Creason v. Elanco US Inc. arises from...

United States v. Turner: Waiver of PSR Drug-Quantity Objections Not Renewed at Sentencing and Harmlessness Where Guidelines Range Is Unchanged

Date: Jun 30, 2026

United States v. Turner: Waiver of PSR Drug-Quantity Objections Not Renewed at Sentencing and Harmlessness Where Guidelines Range Is Unchanged Introduction In United States v. Malaia Turner, the...

Defamation Dismissal at the Pleading Stage: Substantial Truth from Court Records and Nonactionable Opinion Based on Disclosed Facts

Date: Jun 28, 2026

Defamation Dismissal at the Pleading Stage: Substantial Truth from Court Records and Nonactionable Opinion Based on Disclosed Facts Introduction In Brock Fredin v. Adam Klasfeld, et al. (7th Cir....

Fraudulent Promises as “Anything of Value” Under 18 U.S.C. § 1591’s “Commercial Sex Act” Definition

Date: Jun 28, 2026

Fraudulent Promises as “Anything of Value” Under 18 U.S.C. § 1591’s “Commercial Sex Act” Definition 1. Introduction United States v. Brian Johnson (7th Cir. June 26, 2026) addresses the scope of...

Fraudulent Promises as “Anything of Value” Under § 1591 and Contextual Proof of Knowledge Under § 2252A

Date: Jun 27, 2026

Fraudulent Promises as “Anything of Value” Under § 1591 and Contextual Proof of Knowledge Under § 2252A I. Introduction United States v. Brian Johnson (7th Cir. June 26, 2026) addresses two recurring...

STC Codes in Bills of Lading Can Evidence a Carmack Liability Limitation When Confirmed by Course of Dealing and Published Rates

Date: Jun 26, 2026

STC Codes in Bills of Lading Can Evidence a Carmack Liability Limitation When Confirmed by Course of Dealing and Published Rates 1. Introduction In Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's v. CSX...

Rule 41(b)(3) Extra-District Warrants: Probable Cause That Activities Meet the Domestic-Terrorism Definition Suffices

Date: Jun 26, 2026

Rule 41(b)(3) Extra-District Warrants: Probable Cause That Activities Meet the Domestic-Terrorism Definition Suffices 1. Introduction United States v. James Morgan (7th Cir. June 25, 2026) addresses...

STC Codes and Course of Dealing Can Establish a “Written Agreement” Limiting Carmack Liability Without an Express Dollar Cap on the Bill of Lading

Date: Jun 26, 2026

STC Codes and Course of Dealing Can Establish a “Written Agreement” Limiting Carmack Liability Without an Express Dollar Cap on the Bill of Lading 1. Introduction Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s...

Anders Dismissal with Limited Review and Enforced Waiver of Sentencing/Release-Condition Objections in a Multi-Count Violent-Crime Sentence

Date: Jun 26, 2026

Anders Dismissal with Limited Review and Enforced Waiver of Sentencing/Release-Condition Objections in a Multi-Count Violent-Crime Sentence 1. Introduction In United States v. Dwight Hasberry, the...

Actual-Innocence Gateway Requires Clear-and-Convincing Rebuttal of State Credibility Findings

Date: Jun 26, 2026

Actual-Innocence Gateway Requires Clear-and-Convincing Rebuttal of State Credibility Findings (and Freestanding Innocence Requires Even More) 1. Introduction In Jumar House v. Jeffrey Wehking, No....

ADA Accommodation Limits: No Right to an In-Place Promotion, and an Employee Who Declines the Interactive Process Cannot Prove Failure to Accommodate

Date: Jun 26, 2026

ADA Accommodation Limits: No Right to an In-Place Promotion, and an Employee Who Declines the Interactive Process Cannot Prove Failure to Accommodate Case: Michael Jezior v. City of Chicago Court:...

Rule 8 Requires Coherent Pleading—Exhibits and “Incorporation by Reference” Cannot Substitute for a Short and Plain Statement

Date: Jun 26, 2026

Rule 8 Requires Coherent Pleading—Exhibits and “Incorporation by Reference” Cannot Substitute for a Short and Plain Statement 1. Introduction In Jeffrey Luffman v. Collinsville Community Unit School...

Strict Rule 56.1 Enforcement and FMLA Third-Opinion Noncooperation: Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Brown v. CTA

Date: Jun 26, 2026

Strict Rule 56.1 Enforcement and FMLA Third-Opinion Noncooperation: Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Brown v. Chicago Transit Authority 1. Introduction Russia Brown v. Chicago Transit...

TCPA Vicarious Liability in Multi-Tier Telemarketing Requires Authority at Each Delegation Level; Treble Damages Require Knowing or Reckless Violations

Date: Jun 26, 2026

TCPA Vicarious Liability in Multi-Tier Telemarketing Requires Authority at Each Delegation Level; Treble Damages Require Knowing or Reckless Violations Case: Robert Hossfeld v. Allstate Insurance...

Speculation Cannot Prove Knowledge or Personal Responsibility: Summary Judgment Standards for Prison Retaliation and Eighth Amendment Claims

Date: Jun 26, 2026

Speculation Cannot Prove Knowledge or Personal Responsibility: Summary Judgment Standards for Prison Retaliation and Eighth Amendment Claims Case: Stanley Boclair v. Rob Jeffreys, et al. (No....

Referral Specialists Are Not State Actors Absent State Control: Seventh Circuit Reaffirms Limits of § 1983 Liability for Private Prisoner Care

Date: Jun 25, 2026

Referral Specialists Are Not State Actors Absent State Control: Seventh Circuit Reaffirms Limits of § 1983 Liability for Private Prisoner Care 1. Introduction In Denon Taylor v. Samuel Byrd (7th Cir....

Seventh Circuit Tightens TCPA Vicarious Liability: Subagency Requires Authority at Each Delegation Level; Treble Damages Require Knowing or Reckless Violations

Date: Jun 25, 2026

Seventh Circuit Tightens TCPA Vicarious Liability: Subagency Requires Authority at Each Delegation Level; Treble Damages Require Knowing or Reckless Violations I. Introduction Parties. Robert...

LHWCA § 20(a) “Harm” Includes Respiratory Symptoms Without a Definitive Diagnosis; Fee Challenges Are Waived Without Record Support

Date: Jun 25, 2026

LHWCA § 20(a) “Harm” Includes Respiratory Symptoms Without a Definitive Diagnosis; Fee Challenges Are Waived Without Record Support Case: Jeffboat, Incorporated v. Director, OWCP (7th Cir. June 23,...

RFRA Permits a Total Supervised-Release Alcohol Ban Despite a Requested Sabbath Wine Exception When the Record Shows Any Drinking Predictably Triggers Dangerous Relapse

Date: Jun 24, 2026

RFRA Permits a Total Supervised-Release Alcohol Ban Despite a Requested Sabbath Wine Exception When the Record Shows Any Drinking Predictably Triggers Dangerous Relapse I. Introduction In United...

Stays Denied Where a State Attorney General’s Out-of-State Enforcement Suit Appears Retaliatory and Bad-Faith: Younger’s Bad-Faith Exception and “Express Aiming” Jurisdiction

Date: Jun 23, 2026

Stays Denied Where a State Attorney General’s Out-of-State Enforcement Suit Appears Retaliatory and Bad-Faith: Younger’s Bad-Faith Exception and “Express Aiming” Jurisdiction 1. Introduction American...