Verdict . News

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 The court issued an unpublished ruling upholding DOT's order on reconsideration.

•Court issued unpublished judgment, indicating the legal issues did not warrant published precedent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

•D.C. Circuit denied Spokane Airport Board's challenge to TSA emergency cybersecurity requirements

D.C. Circuit Upholds TSA Emergency Cybersecurity Rules for Airports

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit denied Spokane Airport Board's petition challenging TSA's emergency amendment requiring airports to implement specific cybersecurity measures. The court ruled that TSA acted within its statutory authority in response to increased cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector.

•Court ruled TSA acted within statutory authority granted after 9/11 to address aviation threats

Regulatory

•D.C. Circuit decided consolidated challenges to FERC order regarding Trans Alaska Pipeline System's Quality Bank compensation mechanism

D.C. Circuit Rules on Alaska Pipeline Quality Bank Dispute

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision January 23, 2026, in consolidated cases involving major energy companies challenging a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order regarding the Trans Alaska Pipeline System's quality compensation mechanism.

•Major energy companies including Petro Star Inc., ConocoPhillips Alaska, and TAPS Carriers petitioned for review of the federal regulatory order

Supreme Court

•D.C. Circuit issued decision on Jan. 23, 2026, after Supreme Court remand in terrorism financing case

D.C. Circuit Rules on AstraZeneca Terror Financing Case After SCOTUS Remand

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision in *Joshua Atchley v. AstraZeneca UK Limited*, a case involving allegations that pharmaceutical companies aided terrorism in Iraq. The ruling comes after the Supreme Court remanded the case for further consideration.

•Plaintiffs allege AstraZeneca and other companies aided Jaysh al-Mahdi terrorist group in Iraq

•D.C. Circuit issued decision January 23, 2026, marking fourth consideration of Holocaust art restitution case

DC Circuit Rules in Holocaust Art Restitution Case Against Hungary

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision January 23, 2026, in *David L. De Csepel v. Republic of Hungary*, marking the fourth time the court has considered a family's decades-long effort to recover artwork seized by Hungarian authorities and Nazi collaborators during World War II. The case stems from the systematic theft of Jewish property during Hungary's occupation by Nazi Germany in 1944.

•De Csepel family seeks recovery of artwork seized by Hungarian authorities and Nazi collaborators during WWII