Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

Eleventh Circuit: Non-Comparator “Same-Misconduct” Evidence and Shifting Explanations Can Create a Convincing Mosaic (and Pretext) Defeating Summary Judgment

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Eleventh Circuit: Non-Comparator “Same-Misconduct” Evidence and Shifting Explanations Can Create a Convincing Mosaic (and Pretext) Defeating Summary Judgment Case: Anne Guthrie (Administrator for the...

No “Office of Relator”: FCA Qui Tam Relators Are Not Article II Officers Because They Do Not Hold a Continuing Position

Date: Sep 3, 2026

No “Office of Relator”: FCA Qui Tam Relators Are Not Article II Officers Because They Do Not Hold a Continuing Position 1. Introduction Case: Clarissa Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates, LLC (with...

Espinoza Benitez v. Blanche — Deferential Mixed-Question Review of “Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship,” with No Appellate Jurisdiction over Underlying Hardship Facts

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Deferential Mixed-Question Review of “Exceptional and Extremely Unusual Hardship,” with No Appellate Jurisdiction over Underlying Hardship Facts Introduction In Espinoza Benitez v. Blanche (1st Cir....

Conceivable Privacy Rationale Sustains “No-X” Birth-Certificate Policy Under Rational Basis Review

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Conceivable Privacy Rationale Sustains “No-X” Birth-Certificate Policy Under Rational Basis Review Introduction In de la Fuente Díaz v. Gonzalez Colon (1st Cir. Sept. 1, 2026), six nonbinary persons...

Probation-Revocation Sentencing: No Separate On-the-Record Justification Required to Impose the Statutory Maximum Under 9 GCA § 80.66(b)

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Probation-Revocation Sentencing: No Separate On-the-Record Justification Required to Impose the Statutory Maximum Under 9 GCA § 80.66(b) I. Introduction In People of Guam v. Michael John Toves...

Owner-Occupied “Guest” Restrictions Upheld: “Guest” Means Invitee, Not Tenant, and Falls Within RSA 674:16 General Welfare Zoning Authority

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Owner-Occupied “Guest” Restrictions Upheld: “Guest” Means Invitee, Not Tenant, and Falls Within RSA 674:16 General Welfare Zoning Authority Introduction In Christopher Andrews & a. v. Kearsarge...

Harmless-Error Review for Limited 404(b) and CAC-Interview Evidence, Unaffected by Jury Impasse — State v. Giroux (N.H. 2026)

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Harmless-Error Review for Limited 404(b) and CAC-Interview Evidence, Unaffected by Jury Impasse — State v. Giroux (N.H. 2026) 1. Introduction In State of New Hampshire v. Max Giroux (No. 2024-0505),...

Title VI Entity Liability Requires Policy or Authorized Official Knowledge; No Clearly Established Due Process Right in Academic Grading

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Title VI Entity Liability Requires Policy or Authorized Official Knowledge; No Clearly Established Due Process Right in Academic Grading Introduction Arebe Taylor, a Black student originally from...

Firm Resettlement Bar Applies Upon Grant of Mexican Permanent Residence; Private-Actor Gang Threats Do Not Trigger the Restricted-Residence Exception Absent Government-Imposed Constraints

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Firm Resettlement Bar Applies Upon Grant of Mexican Permanent Residence; Private-Actor Gang Threats Do Not Trigger the Restricted-Residence Exception Absent Government-Imposed Constraints I....

Pendent Appellate Jurisdiction to Review Trademark Cancellation When “Inextricably Intertwined” with an Interlocutory Lanham Act Injunction

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Pendent Appellate Jurisdiction to Review Trademark Cancellation When “Inextricably Intertwined” with an Interlocutory Lanham Act Injunction Introduction Hammer Brand, LLC (doing business as Wolf...

Strict Enforcement of § 405(g)’s 65-Day Filing Window and Narrow Equitable Tolling in Social Security Appeals

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Strict Enforcement of § 405(g)’s 65-Day Filing Window and Narrow Equitable Tolling in Social Security Appeals 1. Introduction In John E. Cole, Jr. v. Commissioner, Social Security Administration...

Federal Courts Must Abstain from Florida Property-Tax Exemption Disputes Under the Tax Injunction Act and Comity; Jurisdictional Dismissals Must Be Without Prejudice

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Federal Courts Must Abstain from Florida Property-Tax Exemption Disputes Under the Tax Injunction Act and Comity; Jurisdictional Dismissals Must Be Without Prejudice Case: Joshua Jordan v. Bob...

Upward Variances for Aggravated Reentry: Heavy Weight on Criminal History and “Apples-to-Apples” Limits on Codefendant Disparity Claims

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Upward Variances for Aggravated Reentry: Heavy Weight on Criminal History and “Apples-to-Apples” Limits on Codefendant Disparity Claims 1. Introduction United States v. Cesar Alvarez (11th Cir. Sept....

Attributing Co‑Conspirator Losses Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3: Undisputed PSR Facts and Agent Testimony Can Establish Reasonable Foreseeability of Later Fraudulent Orders

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Attributing Co‑Conspirator Losses Under U.S.S.G. § 1B1.3: Undisputed PSR Facts and Agent Testimony Can Establish Reasonable Foreseeability of Later Fraudulent Orders Introduction In United States v....

Driving an Armed Passenger to a Drug Deal Constitutes “Transport[ing]” a Firearm “in Connection With” the Offense Under U.S.S.G. § 4C1.1(a)(7)

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Driving an Armed Passenger to a Drug Deal Constitutes “Transport[ing]” a Firearm “in Connection With” the Offense Under U.S.S.G. § 4C1.1(a)(7) Introduction In United States v. Jose David Figueroa...

Potential-to-Facilitate Rule for §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) During Vehicular Flight; No Double Counting with §3C1.2

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Potential-to-Facilitate Rule for U.S.S.G. §2K2.1(b)(6)(B) During Vehicular Flight; No Impermissible Double Counting with §3C1.2 Case: United States v. Taris Devoe Hollomon (11th Cir. Sept. 1, 2026)...

Title IX “Control” Is a Functional, Fact-Based Inquiry: Indirect Authority Over a Third-Party Harasser Can Satisfy Davis

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Title IX “Control” Is a Functional, Fact-Based Inquiry: Indirect Authority Over a Third-Party Harasser Can Satisfy Davis Case: Jane Doe 1 v. Eastern New Mexico University Board of Regents (10th Cir....

FAA § 1 “Transportation Worker” Exemption Requires a Properly Defined Class Based on Typical Work of the Class as a Whole (Not the Named Plaintiffs)

Date: Sep 3, 2026

FAA § 1 “Transportation Worker” Exemption Requires a Properly Defined Class Based on Typical Work of the Class as a Whole (Not the Named Plaintiffs) I. Introduction In Joyner v. Frontier Airlines...

Appellate Forfeiture in Public-Meeting Speech Cases: Failure to Preserve and Challenge Independent Grounds Requires Affirmance

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Appellate Forfeiture in Public-Meeting Speech Cases: Failure to Preserve and Challenge Independent Grounds Requires Affirmance I. Introduction Case: Spiehs v. Larsen, No. 25-3061 (10th Cir. Sept. 1,...

United States v. Gaines — Post-Hohn Rule: No Presumed Prejudice for Government Intrusions into Attorney–Client Communications in § 2255

Date: Sep 3, 2026

Post-Hohn Rule: No Presumed Prejudice for Government Intrusions into Attorney–Client Communications in § 2255 1. Introduction In United States v. Gaines (10th Cir. Sept. 1, 2026), Desmond S. Gaines...