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Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Affirms District Court in Groisman v. Jeffrey Zwick Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court judgment in a case involving Daniel Groisman and law firm Jeffrey Zwick & Associates. The appeals court issued a summary order on January 6, 2026, upholding the Eastern District of New York's decision from January 2025.

•Second Circuit affirmed Eastern District of New York decision in summary order with no precedential effect

•Case involved law firm Jeffrey Zwick & Associates and multiple other defendants in complex litigation

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Affirms Criminal Conviction of Lamor Whitehead

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the criminal conviction of Lamor Whitehead in a summary order issued January 6, 2026. The three-judge panel upheld a judgment entered by the Southern District of New York on June 17, 2024.

•Second Circuit affirmed Lamor Whitehead's criminal conviction in summary order

•Three-judge panel upheld June 2024 judgment from Southern District of New York

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Pro Se Civil Rights Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit summarily affirmed a district court's dismissal of a civil rights complaint filed by Abrahim Fata against Charles and Martha Lang. The court upheld the lower court's decision to dismiss conspiracy allegations as frivolous under federal in forma pauperis statutes.

•Third Circuit summarily affirmed dismissal of pro se civil rights complaint filed by Abrahim Fata

•District court dismissed conspiracy allegations as frivolous under federal in forma pauperis statute

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms DOL Victory Against PA Home Care Agency

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for the Department of Labor against Wicare Home Care Agency LLC and Luis D. Hernandez in a Fair Labor Standards Act case. The non-precedential ruling upholds federal enforcement of minimum wage and overtime requirements for in-home care workers.

•Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Department of Labor against Wicare Home Care Agency

•Court rejected challenge to regulation limiting third-party employers' use of companionship services exemption

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 6, 2026•1 min read

3rd Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction in International Waters Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction of Randar Vasquez Munoz for drug offenses committed aboard a vessel in international waters off Colombia. The case involved a November 2020 Coast Guard interception that resulted in the seizure of 383 kilograms of cocaine.

•Third Circuit affirmed conviction of Randar Vasquez Munoz for drug offenses aboard vessel with 383 kilograms of cocaine

•Coast Guard intercepted stateless vessel 115 nautical miles from Colombia in November 2020 after high-speed chase

•Fourth Circuit affirmed hospital's termination of respiratory therapist who refused COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds

4th Circuit Affirms Hospital's COVID Vaccine Mandate in Religious Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Charleston Area Medical Center's termination of respiratory therapist Charles Miller for refusing COVID-19 vaccination based on religious beliefs. The court held that accommodating an unvaccinated respiratory therapist would pose substantial health risks constituting undue hardship under Title VII.

•Court held that accommodating unvaccinated respiratory therapist would pose substantial health risks constituting undue hardship

•Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for United Airlines in employment discrimination case filed by Leslie Anthony

4th Circuit Affirms United Airlines Win in Flight Attendant Bias Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court's summary judgment for United Airlines in an employment discrimination case filed by Leslie Anthony, a Black woman in her late fifties who was terminated during her probationary period as a flight attendant.

•Anthony, a Black woman in her late fifties, was terminated during probationary period for three attendance violations

•Fourth Circuit panel unanimously affirmed the conviction in a January 6, 2026 decision

4th Circuit Affirms Strother Criminal Conviction in Unpublished Opinion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a criminal conviction against Robert Lee Strother in an unpublished opinion issued January 6, 2026. The three-judge panel unanimously upheld the district court's ruling from the Eastern District of North Carolina.

•Case originated from the Eastern District of North Carolina under Judge James C. Dever III

Jan 6, 2026•5 min read

•Fourth Circuit partially reversed district court dismissal of discrimination claims against Baltimore Police Department

4th Circuit Issues Split Ruling in Baltimore Police Discrimination Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit delivered a mixed decision in Wanda Johnson v. Baltimore City, affirming parts of a lower court ruling while reversing others in a civil rights case against the Baltimore Police Department. The January 6, 2026 ruling drew a dissenting opinion and sends portions back to district court.

•Case involves Title VII racial discrimination and retaliation allegations by former police department employee