Verdict . News

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Fifth Circuit considering en banc review after August 2025 panel decision favored Texas

Fifth Circuit Considers En Banc Review in Texas v. Bondi EEOC Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is reviewing a petition for rehearing en banc in a significant employment law dispute between the State of Texas and federal officials including Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission leadership.

•Case involves Attorney General Bondi and entire EEOC leadership structure as defendants

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

•Four Allstate insurance companies appeal RICO fraud claims against Houston emergency center network

Allstate Pursues RICO Claims Against Houston Emergency Center Network

Four Allstate insurance companies have appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a racketeering case against a Houston emergency medical center network. The case involves RICO claims alleging mail fraud conspiracy related to Memorial Heights Emergency Center's billing practices.

•Case alleges mail fraud conspiracy under federal racketeering statutes targeting Memorial Heights Emergency Center

Jan 14, 2026•3 min read

•Fifth Circuit upheld BIA denial of Convention Against Torture protection for Salvadoran gang member

Fifth Circuit Denies Torture Protection for Salvadoran Gang Member

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied protection from deportation to Jose Fuentes-Pineda, a Salvadoran gang member convicted of murder who claimed he would face torture if returned to El Salvador. The court ruled that harsh prison conditions in El Salvador do not constitute government-intended torture under the Convention Against Torture.

•Court found El Salvador's harsh prison conditions don't constitute intentional government torture

Jan 14, 2026•2 min read

•Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of federal antitrust claims but reversed district court's diversity jurisdiction finding

5th Circuit Revives Antitrust Claims Against Caremark PBM Network

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals partially reversed a lower court's dismissal of antitrust claims by Rx Solutions against Caremark LLC and CVS Pharmacy Inc. The appeals court affirmed the dismissal of federal antitrust claims but found diversity jurisdiction exists for state law claims.

•Rx Solutions can proceed with two of three state law claims against Caremark and CVS Pharmacy

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

6th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Against Detroit Water Employee

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of the City of Detroit and supervisors in a discrimination lawsuit filed by former water department employee Carlotta Collins. Collins alleged race and sex discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment during her employment with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing all discrimination and retaliation claims

•Collins was terminated while her discrimination lawsuit was pending against Detroit Water Department

Regulatory

•Elder fraud losses increased 300% from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024

FTC Report: Elder Fraud Losses Jump 300% to $2.4 Billion in 2024

The Federal Trade Commission's annual report to Congress reveals that fraud losses among older adults skyrocketed from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024. The dramatic increase is driven primarily by investment scams targeting seniors through social media, with many victims losing over $100,000.

•Investment scams became the top fraud type targeting seniors, often initiated through social media platforms

Regulatory

•Complete voluntary recall of all Sea Moss Gel Superfood products by Diva Fam Inc.

FDA Announces Voluntary Recall of Sea Moss Gel Products Over Violations

Los Angeles-based Diva Fam Inc. announced a voluntary recall of all lots and flavors of its Sea Moss Gel Superfood products on Jan. 9, 2025, due to lack of required FDA regulatory authorization and missing temperature monitoring records for pH-controlled food products.

•Recall triggered by missing FDA regulatory authorization and temperature monitoring violations

Legal News

•Department of Labor establishes safety partnership with Methuen Obayashi Joint Venture for major tunnel construction project

DOL Partners with Methuen Obayashi on Cemetery Brook Tunnel Safety

The Department of Labor has announced a safety partnership with the Methuen Obayashi Joint Venture to promote workplace safety and health standards during the Cemetery Brook Drain Tunnel Project. This collaboration represents a proactive approach to preventing construction-related injuries and ensuring regulatory compliance on a major infrastructure initiative.

•Partnership focuses on implementing enhanced safety protocols for underground construction hazards

Regulatory

•FTC filed contempt motion against Cliq, Inc. and executives for violating 2015 fraud prevention order

FTC Seeks $52.9M in Penalties Against Payment Processor for Order Violations

The Federal Trade Commission has asked a federal court to hold payment processor Cliq, Inc. and its executives in contempt for systematically violating a 2015 order designed to prevent fraud in credit card processing. The agency is seeking $52.9 million in consumer relief and permanent industry bans for the company's CEO and CTO.

•Agency seeks $52.9 million in consumer relief and permanent industry bans for CEO and CTO