Verdict . News

•D.C. Circuit granted en banc rehearing in consolidated climate finance cases involving EPA, Citibank, and Climate United Fund

DC Circuit Grants En Banc Review in Climate Fund vs. EPA, Citibank Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted petitions for en banc rehearing in consolidated cases involving Climate United Fund, Citibank, and the EPA. A majority of eligible judges voted in favor of the petitions, with oral arguments scheduled for February 2026.

•Majority of eligible judges voted for rehearing, indicating significant legal importance

Regulatory

•D.C. Circuit dismissed Independent Market Monitor's petition challenging FERC decision on meeting access

D.C. Circuit Dismisses PJM Market Monitor's Access Appeal for Lack of Standing

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a petition by the Independent Market Monitor for PJM Interconnection, ruling the monitor lacked standing to challenge FERC's decision allowing PJM to exclude the monitor from board-liaison committee meetings.

•Court ruled the monitor lacked standing to challenge PJM's exclusion from Board-Liaison Committee meetings

•D.C. Circuit unanimously affirmed district court's dismissal of lawsuit against President Trump

D.C. Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Uzamere Lawsuit Against Trump

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by business owner Cheryl D. Uzamere against President Donald Trump and other federal officials. The three-judge panel ruled that Uzamere's complaint failed to meet basic federal pleading standards.

•Court ruled plaintiff's complaint failed to meet basic federal pleading standards under Bell Atlantic v. Twombly

Regulatory

Jan 23, 2026•2 min read

•D.C. Circuit affirmed dismissal of Consumer Financial Protection Act claims against Ocwen Financial Corporation

D.C. Circuit Blocks Consumer Suits Against Mortgage Servicer Ocwen

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of consumer claims against Ocwen Financial Corporation, ruling that homeowners cannot privately enforce Consumer Financial Protection Act provisions. The January 2026 decision limits private enforcement of federal consumer protection laws.

•Court ruled consumers cannot privately enforce CFPB sections 5531 and 5536 without explicit congressional authorization

Regulatory

•Consumer advocacy groups challenged FERC orders related to PJM grid tariff amendments that could have cost consumers hundreds of millions

D.C. Circuit Rules on Consumer Challenge to FERC Energy Pricing Orders

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision Monday in a case where consumer advocacy groups led by the Maryland Office of People's Counsel challenged Federal Energy Regulatory Commission orders related to electricity pricing in the PJM grid system. The case involves tariff amendments that could have imposed hundreds of millions of dollars in costs on consumers across 13 states.

•Third Circuit previously vacated similar FERC approval, citing violations of the filed-rate doctrine

•D.C. Circuit denied CenturyTel's petition and enforced NLRB order finding labor law violations

DC Circuit Denies CenturyTel Appeal, Enforces NLRB Labor Ruling

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied CenturyTel of Montana's petition to overturn an NLRB ruling that found the telecommunications company violated federal labor law by failing to provide information to its union. The court granted enforcement of the labor board's order against the Lumen Technologies subsidiary.

•Company violated federal law by refusing union's request for information about non-union technicians

•D.C. Circuit denied Boutique Air's petition challenging DOT's Essential Air Service decision for Jackson, Tennessee

D.C. Circuit Denies Boutique Air's Challenge to DOT Air Service Decision

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied Boutique Air Inc.'s petition challenging the Department of Transportation's decision regarding Essential Air Service subsidies for Jackson, Tennessee's regional airport. The court issued an unpublished ruling upholding DOT's order on reconsideration.

•Court issued unpublished judgment, indicating the legal issues did not warrant published precedent

•D.C. Circuit dismissed consolidated appeals as moot after State Department completed visa processing during appeals

D.C. Circuit Dismisses Immigration Visa Delay Case as Moot

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit dismissed consolidated appeals challenging State Department visa processing delays after the agency completed adjudication of the contested applications during the appeals process.

•Two applicants challenged unreasonable delays in visa adjudication under administrative processing status

•The D.C. Circuit affirmed a district court judgment favoring Hilton Hotels Retirement Plan in a 26-year-old class action lawsuit

D.C. Circuit Affirms Victory for Hilton in 26-Year ERISA Class Action

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court's judgment in favor of Hilton Hotels Retirement Plan in a class action lawsuit that began in 1998. The case represents one of the longest-running employment benefits disputes in federal court.

•The case originally alleged violations of ERISA's anti-backloading and vesting provisions, with early court rulings favoring the plaintiff class