Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

Commonwealth v. Peters (Pa. 2026) Commentary

Date: May 5, 2026

“Malice Is Malice”: Pennsylvania Rejects a DUI-Specific Malice Test and Reaffirms One Unified Standard Case: Commonwealth v. Peters, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (May 4, 2026) I. Introduction...

Stash-House Enhancement Applies Without Leasehold When De Facto Control or Co-Conspirator Foreseeability Is Shown

Date: May 5, 2026

Stash-House Enhancement Applies Without Leasehold When De Facto Control or Co-Conspirator Foreseeability Is Shown Case: United States v. Khari Qunarll Smith (6th Cir. May 4, 2026) (not recommended...

Pleading Limits on “Continuing Violation” Theories: An Allegedly Biased Internal Investigation Does Not Extend a Title VII Hostile-Environment Claim Without Plausible Sex-Based Causation or Harasser Control

Date: May 5, 2026

Pleading Limits on “Continuing Violation” Theories: An Allegedly Biased Internal Investigation Does Not Extend a Title VII Hostile-Environment Claim Without Plausible Sex-Based Causation or Harasser...

Termination Ends Commission Entitlement When Compensation Clause Limits Commissions to Contracts Accepted Before the Effective Termination Date

Date: May 5, 2026

Termination Ends Commission Entitlement When Compensation Clause Limits Commissions to Contracts Accepted Before the Effective Termination Date Case: Touch-N-Buy LLC v. United Consumer Fin. Servs....

Deadly Force “Until Neutralized”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies that the Trigger-Count Is Not the Question

Date: May 5, 2026

Deadly Force “Until Neutralized”: Sixth Circuit Clarifies that the Trigger-Count Is Not the Question I. Introduction Kimberly Vaughn, through the Administration of the Estate of Mohammad J. Isaifan,...

Informal Agency Memoranda that Alter Substantive Rights Are “Rules”; Untimely Procedural Challenges Are Barred, but Timely Objectors Cannot Be Bound by Unpromulgated Changes

Date: May 5, 2026

Informal Agency Memoranda that Alter Substantive Rights Are “Rules”; Untimely Procedural Challenges Are Barred, but Timely Objectors Cannot Be Bound by Unpromulgated Changes 1. Introduction In Martel...

Routine Evidence-Retention Deletions Trigger Youngblood (Not Trombetta) Absent Apparent Exculpatory Value—and Require Proof of Bad Faith

Date: May 5, 2026

Routine Evidence-Retention Deletions Trigger Youngblood (Not Trombetta) Absent Apparent Exculpatory Value—and Require Proof of Bad Faith Introduction In United States v. Orrantia (10th Cir. May 4,...

Carroll v. Trump (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2026) — Commentary

Date: May 5, 2026

Second Circuit Leaves Intact: (1) a Pre‑Trial Constraint on Westfall Act Substitution in State‑Filed Cases, and (2) Waiver/Law‑of‑the‑Case Limits on Re‑Litigating Presidential Immunity I....

Technical-Reviewer DNA Testimony Is Not “Plainly” Barred by the Confrontation Clause; ACCA Different-Occasions Errors Require Prejudice

Date: May 5, 2026

Technical-Reviewer DNA Testimony Is Not “Plainly” Barred by the Confrontation Clause; ACCA Different-Occasions Errors Require Prejudice Introduction In United States v. Samuel Lee Jones (11th Cir....

Rule 60 Motions After Final Judgment: One-Year Bar, “Reasonable Time” Limits, and Clear-and-Convincing Proof for Fraud on the Court

Date: May 5, 2026

Rule 60 Motions After Final Judgment: One-Year Bar, “Reasonable Time” Limits, and Clear-and-Convincing Proof for Fraud on the Court 1. Introduction Harisadhan Patra and Petula Vaz (pro se) appealed...

