Verdict . News

Jan 23, 2026•5 min read

•The First Circuit affirmed denial of preliminary injunctive relief against the Woods Hole ferry authority's COVID-19 vaccination policy

First Circuit Affirms Denial of Injunction Against Ferry COVID Vaccine Policy

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has affirmed a district court's denial of preliminary injunctive relief sought by eleven current and former employees of the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority who challenged the agency's COVID-19 vaccination policy. This marks the second time the case has reached the federal appeals court.

•Eleven current and former ferry employees challenged the Authority's January 2022 vaccination requirement

•First Circuit affirmed concurrent 60-month sentences for re-entry program escape and felon in possession charges

1st Circuit Upholds 60-Month Sentence for Re-Entry Program Escape

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a 60-month prison sentence for Christian Del-Valle-Camacho, who escaped from a court-ordered re-entry program and possessed firearms. The appeals court rejected his challenge to a 19-month upward sentencing variance.

•Appeals court rejected challenge to 19-month upward sentencing variance as both procedurally and substantively reasonable

•First Circuit affirmed summary judgment for MGH doctor and hospital in medical child abuse reporting case

1st Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in Medical Child Abuse Case

The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of a Massachusetts General Hospital doctor and the hospital in a lawsuit filed by a mother who claimed wrongful reporting of suspected medical child abuse. The case involved a medically complex child whose treatment led to an unsubstantiated abuse investigation in 2018.

•Mother sued after 2018 child abuse report was deemed unsubstantiated following investigation

•First Circuit affirmed 96-month sentence for machine gun possession and felon-in-possession charges

First Circuit Affirms 8-Year Sentence for Machine Gun Possession

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a 96-month federal prison sentence for Onic Maldonado-Velazquez, who was convicted of possessing machine guns and being a felon in possession of firearms. The defendant had challenged an 18-month upward variance from sentencing guidelines.

•Defendant unsuccessfully challenged 18-month upward variance from sentencing guidelines

•Clemente family companies and sons appeal district court ruling favoring Puerto Rico government

First Circuit Hears Clemente Family Appeal Against Puerto Rico Officials

The sons of baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and their companies have appealed to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging Puerto Rico's use of their father's name and image on commemorative license plates. The case involves multiple government officials and concerns proceeds funding a sports district that will replace an initiative originally conceived by Clemente and his wife.

•Dispute involves unauthorized use of Roberto Clemente's name and image on commemorative license plates

Jan 23, 2026•2 min read

•Supreme Court has issued a preliminary ruling in City and County of San Francisco v. EPA, a major Clean Water Act case involving NPDES permit requirements

Supreme Court Issues Preliminary Ruling in San Francisco vs. EPA Clean Water Act Case

The Supreme Court has issued a preliminary ruling in City and County of San Francisco v. Environmental Protection Agency, a significant Clean Water Act case involving permit requirements under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The preliminary decision addresses federal oversight of water pollution permits and could impact municipal wastewater management nationwide, though the ruling remains subject to revision before final publication.

•Case addresses federal oversight of water pollution permits and the permit shield provision that protects compliant entities

•Supreme Court decided case involving Fair Labor Standards Act outside sales exemption and burden of proof standards

Supreme Court Rules on FLSA Outside Sales Exemption Standards

The Supreme Court decided EMD Sales, Inc. v. Carrera on January 15, 2025, addressing the burden of proof standard employers must meet to claim the Fair Labor Standards Act's outside sales exemption for overtime pay. The case involved food distribution sales representatives and whether their employer could avoid paying overtime compensation.

•EMD Sales food distribution company challenged district court's use of clear-and-convincing evidence standard instead of preponderance standard

•Supreme Court used rare 'improvidently granted' dismissal procedure after hearing oral arguments

Supreme Court Dismisses Nvidia Securities Case as Improvidently Granted

The Supreme Court dismissed a securities fraud case against Nvidia Corporation on December 11, 2024, using the rare procedural move of declaring certiorari was 'improvidently granted.' The dismissal came nearly a month after oral arguments and leaves unresolved questions about corporate disclosure obligations.

•Case involved securities fraud allegations by Swedish investment fund against Nvidia Corporation

•Supreme Court ruled on standards for revoking spousal visa petitions based on prior marriage fraud allegations

Supreme Court Rules on Sham Marriage Bar in Immigration Cases

The Supreme Court issued a decision in *Bouarfa v. Mayorkas* on December 10, 2024, addressing how immigration authorities may revoke previously approved spousal visa petitions based on evidence of prior sham marriages. The case involves a U.S. citizen whose petition for her noncitizen spouse was revoked after USCIS discovered potential marriage fraud in the spouse's immigration history.

•USCIS initially approved Bouarfa's petition but later revoked it after discovering evidence of spouse's potential prior sham marriage