Verdict . News

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Upholds Warrantless Home Search Based on Defendant Consent

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that Steven Shobert voluntarily consented to a warrantless search of his home, allowing officers to discover weapons including a fully automatic rifle. The court applied the totality-of-circumstances test to determine consent voluntariness.

•Tenth Circuit affirmed that Steven Shobert voluntarily consented to warrantless home search

•Officers discovered multiple weapons including fully automatic rifle during search

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of FLSA, Title VII Claims Against Waste Pro

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of employment claims brought by Junior Orlando Andrew against his former employer, Waste Pro of Florida. Andrew, representing himself pro se, had alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act regarding overtime pay and retaliation, as well as Title VII claims for race discrimination and hostile work environment.

•Pro se plaintiff Junior Orlando Andrew lost his appeal against Waste Pro of Florida in the Eleventh Circuit

•Claims included FLSA overtime violations, retaliation, and Title VII race discrimination allegations

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

DC Circuit Affirms Partial Sealing of DOJ Digital Surveillance Orders

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision to keep portions of Justice Department applications for non-disclosure orders under the Stored Communications Act sealed, rejecting arguments from Empower Oversight Whistleblowers & Research that the public has a First Amendment right to access these surveillance records.

•D.C. Circuit affirmed district court's partial denial of unsealing DOJ surveillance applications under Stored Communications Act

•Empower Oversight argued unsuccessfully that applications were judicial records subject to First Amendment access rights

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Patent Board Rulings Against Eagle View

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential decision affirming Patent Trial and Appeal Board rulings that found multiple claims in Eagle View Technologies' aerial imaging patents unpatentable. The February 3, 2026 ruling resolves appeals from two inter partes review proceedings involving patents held by Eagle View against competitor Nearmap US.

•Federal Circuit affirmed Patent Trial and Appeal Board rulings invalidating multiple Eagle View Technologies patent claims

•Board found claims in two aerial imaging patents unpatentable as obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms PTAB Decision in Nearmap v. Pictometry Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision in a patent dispute between aerial imaging companies Nearmap US, Inc. and Pictometry International Corporation. The nonprecedential ruling issued Feb. 3 concludes an inter partes review proceeding that began in 2022.

•Federal Circuit affirmed PTAB decision in Nearmap v. Pictometry patent dispute

•Court issued nonprecedential judgment under Rule 36 without written opinion

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Issues Summary Order in Credit Suisse Shareholder Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on February 3, 2026, in Stevenson v. Thornburgh, a shareholder derivative lawsuit involving Credit Suisse Group AG. The case involves shareholders suing multiple Credit Suisse executives and KPMG auditors over alleged corporate misconduct.

•Second Circuit issued non-precedential summary order in shareholder derivative case against Credit Suisse executives

•Lawsuit targets over 40 defendants including former CEO Richard E. Thornburgh and KPMG auditors

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Rules on GEICO RICO Case Against NY Doctor

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in GEICO v. Patel, a RICO case involving allegations that Dr. Bhargav Patel and his medical practice defrauded GEICO by exploiting New York's no-fault automobile insurance laws. The case centers on a preliminary injunction preventing the defendants from pursuing over 600 collection actions against GEICO.

•GEICO sued Dr. Bhargav Patel under RICO, alleging exploitation of New York's no-fault insurance laws

•Defendants filed over 600 collection actions against GEICO totaling more than $2 million

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Backs NLRB Subpoena Power in Multi-Company Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a district court order enforcing National Labor Relations Board subpoenas against Universal Smart Contracts LLC and three related entities. The February 3, 2026 decision rejected all jurisdictional challenges and upheld an award of attorneys' fees to the NLRB.

•Second Circuit affirmed enforcement of four NLRB administrative subpoenas against related companies

•Court rejected all jurisdictional challenges including subject-matter jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction, and venue

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Vacates Target Dismissal in Pro Se Employment Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of Marquitta Regaolo's employment discrimination lawsuit against Target Corporation. The appeals court ordered the case remanded for further proceedings after finding the lower court erred in dismissing the pro se plaintiff's complaint.

•Third Circuit vacated district court dismissal of pro se employment discrimination case

•Appeals court found error in dismissing case solely for failure to file opposition brief