Smith v. Albany County School District No. 1: Pleading a “Compelled Message” and Limits on Mask-Mandate First Amendment/Due Process Claims

Date: May 5, 2026

Smith v. Albany County School District No. 1: Pleading a “Compelled Message” and Limits on Mask-Mandate First Amendment/Due Process Claims I. Introduction In Smith v. Albany County School District...

Cunha v. Freden — Section 1225(b)(2)(A) Mandatory Detention Limited to Noncitizens “Seeking Admission,” Not Long-Present Interior Entrants

Date: May 5, 2026

Section 1225(b)(2)(A) Mandatory Detention Is Limited to Noncitizens “Seeking Admission”; Long-Present Interior Entrants Are Detained (and Bond-Eligible) Under Section 1226(a) I. Introduction Cunha v....

FLSA Collective Action Notice Requires Personal Jurisdiction Over Each Opt-In Claim Under Rule 4(k)

Date: May 5, 2026

FLSA Collective Action Notice Requires Personal Jurisdiction Over Each Opt-In Claim Under Rule 4(k) 1. Introduction Provencher v. Bimbo Foods Bakeries Distribution LLC (2d Cir. May 4, 2026) addresses...

Griffin v. LaManna: Certificate of Appealability Required to Appeal Denial of Rule 4(a)(5) Extension in State Habeas

Date: May 5, 2026

Griffin v. LaManna: Certificate of Appealability Required to Appeal Denial of Rule 4(a)(5) Extension in State Habeas 1. Introduction In Griffin v. LaManna (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2026), the Second Circuit...

Class Membership in the Payment Card Settlement Turns on Contractual Intent—not a “Direct Payor” Rule; Settlement Release Bars Later State-Law Indirect-Purchaser Claims

Date: May 5, 2026

Class Membership in the Payment Card Settlement Turns on Contractual Intent—not a “Direct Payor” Rule; Settlement Release Bars Later State-Law Indirect-Purchaser Claims 1. Introduction This Second...

Rule 60(b)(3) “Misconduct” in the Second Circuit Requires More Than Negligent Discovery Errors

Date: May 5, 2026

Rule 60(b)(3) “Misconduct” in the Second Circuit Requires More Than Negligent Discovery Errors Introduction In Adidas America, Inc. v. Thom Browne, Inc. (2d Cir. Apr. 29, 2026), adidas sought to...

Government Employees Not Covered by the LHWCA May Bring Sieracki Unseaworthiness Claims, and State Volunteer Firefighter Exclusivity Cannot Bar General Maritime Negligence

Date: May 5, 2026

Government Employees Not Covered by the LHWCA May Bring Sieracki Unseaworthiness Claims, and State Volunteer Firefighter Exclusivity Cannot Bar General Maritime Negligence 1. Introduction Case: In...

Partial Section 18.001 Counteraffidavits: Unchallenged Medical-Expense Portions Remain Admissible (and Counteraffidavits May Prove the Reasonable Portion)

Date: May 5, 2026

Partial Section 18.001 Counteraffidavits: Unchallenged Medical-Expense Portions Remain Admissible (and Counteraffidavits May Prove the Reasonable Portion) I. Introduction Parties: Tatia Ortiz...

Commissioner’s § 481.034(g) Objections Are Effectively Unreviewable and Not Subject to APA Rulemaking; Courts May Not Enjoin Agencies to “Rewrite” Controlled-Substance Schedules

Date: May 5, 2026

Commissioner’s § 481.034(g) Objections Are Effectively Unreviewable and Not Subject to APA Rulemaking; Courts May Not Enjoin Agencies to “Rewrite” Controlled-Substance Schedules 1. Introduction In...

Eligibility Is Not Entitlement: Discretion to Deny Amendment 821 (Zero-Point Offender) Reductions Under § 3582(c)(2) Based on § 3553(a)

Date: May 5, 2026

Eligibility Is Not Entitlement: Discretion to Deny Amendment 821 (Zero-Point Offender) Reductions Under § 3582(c)(2) Based on § 3553(a) 1. Introduction In United States v. Mario Enrique Mendoza...