Puerto Rico Case Commentaries

Absent Bad Faith, a Circuit Court Must Grant the State’s Rule 48(a) Motion to Dismiss When the Defendant Consents

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Absent Bad Faith, a Circuit Court Must Grant the State’s Rule 48(a) Motion to Dismiss When the Defendant Consents 1. Introduction In State of West Virginia ex rel. Dalton Ours v. The State of West...

Mandamus to Require Statutory Findings Before Granting Post-Adjudicatory Improvement Periods

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Mandamus to Require Statutory Findings Before Granting Post-Adjudicatory Improvement Periods Introduction In State of West Virginia ex rel. H.C., P.C., M.C., Z.C. and West Virginia Department of...

State v. Sellers: “Well-Established” Forensic Science Still Requires a Porter Gatekeeping Check When New Standards Cast Doubt

Date: Aug 26, 2026

State v. Sellers: “Well-Established” Forensic Science Still Requires a Porter Gatekeeping Check When New Standards Cast Doubt 1. Introduction In State v. Sellers (Conn. Aug. 25, 2026), the Supreme...

Recording a Judgment (Without Debtor’s Voluntary Compliance) Does Not Moot an Appeal; Failure to Obtain a Stay Is Not Voluntary Satisfaction

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Recording a Judgment (Without Debtor’s Voluntary Compliance) Does Not Moot an Appeal; Failure to Obtain a Stay Is Not Voluntary Satisfaction Introduction In Drushal v. Miller, Slip Opinion No....

Context-Based Interpretation of “Current” Public-Records Requests and Limited Writs Requiring Production or Certification of Nonexistence (Ohio Mandamus)

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Context-Based Interpretation of “Current” Public-Records Requests and Limited Writs Requiring Production or Certification of Nonexistence (Ohio Mandamus) Case: State ex rel. Clark v. Dept. of Rehab....

Production of Nonprofit Records in Discovery Moots Inspection Claims; Courts Decline to Intervene in Uncontested, Superseded Officer Elections Absent Injury

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Production of Nonprofit Records in Discovery Moots Inspection Claims; Courts Decline to Intervene in Uncontested, Superseded Officer Elections Absent Injury 1. Introduction E. Kragh v. MADC is a 2026...

Marriage of French: Rule 60(b) Relief Cannot Substitute for an Untimely Appeal; Voidness Requires a Fundamental Due Process Defect Shown on an Adequate Record

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Marriage of French: Rule 60(b) Relief Cannot Substitute for an Untimely Appeal; Voidness Requires a Fundamental Due Process Defect Shown on an Adequate Record 1. Introduction Case: In re the Marriage...

State v. M. Mitchell (2026 MT 201): Custody During Revocation Is Credited to the Active DOC Term Being Served; the State Is Judicially Estopped From Reclaiming Detention-Credit Error It Invited

Date: Aug 26, 2026

State v. M. Mitchell (2026 MT 201): Custody During Revocation Is Credited to the Active DOC Term Being Served; the State Is Judicially Estopped From Reclaiming Detention-Credit Error It Invited 1....

Plain-Error Resentencing Required When a Court Applies a Post-Offense Sentencing Amendment as “Mandatory”

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Plain-Error Resentencing Required When a Court Applies a Post-Offense Sentencing Amendment as “Mandatory” Case: State v. M. Partridge, 2026 MT 204N (Mont. Aug. 25, 2026) (memorandum opinion;...

State v. Hatfield (2026 MT 202) — No Delegation of Financial Sentencing Obligations to Parole; Mislabeling “Crime of Violence” Requires Striking, Not Resentencing Absent Reliance

Date: Aug 26, 2026

No Delegation of Financial Sentencing Obligations to Parole; Mislabeling “Crime of Violence” Requires Striking, Not Resentencing Absent Reliance Case: State v. T.W. Hatfield, 2026 MT 202 (Mont. Aug....

Will-Serve Letters Imply Performance Within a “Reasonable Time” and Do Not Create Perpetual Municipal Capacity Obligations

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Will-Serve Letters Imply Performance Within a “Reasonable Time” and Do Not Create Perpetual Municipal Capacity Obligations Introduction West Dev. v. Town of W. Yellowstone (2026 MT 203) arose from a...

FBI Investigative Conclusions as Admissible Public Records—and the Trial-Contaminating Effect of Erroneous Partial Summary Judgment on Consent-Based Claims

Date: Aug 26, 2026

FBI Investigative Conclusions as Admissible Public Records—and the Trial-Contaminating Effect of Erroneous Partial Summary Judgment on Consent-Based Claims Case: Jane Doe v. Carnival Corporation...

Pettway Reaffirmed: Title VII Participation Clause Bars Termination for Any EEOC-Charge Statements, Even If False

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Pettway Reaffirmed: Title VII Participation Clause Bars Termination for Any EEOC-Charge Statements, Even If False Case: Jeremy Ellis v. Sheriff, Hillsborough County Florida Court: U.S. Court of...

Verified Prisoner Complaints and Retaliatory Denials of Care: Summary-Judgment Limits in Eighth- and First-Amendment Medical Claims

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Verified Prisoner Complaints and Retaliatory Denials of Care: Summary-Judgment Limits in Eighth- and First-Amendment Medical Claims Case: Jonathan Michael Burton v. Dr. G. Espino (11th Cir. Aug. 25,...

Remote-Hearing Choice of Law: No Remand Required Where the IJ Provides an Alternative First Circuit Analysis Adopted by the BIA

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Remote-Hearing Choice of Law: No Remand Required Where the IJ Provides an Alternative First Circuit Analysis Adopted by the BIA 1. Introduction Bromfield v. Blanche (1st Cir. Aug. 25, 2026) arises...

Accelerated Termination and Withdrawal of Transition Benefits After a Discrimination Complaint Constitute Actionable Title VII Retaliation on Direct Evidence

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Accelerated Termination and Withdrawal of Transition Benefits After a Discrimination Complaint Constitute Actionable Title VII Retaliation on Direct Evidence 1. Introduction In Russo v. New Hampshire...

Intervening Callais Decision Requires Vacatur-and-Remand of Section 2 Injunctions Without Piecemeal Merits Parsing

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Intervening Callais Decision Requires Vacatur-and-Remand of Section 2 Injunctions Without Piecemeal Merits Parsing Introduction In Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. v. Secretary, State of Georgia...

Local-Rule Missteps Can Be “Excusable Neglect” for Late Fee Filings; Res Judicata-Barred Claims Support Defense Fee Awards

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Local-Rule Missteps Can Be “Excusable Neglect” for Late Fee Filings; Res Judicata-Barred Claims Support Defense Fee Awards 1. Introduction In David W. Foley, Jr. v. Orange County (11th Cir. Aug. 25,...

Rule 41(b) “Without Prejudice” Dismissals Become “With Prejudice” When Limitations Have Run—And Repeated Conference No‑Shows Can Justify the Ultimate Sanction

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Rule 41(b) “Without Prejudice” Dismissals Become “With Prejudice” When Limitations Have Run—And Repeated Conference No‑Shows Can Justify the Ultimate Sanction Case: Deandre Arnold v. City of Hampton,...

Post-Muldrow Adverse-Action Rule: “Some Injury” Suffices for Title VII Discrimination, but Retaliation Still Requires Material Harm

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Post-Muldrow Adverse-Action Rule: “Some Injury” Suffices for Title VII Discrimination, but Retaliation Still Requires Material Harm Case: Rishi Arora v. Miami-Dade County, Florida (11th Cir. Aug. 25,...