Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Against Legally Blind Inmate's ADA Claims

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling against Kevin Lewis, a legally blind plaintiff who sued Georgia county sheriffs for allegedly denying disability accommodations during his jail detention.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment against legally blind inmate Kevin Lewis who sued Georgia county sheriffs for ADA violations

•Lewis was denied accommodations for reading documents, navigation, and accessing jail services during detentions lasting less than 48 hours and 16 days

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 156-Month Fentanyl Distribution Sentence

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected Stephen Jerome Brinson's appeal of his 156-month prison sentence for fentanyl distribution. Brinson had argued the sentence was substantively unreasonable because the district court failed to consider mitigating factors including his age, health, remorse, and time already served.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 156-month sentence for Stephen Jerome Brinson's fentanyl distribution conviction

•Brinson argued the upward variance was unreasonable due to unconsidered mitigating factors including age, health, and remorse

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Dismisses Civil Rights Case Against Arizona Officials

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit dismissed a civil rights lawsuit filed by pro se plaintiff Darius Johnson Bey against the State of Arizona, Phoenix Police Department, and several officials. The unpublished memorandum decision affirmed a lower court's dismissal of claims arising from a traffic stop and subsequent arrest.

•Ninth Circuit dismissed pro se civil rights lawsuit against Arizona officials and Phoenix Police

•Case involved claims under Section 1983 arising from traffic stop and arrest

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms $450K Civil Award for Child Exploitation Victims

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a civil judgment awarding three victims of child sexual exploitation $150,000 each in statutory damages. The case involves Andrew Franklin Kowalczyk, who was previously convicted on nine federal counts of sexual exploitation of children.

•Three victims each awarded maximum $150,000 statutory damages under federal law

•Defendant previously convicted on nine federal child exploitation charges

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Disbarred Attorney's Civil Rights Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of a Section 1983 civil rights lawsuit filed by Arthur Edward Ezor, a disbarred California attorney, against the State Bar of California and multiple officials. The unpublished memorandum decision represents another failed attempt by a former attorney to challenge disciplinary proceedings through federal civil rights claims.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of Section 1983 civil rights lawsuit filed by disbarred California attorney Arthur Edward Ezor

•Case involved challenge to California's assessment and collection of debt related to misappropriated client funds

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit Vacates Child Sex Abuse Conviction in Federal Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacated Joel Ruiz's conviction for sexual abuse of a minor and remanded the case to the district court. The appeals court found the government failed to establish a key element required for federal jurisdiction in the criminal case.

•Tenth Circuit vacated Joel Ruiz's 30-year federal sentence for sexual abuse of a minor under 12

•Court found government failed to establish defendant's non-Indian status required for federal jurisdiction

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Wright v. Atlanta Civil Rights Suit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of pro se plaintiff Carolyn Wright's federal civil rights and ERISA claims against the City of Atlanta and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. Wright had argued the district court judge should have recused himself and erred in dismissing her case.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of pro se plaintiff's Section 1983 and ERISA claims against Atlanta and Blue Cross

•Wright argued unsuccessfully that district judge should have recused himself due to alleged bias

First Circuit Court of Appeals

1st Circuit Grants En Banc Review in Cambridge Police Speech Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit granted en banc review in Hussey v. City of Cambridge, withdrawing a previous panel decision and ordering the full court to rehear a case involving First Amendment protections for public employee speech. The court directed parties to address questions about how derogatory speech factors into constitutional balancing tests.

•First Circuit granted rare en banc review, withdrawing previous panel decision from August 2025

•Case examines First Amendment protections for public employee speech that mocks or disparages public issues

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms VA Summary Judgment in Workplace Harassment Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a lower court's summary judgment in favor of the Department of Veterans Affairs in a case brought by former criminal investigator Dena Leath, who alleged workplace harassment, discrimination, and constructive discharge.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for VA in workplace harassment case brought by former criminal investigator

•Three internal VA investigations found workplace tension but concluded it fell short of actionable harassment