first-circuit-reinforces-first-amendment-protections-for-secret-audio-recording-of-police-in-public:-interpretation-of-massachusetts& Case Commentaries

Ambiguity in State Confidentiality Law Defeats “Clearly Established” Prong: Second Circuit Grants Qualified Immunity for VHRC Officials and Confirms the Commission’s Sovereign Immunity

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Ambiguity in State Confidentiality Law Defeats “Clearly Established” Prong: Second Circuit Grants Qualified Immunity for VHRC Officials and Confirms the Commission’s Sovereign Immunity Case: Leise v....

Good-Faith Reliance on Cellphone Warrants with Minimal Nexus: The Second Circuit’s Guidance in United States v. Santos

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Good-Faith Reliance on Cellphone Warrants with Minimal Nexus: The Second Circuit’s Guidance in United States v. Santos Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Summary Order) Date: August...

When “Hypothetical” Risk Factors Mask Realized Risks—and Strategy Labels Mislead: The Second Circuit’s Partial Revival of Peloton Securities Claims

Date: Aug 31, 2025

When “Hypothetical” Risk Factors Mask Realized Risks—and Strategy Labels Mislead: The Second Circuit’s Partial Revival of Peloton Securities Claims Introduction This commentary analyzes the Second...

O’Neill v. Deml: Second Circuit Holds No Duty to Warn Pro Se § 2254 Petitioners About Mixed Petitions, Stays, or AEDPA Deadlines

Date: Aug 31, 2025

O’Neill v. Deml: Second Circuit Holds No Duty to Warn Pro Se § 2254 Petitioners About Mixed Petitions, Stays, or AEDPA Deadlines Introduction In O’Neill v. Deml, No. 23-620 (2d Cir. Aug. 27, 2025),...

After Egbert, DHS’s § 287.10 Grievance Scheme Forecloses Bivens Claims Against HSI Agents; Fabrication‑Based False Arrest Presents a New Bivens Context in the Second Circuit

Date: Aug 31, 2025

After Egbert, DHS’s § 287.10 Grievance Scheme Forecloses Bivens Claims Against HSI Agents; Fabrication‑Based False Arrest Presents a New Bivens Context in the Second Circuit Introduction In...

Schnabel Goes Offline: Later‑Sent, Unflagged Arbitration Clauses in Mailed “Welcome Packages” Do Not Bind Absent Clear Notice and Assent

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Schnabel Goes Offline: Later‑Sent, Unflagged Arbitration Clauses in Mailed “Welcome Packages” Do Not Bind Absent Clear Notice and Assent Introduction In Sudakow v. CleanChoice Energy, Inc., the...

Depraved‑Mind Attempted Murder Qualifies as a “Crime of Violence” Under the Guidelines: United States v. Delgado (2d Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Depraved‑Mind Attempted Murder Qualifies as a “Crime of Violence” Under the Guidelines: United States v. Delgado (2d Cir. 2025) Introduction United States v. Delgado is a precedential Second Circuit...

CDIU Reports as Reliable Hearsay and a Basis to Discount Medical Opinions under Post‑2017 SSA Rules: Eleventh Circuit Clarifies in Gonzalez Castillo v. Commissioner

Date: Aug 31, 2025

CDIU Reports as Reliable Hearsay and a Basis to Discount Medical Opinions under Post‑2017 SSA Rules Commentary on: Marta Gonzalez Castillo v. Commissioner of Social Security (11th Cir. Aug. 27, 2025)...

Unchallenged Vocational Expert Testimony Suffices at Step Five; No Sua Sponte Duty to Verify Job Numbers: Eleventh Circuit in Screen v. Acting Commissioner of Social Security

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Unchallenged Vocational Expert Testimony Suffices at Step Five; No Sua Sponte Duty to Verify Job Numbers: Eleventh Circuit in Screen v. Acting Commissioner of Social Security Court: U.S. Court of...

Experience-Based Premium Rates and Private Fee Awards: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Lodestar Flexibility and Rejects Excessive Fines Challenge in Sanctions-Fee Case

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Experience-Based Premium Rates and Private Fee Awards: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Lodestar Flexibility and Rejects Excessive Fines Challenge in Sanctions-Fee Case Introduction In Spencer Sheehan v. Big...

