conversion-liability-under-restatement-(second)-of-torts- Case Commentaries

APA Review of ESA Fishery Rules: Substantial Evidence and Notice-and-Comment Limits on Post‑Hoc Data

Date: Sep 2, 2026

APA Review of ESA Fishery Rules: Substantial Evidence and Notice-and-Comment Limits on Post‑Hoc Data Case: LA Shrimp Association v. Lutnick (5th Cir. Aug. 28, 2026) (unpublished) Court: United States...

Cisco Closes the Sosa Door: Alien Tort Statute Claims Limited to the “Blackstone Three”

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Cisco Closes the Sosa Door: Alien Tort Statute Claims Limited to the “Blackstone Three” 1. Introduction In Suhail Al Shimari v. CACI Premier Technology, Inc., No. 25-1043 (4th Cir. Aug. 28, 2026)...

IDEA Initial Evaluations Require All-or-Nothing Parental Consent; No FAPE Duty (and Duplicative ADA Relief) Without Consent

Date: Sep 2, 2026

IDEA Initial Evaluations Require All-or-Nothing Parental Consent; No FAPE Duty (and Duplicative ADA Relief) Without Consent I. Introduction In M. v. Aledo Independent School District (5th Cir. Aug....

Ambiguous Intoxication and Self-Inflicted Head Strikes: Qualified Immunity Absent Clearly Established Duty to Obtain Medical Care

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Ambiguous Intoxication and Self-Inflicted Head Strikes: Qualified Immunity Absent Clearly Established Duty to Obtain Medical Care Introduction Pena v. Starr County, Texas (5th Cir. Aug. 28, 2026)...

HRS § 12-8 as the Exclusive Pre‑Election Vehicle for Candidate-Eligibility Disputes; “Elected To” Term Limits Count Fixed Charter Terms Despite Delayed Swearing-In

Date: Sep 2, 2026

HRS § 12-8 as the Exclusive Pre‑Election Vehicle for Candidate-Eligibility Disputes; “Elected To” Term Limits Count Fixed Charter Terms Despite Delayed Swearing-In 1. Introduction Iwasa v. Nago...

McDonald v. United States (1st Cir. Aug. 28, 2026) — Davis § 924(c) General Verdicts Are Reviewed for Brecht Harmless Error (Not the Categorical Approach) and COAs Do Not Lie for Remedy-Choice Complaints Without a Constitutional Hook

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Davis § 924(c) General Verdicts Are Reviewed for Brecht Harmless Error (Not the Categorical Approach) and COAs Do Not Lie for Remedy-Choice Complaints Without a Constitutional Hook 1. Introduction...

Mass-Shooting Negligence Claims Trigger Assault-and-Battery Sublimits; Settlement Paying the Sublimit Exhausts Coverage and Ends the Insurer’s Defense Duty

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Mass-Shooting Negligence Claims Trigger Assault-and-Battery Sublimits; Settlement Paying the Sublimit Exhausts Coverage and Ends the Insurer’s Defense Duty Introduction Case: James River Insurance...

Emergency-Aid Seizures for Mental-Health Crises Are Judged Objectively (Not by Officer Motive), and Speculative “Muted Bodycam” Theories Cannot Defeat Qualified Immunity at the Pleading Stage

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Emergency-Aid Seizures for Mental-Health Crises Are Judged Objectively (Not by Officer Motive), and Speculative “Muted Bodycam” Theories Cannot Defeat Qualified Immunity at the Pleading Stage Case:...

Conceding ACCA Applicability at Sentencing “Invites” Predicate-Classification Error; Post-Erlinger Plain-Error Relief Requires Showing a Real Chance a Jury Would Find a Single Occasion

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Conceding ACCA Applicability at Sentencing “Invites” Predicate-Classification Error; Post-Erlinger Plain-Error Relief Requires Showing a Real Chance a Jury Would Find a Single Occasion Introduction...

Waiver and Invited-Error Limits on the “Malfunction Theory” in Massachusetts Product-Fire Cases

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Waiver and Invited-Error Limits on the “Malfunction Theory” in Massachusetts Product-Fire Cases Case: Citation Insurance Company v. Broan-NuTone LLC Court: United States Court of Appeals for the...

