establishing-personal-jurisdiction-requires-targeted-activities Case Commentaries

No Evidentiary Hearing in Civil Contempt Absent a Genuine Dispute of Material Fact; Service on Counsel Can Supply Notice for Seizure-Warrant Compliance

Date: Aug 26, 2026

No Evidentiary Hearing in Civil Contempt Absent a Genuine Dispute of Material Fact; Service on Counsel Can Supply Notice for Seizure-Warrant Compliance Case: United States v. Reynoso (No. 25-1328) |...

Rule 25’s 90-Day Clock Runs Absent a Successor/Representative, and Unserved Defendants Cannot Be Dismissed With Prejudice

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Rule 25’s 90-Day Clock Runs Absent a Successor/Representative, and Unserved Defendants Cannot Be Dismissed With Prejudice Case: Jeevan Malhotra v. Ajit Kumar (11th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026) (per curiam)...

Cancellation of Removal Hardship Review: Deferential Substantial-Evidence Scrutiny and the Required Showing of Unavailable Medical Care Abroad

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Cancellation of Removal Hardship Review: Deferential Substantial-Evidence Scrutiny and the Required Showing of Unavailable Medical Care Abroad Case: Pranaykumar Umedbhai Patel v. U.S. Attorney...

Downing: Conclusory Group Pleading Fails Under Iqbal/Twombly; Monell Amendment Futile Without Policy/Custom; Pro Se Appellate Abandonment

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Conclusory “Group Pleading” Cannot Sustain a Pro Se § 1983 Claim; Monell Amendment Is Futile Absent an Alleged Policy/Custom; Issues Not Briefed in the Opening Appeal Are Abandoned 1. Introduction In...

Supervised-Release No-Contact Conditions Upheld When Tied to § 3553(a) and Supported by Reliable Corroborated Hearsay

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Supervised-Release No-Contact Conditions Upheld When Tied to § 3553(a) and Supported by Reliable Corroborated Hearsay 1. Introduction In United States v. Antonio Oscar Tatum (11th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026)...

First Step Act § 404(b) Resentencing Cannot Reduce Statutory Mandatory-Minimum Supervised Release Using Nonretroactive § 401 Changes or Related Guidelines (Post-Concepcion)

Date: Aug 26, 2026

First Step Act § 404(b) Resentencing Cannot Reduce Statutory Mandatory-Minimum Supervised Release Using Nonretroactive § 401 Changes or Related Guidelines (Post-Concepcion) Introduction United States...

Rule 8(a) as a Standalone Basis to Dismiss Prolix § 1983 Complaints—and Appellate Forfeiture When the Rule 8 Ruling Is Not Challenged

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Rule 8(a) as a Standalone Basis to Dismiss Prolix § 1983 Complaints—and Appellate Forfeiture When the Rule 8 Ruling Is Not Challenged 1. Introduction Anderson v. Woods (10th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026) arose...

Word-Limit Rejection of Prison Grievance Appeals Constitutes Non-Exhaustion Under the PLRA; § 1997e(a) Dismissals Must Be Without Prejudice

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Word-Limit Rejection of Prison Grievance Appeals Constitutes Non-Exhaustion Under the PLRA; § 1997e(a) Dismissals Must Be Without Prejudice 1. Introduction In Brandon Porter v. Christopher Hoch (7th...

Consistent, Supplemented Hiring Explanations Do Not Show Pretext Absent Evidence of Mendacity

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Consistent, Supplemented Hiring Explanations Do Not Show Pretext Absent Evidence of Mendacity 1. Introduction Richard Highbaugh v. Exelead, Inc. (7th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026) arises from a failed...

Harmless-Error Affirmance Where Disputed Lay/Expert Yield Estimates Do Not Cure a Failure of Proof on Conversion

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Harmless-Error Affirmance Where Disputed Lay/Expert Yield Estimates Do Not Cure a Failure of Proof on Conversion 1. Introduction Valley View Farms v. BOS Dairy LLC (7th Cir. Aug. 24, 2026) arises out...

