Verdict . News

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds Blue's Drug-Related Firearm Convictions

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed four firearm convictions against Andre Blue, who was found guilty of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug-trafficking crimes. Blue's appeal challenging the sufficiency of evidence was rejected by the three-judge panel in a decision filed Jan. 23, 2026.

•Andre Blue convicted on four counts of firearm possession in furtherance of drug trafficking

•Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed all four convictions on appeal

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Third Circuit Affirms State Farm Win in $5.29M Bankruptcy Estate Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in a lawsuit brought by a bankruptcy trustee. The case stemmed from a 2015 car accident involving an excluded driver that resulted in a $5.29 million judgment.

•Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for State Farm in bankruptcy estate insurance dispute

•Case involved $5.29 million judgment from 2015 accident caused by excluded driver Kevin Parkhurst

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Denial of Conviction Challenge in Immigration Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of Jose de Jesus Garcia Rodriguez's motion to vacate his criminal conviction. Garcia Rodriguez claimed his attorney provided ineffective assistance by failing to warn him about deportation consequences before he entered a guilty plea.

•Garcia Rodriguez claimed his attorney failed to warn him about deportation consequences before his guilty plea

•The Ninth Circuit granted a certificate of appealability on the ineffective assistance issue

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms Lower Court in Immigration Rights Challenge

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal district court ruling in a case brought by ten immigrant advocacy organizations challenging policies under Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed lower court ruling in 2-1 decision favoring federal defendants

•Ten immigrant advocacy organizations challenged DHS and USCIS policies under current leadership

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Reviews Bivens Claims in Federal Prison Assault Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals considered whether federal prison officials at FCC Terre Haute can be held liable under Bivens for allegedly failing to protect an inmate from repeated cellmate attacks. Derek Thomas sued officials claiming Eighth Amendment violations for deliberate indifference to his safety and medical needs.

•Derek Thomas sued federal prison officials under Bivens claiming Eighth Amendment violations for failure to protect him from cellmate attacks at FCC Terre Haute

•The Seventh Circuit acknowledged disturbing evidence of brutal attacks but focused on whether Thomas's claims fit within established Bivens doctrine

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 23, 2026•5 min read

9th Circuit Upholds Prison Officials' Summary Judgment in Suicide Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of three Salinas Valley State Prison officials in a civil rights lawsuit filed by inmate Kevin Moore regarding his July 2020 suicide attempt.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for three Salinas Valley State Prison officials in Section 1983 lawsuit

•Inmate Kevin Moore alleged Eighth Amendment deliberate indifference related to July 2020 suicide attempt

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds Dismissal of COVID Nursing Home Deaths Lawsuit

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's dismissal of a lawsuit against New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli over COVID-19 nursing home deaths. The estates of three deceased nursing home residents had sued the officials individually, claiming their policies led to approximately 10,000 elderly deaths during the pandemic.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of lawsuit against New Jersey officials over 10,000 nursing home deaths during COVID-19

•Court ruled Governor Murphy and Health Commissioner Persichilli protected by qualified immunity

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Dismissal in Parent's Suit Against Arizona School

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of multiple claims brought by Kimberly Sweidy against Spring Ridge Academy and eight employees. The unpublished decision upheld rulings on motions to strike and denial of amendment requests in the case involving Sweidy's daughter's enrollment at the Arizona boarding school.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court dismissal of seven claims against Arizona boarding school

•Court upheld rulings striking plaintiff's evidence submissions and denying amendment requests

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Second Circuit Affirms Insurance Ruling in Bunnenberg v. Liberty Mutual

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court judgment favoring Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company in a case involving plaintiff Tara Bunnenberg. The three-judge panel issued a summary order on January 23, 2026, concluding an appeal that stemmed from a 2011 incident involving insured party Lauren McCormack.

•Second Circuit affirmed district court judgment favoring Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company

•Case involved insurance coverage dispute stemming from 2011 incident between Tara Bunnenberg and insured party Lauren McCormack