§ 666’s $5,000 “Transactional Element” May Be Proven by the Bribe-Giver’s Valuation Corroborated by Objective Indicia When Both Benefit and Bribe Are Intangible

Date: Sep 2, 2026

§ 666’s $5,000 “Transactional Element” May Be Proven by the Bribe-Giver’s Valuation Corroborated by Objective Indicia When Both Benefit and Bribe Are Intangible Case: United States v. Velez-Ramirez...

Rule 702 Requires Field-Specific Expertise: A Treating Surgeon’s Product Use Cannot Supply Design/Manufacturing Causation; Georgia Negligent Manufacturing Needs More Than a Malfunction

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Rule 702 Requires Field-Specific Expertise: A Treating Surgeon’s Product Use Cannot Supply Design/Manufacturing Causation; Georgia Negligent Manufacturing Needs More Than a Malfunction Introduction...

“Apparent Conflict” Limits: No DOT–VE Conflict Where Security Guard DOT Excludes Heights/Machinery and Claimant Relies on a “Rabbit Trail” of Definitions

Date: Sep 2, 2026

“Apparent Conflict” Limits: No DOT–VE Conflict Where Security Guard DOT Excludes Heights/Machinery and Claimant Relies on a “Rabbit Trail” of Definitions 1. Introduction In Robert Battle v. Social...

Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity Requires Dismissal Without Prejudice of ADA Title I (and Derivative Title V) Claims Against State University Boards; Ex parte Young Relief Unavailable Against State Agencies

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity Requires Dismissal Without Prejudice of ADA Title I (and Derivative Title V) Claims Against State University Boards; Ex parte Young Relief Unavailable Against...

Objective Probable Cause Sustains a “Pretext” Traffic Stop and Rule 403 Permits Drug-Handling Phone Videos to Prove Constructive Possession and Maintaining a Drug Premises

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Objective Probable Cause Sustains a “Pretext” Traffic Stop and Rule 403 Permits Drug-Handling Phone Videos to Prove Constructive Possession and Maintaining a Drug Premises Case: United States v....

MDLEA Jurisdiction in Foreign EEZs and Keene Harmless-Error Treatment of Post-Dupree Career-Offender Misclassification

Date: Sep 2, 2026

MDLEA Jurisdiction in Foreign EEZs and Keene Harmless-Error Treatment of Post-Dupree Career-Offender Misclassification 1. Introduction This consolidated, non-argument Eleventh Circuit decision...

Florida Lewd-or-Lascivious Battery Categorically Triggers § 2252A(b)(1)’s 15-Year Mandatory Minimum as “Relating to … Abusive Sexual Conduct Involving a Minor”

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Florida Lewd-or-Lascivious Battery Categorically Triggers § 2252A(b)(1)’s 15-Year Mandatory Minimum as “Relating to … Abusive Sexual Conduct Involving a Minor” Introduction In United States v. Joshua...

Harmless Dupree Career-Offender Error: Keene Alternative-Sentence Affirmance While Reaffirming MDLEA Jurisdiction in Foreign EEZs

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Harmless Dupree Career-Offender Error: Keene Alternative-Sentence Affirmance While Reaffirming MDLEA Jurisdiction in Foreign EEZs Introduction United States v. Luis Alfonso Nunez (consolidated with...

MDLEA Jurisdiction in a Foreign EEZ and “Statelessness-by-Nonconfirmation,” Plus Harmless Career-Offender Error Under Keene

Date: Sep 2, 2026

MDLEA Jurisdiction in a Foreign EEZ and “Statelessness-by-Nonconfirmation,” Plus Harmless Career-Offender Error Under Keene Case: United States v. Mario Tovar (consolidated appeals with Luis Alfonso...

Non-Retroactive Sentencing Changes Cannot Supply “Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons” for Compassionate Release

Date: Sep 2, 2026

Non-Retroactive Sentencing Changes Cannot Supply “Extraordinary and Compelling Reasons” for Compassionate Release Introduction United States v. Patrick Fitzgerald Porter (11th Cir. Aug. 28, 2026) is...