Discovery in Ohio Public-Records Mandamus: Relevance, Proportionality, and “Apex” Depositions Limited to Search and Litigated Defenses 1. Introduction State ex rel. Ctr. for Media & Democracy v....
Rule 588 Return-of-Property Hearings Require Record Evidence to Prove Derivative Contraband 1. Introduction In Re: Alisha Shepard Smith; Appeal of: Alisha Shepard Smith reached the Supreme Court of...
Uncorroborated and Inconsistent Evidence Cannot Establish Pretext in FMLA Interference/Retaliation Claims Case: Richard Thistlethwaite v. Pace Air Freight, Inc. Court: Court of Appeals for the Sixth...
Whitton v. Dixon (2026): Habeas Prejudice Under Giglio/Brecht Must Be Assessed on the Trial Record—Post‑Trial Evidence Cannot Be Used to Deny Relief I. Introduction In Whitton v. Dixon, the U.S....
Rule 50 Noncompliance Waives Sufficiency-of-the-Evidence Review on Appeal—No Plain-Error Backstop Case: Nelson v. Toyota Motor Corporation, No. 24-1408 (10th Cir. June 1, 2026) (Order and Judgment,...
Federal Bad-Faith Fee Awards in Diversity: Knowing Violation of a Release Plus Concealment Can Satisfy the “Without Color” and “Improper Purpose” Test 1. Introduction Banner Bank v. Smith (10th Cir....
Specificity Required for Equitable Tolling of Untimely Motions to Reopen: Detention and Pro Se Status Alone Are Not Enough Case: Bonilla-Espinoza v. Blanche (10th Cir. June 1, 2026) (published) 1....
APA § 706(1) Relief Is Unavailable Once the Secretary Has Acted Through a Lawful BLM Delegation 1. Introduction In Wyo-Ben v. Burgum (10th Cir. June 1, 2026), petitioner-appellant Wyo-Ben, Inc....
Rule G Standing Hearings: Preponderance Fact-Finding and “Bare Title” Insufficiency for Straw Owners 1. Introduction United States v. the M/Y Amadea is a Second Circuit civil forfeiture decision...
Unsettled § 3146(b)(2) Consecutive-Sentence Requirement for Failure to Appear at Supervised-Release Revocation Hearings (No Plain Error) Case: United States v. Simmons, Nos. 23-7400-cr (Lead),...
Rule 46 Sanctions for AI-Hallucinated Appellate Briefs: Counsel’s Nondelegable Duty to Verify Citations, Quotations, and Record Facts Case: Heriberto Perez-Castillo v. Todd W. Blanche (7th Cir. June...
Deference Under Connick/Pickering Turns on Mission, Not a “Paramilitary” Label: Coast Guard Auxiliary May Discipline Members Who Speak While Holding Themselves Out in Uniform 1. Introduction James C....
Delay-of-Treatment Eighth Amendment Claims Require Verifying Medical Evidence; No Monell Liability Without an Underlying Constitutional Violation 1. Introduction In Leon Barnes v. Wexford Health...
Joinder (Not Substitution) of an Adult SSI Claimant When a Childhood Application Reaches the Court of Appeals Case: Jamie Cosenza v. Frank Bisignano, No. 21-1970 (7th Cir. June 1, 2026)...
Harmless-Error Rule for Procedurally Irregular Substantive Consolidation of Non-Debtor Alter Egos I. Introduction In Donald Smith v. Sonya Salkin Slott, arising from the Chapter 7 case of In re: No...
Bad-Faith Blanket § 170.6 Challenges Are Subject to Separation-of-Powers Review via a Batson-Style Procedure I. Introduction Case: J.O. v. Superior Court (Cal. May 28, 2026) S287285. Parties:...
People v. Demolle: Contextual RJA Review of “Animal Imagery” in Capital Argument and Harmless-Error Review on Direct Appeal Supreme Court of California • June 1, 2026 • Chief Justice Guerrero (maj.)...
People v. Barrera: Penalty-Phase Carter Instruction Error Is Not Structural (Reviewed Under Chapman); RJA Death-Penalty Bar Not Automatic for Pre-RJA Nonprejudicial Violations Supreme Court of...
RJA Discriminatory-Language Error in Pre-2021 Capital Cases: Chapman Review, “Bengal Tiger” Prohibited, and No Categorical Bar to Penalty Retrial Case: People v. Bankston (Cal. Supreme Ct., June 1,...
Claim Preclusion Bars New Constitutional Theories Arising from the Same Child-Support Enforcement Actions 1. Introduction In Paul Walde v. Sharon Keri (11th Cir. June 1, 2026) (unpublished,...