Verdict . News

•19-year-old Ethan Marks suffered ruptured eyeball, fractured eye socket, and traumatic brain injury from police chemical projectile fired at close range

8th Circuit Revisits Police Excessive Force Case After Supreme Court Remand

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals is reconsidering a case involving Minneapolis Police Officer Benjamin Bauer, who shot 19-year-old Ethan Marks with a chemical-filled projectile from close range, causing severe injuries including a ruptured eyeball and traumatic brain injury. The Supreme Court vacated the previous ruling and remanded for reconsideration in light of Barnes v. Felix.

•Supreme Court vacated Eighth Circuit's previous ruling and remanded for reconsideration in light of Barnes v. Felix precedent

•Eighth Circuit reversed district court's denial of qualified immunity for Missouri State Trooper Dylon Wyatt

8th Circuit Reverses Qualified Immunity Denial for Missouri Trooper

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's denial of qualified immunity to Missouri State Trooper Dylon Wyatt in an excessive force case involving police canine deployment. The federal appeals court remanded with instructions to dismiss claims against the trooper.

•Case involved excessive force allegations related to police canine deployment during November 2020 arrest

•Eighth Circuit reversed district court's denial of motion to suppress evidence from traffic stop

8th Circuit Reverses Drug Conviction Over Extended Traffic Stop

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed Alex Johnson's drug conspiracy conviction, ruling that police unreasonably prolonged a traffic stop in violation of the Fourth Amendment. The court held that evidence obtained during the extended stop should have been suppressed.

•Court found police unreasonably prolonged stop beyond time needed for traffic violations

•Wooten pleaded guilty to felon in possession while on supervised release for prior similar convictions

8th Circuit Affirms Consecutive Terms for Repeat Firearm Offender

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to revoke supervised release and impose consecutive sentences against Anthony Wooten, who pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm while on supervised release for similar prior convictions.

•District court imposed 24-month concurrent revocation sentences to run consecutively to new conviction

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Doctor Appeals Bar Exam Challenge to Tenth Circuit Court

Dr. Perry Spann has filed an appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit against the National Conference of Bar Examiners and multiple individual officers. The case challenges the organization that administers bar examinations across multiple states.

•Dr. Perry Spann filed an appeal in the Tenth Circuit against the National Conference of Bar Examiners and over a dozen individual defendants

•The case targets NCBE leadership including President/CEO Judith Gundersen and multiple board members and officers

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sixth Circuit Recommends Publication in O'Hara Bankruptcy Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recommended for publication a bankruptcy case involving debtor Thomas William O'Hara and U.S. Trustee Andrew R. Vara. The recommendation suggests the decision may establish important precedent in federal bankruptcy law.

•Sixth Circuit recommended case for publication, indicating precedential value in bankruptcy law

•Case progressed from bankruptcy court through district court to federal appeals level

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Maritime Law Limits on Future Medical Coverage

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that limits when injured sailors can recover future medical expenses. The court held that while shipowners must pay medical bills until maximum improvement, uncertain future treatments cannot be recovered without clear evidence of need.

•Third Circuit affirmed that shipowners must pay injured sailors' medical bills until maximum medical improvement is reached

•Court ruled injured sailor cannot recover damages for uncertain future treatments without clear medical evidence

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms District Court in Lynchburg Electoral Board Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed a lower court decision in Christine Gibbons v. Betty Ann Gibbs, rejecting Gibbons' appeal against Lynchburg Electoral Board officials. The three-judge panel ruled that Gibbons failed to properly preserve evidence for appellate review and found no abuse of discretion in the district court's evidentiary rulings.

•Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed district court decision rejecting Christine Gibbons' claims against Lynchburg Electoral Board officials

•Court ruled Gibbons failed to properly proffer evidence for appellate review, forfeiting her right to challenge evidentiary rulings

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Rules on Gun Manufacturer Liability in Lowy Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mixed ruling in a major lawsuit against multiple gun manufacturers, reversing parts of a lower court decision while vacating others in a case that could reshape firearms industry liability.

•Fourth Circuit partially reversed district court ruling against gun violence survivors in major manufacturer liability case

•Case involves 15+ defendants including Daniel Defense, Magpul Industries, and Federal Cartridge Company