Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims vs Racing Group

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of employment discrimination claims filed by Valerie Lowery against Jefferson County Racing Association. The appeals court found that Lowery's pro se complaint failed to state valid claims under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of Lowery's Title VII and ADA claims for failure to state a claim

•Plaintiff alleged race discrimination, disability discrimination, and retaliation against racing association

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of FCRA Claims vs TransUnion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of Fair Credit Reporting Act claims brought by Ray'Quan Harding against TransUnion LLC, Experian Information Solutions, and Upstart Network Inc. The unpublished decision represents another challenge for consumers seeking to hold credit reporting agencies accountable under federal law.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of FCRA claims against TransUnion, Experian, and Upstart Network

•Case involved allegations of inaccurate credit reporting related to a $5,000 personal loan

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds Firearm Conviction in Hobbs Act Robbery Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit rejected Jordan Lewis's appeal of his federal firearm conviction, which was based on brandishing a weapon during a Hobbs Act robbery. Lewis had argued that Hobbs Act robbery should not qualify as a crime of violence under federal sentencing guidelines.

•Lewis was convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) for brandishing a firearm in relation to a Hobbs Act robbery

•He challenged whether Hobbs Act robbery qualifies as a crime of violence under federal law

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Affirms Prison Officials' Win in Inmate Conditions Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for prison officials at East Moline Correctional Center in a case where inmate Jaryan Gills alleged Eighth Amendment violations. Gills claimed he was forced to live without basic sanitation facilities and denied bathroom access after being assaulted by another inmate.

•Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for prison officials in Eighth Amendment case

•Inmate alleged he was forced to live without sink or toilet after assault by another prisoner

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Rules in Boyd v. Northern Biomedical Research Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a decision in Robert B. Boyd v. Northern Biomedical Research, Inc., resolving an employment-related dispute between an individual plaintiff and a Michigan biomedical research corporation and its executives.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed lower court ruling in favor of Northern Biomedical Research, Inc. and individual defendants

•Case involves employment dispute between Robert Boyd and Michigan biomedical research company

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds 50-Year Prison Term for Child Exploitation

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a maximum 50-year prison sentence for Eric Kelsey Shepherd, who pleaded guilty to enticing a minor to participate in sexually explicit visual depictions. The federal appellate court rejected Shepherd's challenge to his sentencing guidelines calculations and his request for concurrent sentencing with anticipated state charges.

•Eric Shepherd received the statutory maximum 50-year sentence for enticing a minor to participate in sexually explicit visual depictions

•The Sixth Circuit rejected his appeal challenging sentencing guidelines calculations and concurrent sentencing requests

State Court

•Washington Supreme Court reversed dual assault convictions on double jeopardy grounds

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Reverses Dual Assault Convictions on Double Jeopardy

The Washington State Supreme Court partially reversed Anthony Lee's convictions for two counts of second-degree assault, ruling that beating a victim with a gun and then shooting at her constituted a singular course of conduct that violated double jeopardy protections.

•Court held that beating victim with gun and shooting at her was singular course of conduct

State Court

•SWAT team conducted pre-dawn operation, separated defendant from family, and restrained him with zip-ties

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Rules on Miranda Rights in SWAT Detention Case

The Washington State Supreme Court issued a ruling in State v. Magana-Arevalo examining whether police violated Miranda rights during a December 2018 SWAT operation. The case involves the detention and interrogation of Cristian Magaña Arévalo, who was separated from his family, restrained, and questioned without Miranda warnings during a pre-dawn police operation.

•Police questioned defendant without Miranda warnings after claiming he was 'not under arrest'

State Court

•Washington Supreme Court issued en banc ruling clarifying 'affected by' standard in DUI cases

Washington Supreme Court

Washington Supreme Court Clarifies 'Affected By' Standard in DUI Cases

The Washington State Supreme Court issued an en banc ruling in *State v. Wasuge*, addressing the legal standard for proving 'affected by' intoxication in felony DUI and physical control cases under state law.

•Case involves interpretation of RCW 46.61.502(1)(c) and RCW 46.61.504(1)(c) statutes