federal Case Commentaries

Second Circuit reaffirms: delayed school-location notice does not deny FAPE absent prejudice; overlapping IEP services can satisfy goals without music, hearing, or vision therapies

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Second Circuit reaffirms: delayed school-location notice does not deny FAPE absent prejudice; overlapping IEP services can satisfy goals without music, hearing, or vision therapies Introduction In...

After Rahimi, McCane Still Rules: Tenth Circuit Reaffirms § 922(g)(1) Against Nonviolent-Felon As-Applied Challenges (United States v. Forbis & Smith)

Date: Oct 1, 2025

After Rahimi, McCane Still Rules: Tenth Circuit Reaffirms § 922(g)(1) Against Nonviolent-Felon As-Applied Challenges (United States v. Forbis & Smith) Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth...

Outrageous-Conduct Claims, Brady Duties on Confidential Informants, and No Confrontation Right to Compel Informant Testimony Absent Testimonial Statements — United States v. Marcus D. Flintroy (11th Cir. 2025)

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Outrageous-Conduct Claims, Brady Duties on Confidential Informants, and No Confrontation Right to Compel Informant Testimony Absent Testimonial Statements — United States v. Marcus D. Flintroy (11th...

Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms: Successive Reconsideration Motions Do Not Toll Tax Court Appeal Deadlines; Actual Receipt of a Deficiency Notice Suffices Without Certified‑Mail Proof

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms: Successive Reconsideration Motions Do Not Toll Tax Court Appeal Deadlines; Actual Receipt of a Deficiency Notice Suffices Without Certified‑Mail Proof Case: Joseph Belcik...

Unusual Deference to Mandated Reporters Reaffirmed; Consent-Based Home Body Checks Upheld; Qualified Immunity Shields § 1983 “Malicious Prosecution” Theories Based on Article 10 Petitions — Commentary on Stollman v. Williams (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Unusual Deference to Mandated Reporters Reaffirmed; Consent-Based Home Body Checks Upheld; Qualified Immunity Shields § 1983 “Malicious Prosecution” Theories Based on Article 10 Petitions Commentary...

Abandonment Is Fatal: Second Circuit Reaffirms “One Central Reason” Nexus for Withholding and CAT Acquiescence Requirement; Refers Counsel to Grievance Panel (Guerrero-Andachz v. Bondi)

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Abandonment Is Fatal: Second Circuit Reaffirms “One Central Reason” Nexus for Withholding and CAT Acquiescence Requirement; Refers Counsel to Grievance Panel Introduction In Guerrero-Andachz v....

Second Circuit Reinforces Specificity in Software Trade Secrets and Limits NDAs to Information Actually Treated as Confidential — Capricorn Mgmt. Sys., Inc. v. GEICO & CCC (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Second Circuit Reinforces Specificity in Software Trade Secrets and Limits NDAs to Information Actually Treated as Confidential — Capricorn Mgmt. Sys., Inc. v. GEICO & CCC (2d Cir. 2025) Court: U.S....

Beyond Dollars: Eleventh Circuit Endorses Upward Variances for Cyberfraud Based on Non‑Economic Harms and Extraterritorial Conduct — United States v. Ayeni

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Beyond Dollars: Eleventh Circuit Endorses Upward Variances for Cyberfraud Based on Non‑Economic Harms and Extraterritorial Conduct — United States v. Ayeni Introduction In United States v. Babatunde...

Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms: Successive Reconsideration Motions Do Not Extend the 90-Day Appeal Period from Tax Court Decisions; Actual Receipt of a Deficiency Notice Obviates Proof of Certified Mailing

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms: Successive Reconsideration Motions Do Not Extend the 90-Day Appeal Period from Tax Court Decisions; Actual Receipt of a Deficiency Notice Obviates Proof of Certified...

Competency vs. Credibility: First Circuit okays judicial notice of a witness’s prior plea-competency finding and clarifies appeals from Rule 37 indicative rulings — United States v. Vázquez‑Rijos

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Competency vs. Credibility: First Circuit okays judicial notice of a witness’s prior plea-competency finding and clarifies appeals from Rule 37 indicative rulings — United States v. Vázquez‑Rijos...