Seriousness Over Statistical Averages: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Broad District Court Discretion Under § 3553(a) in Child‑Pornography Sentencing

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Seriousness Over Statistical Averages: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Broad District Court Discretion Under § 3553(a) in Child‑Pornography Sentencing Case: United States v. Jonathon Fernandez‑Herak, Nos....

Eleventh Circuit reaffirms discretion to prioritize offense seriousness over national sentencing averages under § 3553(a), upholding a below‑Guidelines sentence for child‑pornography distribution

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Eleventh Circuit reaffirms discretion to prioritize offense seriousness over national sentencing averages under § 3553(a), upholding a below‑Guidelines sentence for child‑pornography distribution...

No Safe Harbor in Broad, Circular “Professional” Groups: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Non‑Cognizability of Gang‑Targeted Professionals and Reiterates that Credibility Alone Does Not Compel Asylum

Date: Aug 31, 2025

No Safe Harbor in Broad, Circular “Professional” Groups: Eleventh Circuit Affirms Non‑Cognizability of Gang‑Targeted Professionals and Reiterates that Credibility Alone Does Not Compel Asylum Case:...

Sixth Circuit: Seeking a Merits Dismissal Before Invoking Arbitration Constitutes FAA “Default,” Extinguishing the Right to Arbitrate

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Sixth Circuit: Seeking a Merits Dismissal Before Invoking Arbitration Constitutes FAA “Default,” Extinguishing the Right to Arbitrate Introduction This published decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals...

Tenth Circuit Clarifies: Neutral COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation Is Not an ADA “Medical Inquiry,” and Termination for Noncompliance with a Generally Applicable Vaccine Policy Does Not State ADA Retaliation

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Tenth Circuit Clarifies: Neutral COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation Is Not an ADA “Medical Inquiry,” and Termination for Noncompliance with a Generally Applicable Vaccine Policy Does Not State ADA...

Parental Orchestration Is Not a Shield: Tenth Circuit Reaffirms Broad Discretion to Transfer Juveniles to Adult Court Where Dangerousness Outweighs Amenability to Treatment

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Parental Orchestration Is Not a Shield: Tenth Circuit Reaffirms Broad Discretion to Transfer Juveniles to Adult Court Where Dangerousness Outweighs Amenability to Treatment Case: United States v....

Counsel of Choice Is Not Absolute: Tenth Circuit Denies COA Where Indigent Defendant Sought Eleventh-Hour Substitution Without Showing Retained Counsel

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Counsel of Choice Is Not Absolute: Tenth Circuit Denies COA Where Indigent Defendant Sought Eleventh-Hour Substitution Without Showing Retained Counsel Introduction In United States v. Laskey, No....

No Innocent Construction for Accusations of POA Self‑Dealing; Employee Admissions Admissible to Prove Abuse of Qualified Privilege; Estate-Administrator Access Falls Within PIPA’s Good‑Faith Exception

Date: Aug 31, 2025

No Innocent Construction for Accusations of POA Self‑Dealing; Employee Admissions Admissible to Prove Abuse of Qualified Privilege; Estate-Administrator Access Falls Within PIPA’s Good‑Faith...

Intended Loss Includes Pre‑Scheme Funds Placed at Risk; No Investor‑by‑Investor Tracing Required, and Restitution May Cover All Scheme Victims — United States v. Miller (7th Cir. 2025)

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Intended Loss Includes Pre‑Scheme Funds Placed at Risk; No Investor‑by‑Investor Tracing Required, and Restitution May Cover All Scheme Victims — United States v. Miller (7th Cir. 2025) Introduction...

Toward the “Vanishing Point”: First Circuit Clarifies Minimal Weight for Structural Conflicts When Administrators Mitigate Bias and Provide Reasoned Explanations under ERISA — Commentary on Bernitz v. USAble Life

Date: Aug 31, 2025

Toward the “Vanishing Point”: First Circuit Clarifies Minimal Weight for Structural Conflicts When Administrators Mitigate Bias and Provide Reasoned Explanations under ERISA — Commentary on Bernitz...

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