Continuous Michigan Class-Action Tolling for § 1983 Takings Claims When a Putative Class Case Is Reopened (MCR 3.501(F))

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Continuous Michigan Class-Action Tolling for § 1983 Takings Claims When a Putative Class Case Is Reopened (MCR 3.501(F)) 1. Introduction Brent Perry v. St. Joseph Cnty., Mich. arises out of Michigan...

Sixth Circuit: Younger Abstention Does Not Apply to a State University’s Preliminary Investigation Absent a Formal, Ongoing Disciplinary Proceeding

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Sixth Circuit: Younger Abstention Does Not Apply to a State University’s Preliminary Investigation Absent a Formal, Ongoing Disciplinary Proceeding I. Introduction In Ramsi Woodcock v. Univ. of Ky.,...

Two-Step Gatekeeping for “Claimed Board-Certified” Specialties and Alleged Care-at-Issue Under A.R.S. § 12-2604

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Two-Step Gatekeeping for “Claimed Board-Certified” Specialties and Alleged Care-at-Issue Under A.R.S. § 12-2604 1. Introduction AROJOJOYE v. ALLEN is an Arizona Supreme Court decision addressing...

Jurisdiction First: Speculative Traceability Defeats Article III Standing and Requires a Without-Prejudice Dismissal

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Jurisdiction First: Speculative Traceability Defeats Article III Standing and Requires a Without-Prejudice Dismissal 1. Introduction Fiona Blair v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (11th Cir....

Title IX “Before-the-Fact” Liability: Hiring/Retention Deliberate Indifference Based on Known Prior Sexual-Misconduct Suspension

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Title IX “Before-the-Fact” Liability: Hiring/Retention Deliberate Indifference Based on Known Prior Sexual-Misconduct Suspension Case: Jane Doe, II v. Founding Fourteen, Inc (11th Cir. Aug. 21, 2026)...

Unimplemented Criminal-Code Changes and Family Threats Do Not Establish “Material Changed Country Conditions” to Excuse Untimely, Number-Barred Motions to Reopen

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Unimplemented Criminal-Code Changes and Family Threats Do Not Establish “Material Changed Country Conditions” to Excuse Untimely, Number-Barred Motions to Reopen 1. Introduction In Masri Sastrawan v....

United States v. Braxton: General Sentencing Objection Forfeits Specific Procedural Claims; § 3553(c) Satisfied When Reasons Are Clear From the Record

Date: Aug 26, 2026

United States v. Braxton: General Sentencing Objection Forfeits Specific Procedural Claims; § 3553(c) Satisfied When Reasons Are Clear From the Record Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh...

Explicit Sentencing Findings Required for §2D1.1(b)(1) Firearm Enhancements—Especially When Based on Co‑Conspirator Conduct

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Explicit Sentencing Findings Required for § 2D1.1(b)(1) Firearm Enhancements—Especially When Based on Co‑Conspirator Conduct Case: United States v. Victor Uriel Diego Estrada (11th Cir. Aug. 21,...

Rule 60(b) Relief After a Younger Dismissal: No “Prospective” Judgment, No “Extraordinary Circumstances,” and Frivolous Constitutional Attacks on Texas’s Vexatious-Litigant Regime

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Rule 60(b) Relief After a Younger Dismissal: No “Prospective” Judgment, No “Extraordinary Circumstances,” and Frivolous Constitutional Attacks on Texas’s Vexatious-Litigant Regime 1. Introduction In...

Fifth Circuit Mandamus: District Courts Must Apply the § 1404(a) Eight-Factor Framework; Timeliness Alone Cannot Defeat Transfer

Date: Aug 26, 2026

Mandamus Requiring a § 1404(a) Eight-Factor Venue Analysis: Timeliness Cannot Be Treated as Dispositive Case: In re Media Matters for America; Eric Hananoki; Angelo Carusone, No. 25-10630 Court:...