Competency Is Not Credibility: First Circuit Upholds Judicial Notice of Prior Plea Competency and Clarifies Appellate Procedure for Rule 37 Motions

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Competency Is Not Credibility: First Circuit Upholds Judicial Notice of Prior Plea Competency and Clarifies Appellate Procedure for Rule 37 Motions Introduction In United States v. Vázquez-Rijos, the...

Competency Is Not Credibility: First Circuit Approves Limited Judicial Notice of Prior Plea Competency and Clarifies Appellate Practice for Rule 37 Motions in United States v. Vázquez-Rijos

Date: Oct 1, 2025

Competency Is Not Credibility: First Circuit Approves Limited Judicial Notice of Prior Plea Competency and Clarifies Appellate Practice for Rule 37 Motions in United States v. Vázquez-Rijos...

Breach-of-Trust, Not Double Counting: The Eleventh Circuit affirms consecutive, within-Guidelines revocation sentences despite an upward variance on the new offense (United States v. Foley)

Date: Sep 30, 2025

Breach-of-Trust, Not Double Counting: The Eleventh Circuit affirms consecutive, within-Guidelines revocation sentences despite an upward variance on the new offense Introduction In United States v....

No Interlocutory Appeal of Qualified Immunity Denials When Genuine Fact Disputes Persist: Cornelius v. Luna (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Sep 30, 2025

No Interlocutory Appeal of Qualified Immunity Denials When Genuine Fact Disputes Persist: Cornelius v. Luna (2d Cir. 2025) Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Summary Order,...

Sixth Circuit Applies Muldrow to Title VII Religion Claims, Abrogates “Independent Harm” Rule, and Treats Coercive Sincerity Interviews as Potential Retaliation

Date: Sep 30, 2025

Sixth Circuit Applies Muldrow to Title VII Religion Claims, Abrogates “Independent Harm” Rule, and Treats Coercive Sincerity Interviews as Potential Retaliation Introduction In Jeffrey Bilyeu v....

EEZs Count as “High Seas,” MDLEA’s Stateless-Vessel Rule Stands, and No U.S. Nexus Is Required: Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms in United States v. Juan De Leon Berroa

Date: Sep 30, 2025

EEZs Count as “High Seas,” MDLEA’s Stateless-Vessel Rule Stands, and No U.S. Nexus Is Required: Eleventh Circuit Reaffirms in United States v. Juan De Leon Berroa Introduction In United States v....

Harmless Error Permits Reliance on a Dismissed Co‑Defendant’s Expert Disclosure: Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Where Opponent Had Notice and Opportunity to Respond

Date: Sep 30, 2025

Harmless Error Permits Reliance on a Dismissed Co‑Defendant’s Expert Disclosure Seventh Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Where Opponent Had Notice and Opportunity to Respond Introduction In a...

Nebraska Failure‑to‑Warn Law Clarified: Learned Intermediary Extends to Proximate Cause and Supports Merging Negligence and Strict Liability Claims

Date: Sep 30, 2025

Nebraska Failure‑to‑Warn Law Clarified: Learned Intermediary Extends to Proximate Cause and Supports Merging Negligence and Strict Liability Claims Introduction In Jeffrey Thelen v. Somatics, LLC,...

Lying About Indictment Status on Form 4473 Is “Material” Under § 922(a)(6) Where § 922(n) Is Facially Valid: Commentary on United States v. Reilly (10th Cir. 2025)

Date: Sep 30, 2025

Lying About Indictment Status on Form 4473 Is “Material” Under § 922(a)(6) Where § 922(n) Is Facially Valid: Commentary on United States v. Reilly (10th Cir. 2025) Introduction In United States v....

Post‑Abitron, Narrowing an Injunction Does Not Strip Prevailing‑Party Status or Preclude Exceptional‑Case Fees Under § 1117(a)

Date: Sep 30, 2025

Post‑Abitron, Narrowing an Injunction Does Not Strip Prevailing‑Party Status or Preclude Exceptional‑Case Fees Under § 1117(a) Introduction In this unpublished per curiam decision, the Eleventh...

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