Verdict . News

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 20, 2026•4 min read

9th Circuit Grants Asylum Petition in Honduras Domestic Violence Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals partially granted a petition for review in a domestic violence asylum case, ruling that a Honduran woman's failure to report gang-related abuse to authorities should not bar her claim when such reporting would have been futile.

•Ninth Circuit ruled that reporting domestic abuse would have been futile for Honduran asylum seeker

•Court remanded case after BIA denied asylum based on failure to report gang-related violence

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Reverses Injunction Against Little Caesars in Pizza Puff Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's preliminary injunction that would have prevented Little Caesars from using "Pizza Puff" in its marketing, finding Illinois Tamale Company failed to demonstrate likelihood of success on its trademark infringement claims.

•Seventh Circuit reversed district court's preliminary injunction preventing Little Caesars from using "Pizza Puff" in marketing

•Court found Illinois Tamale Company failed to show likelihood of success on trademark infringement claims

Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2nd Circuit Issues Summary Order in Student Rights Case vs. School

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on January 16, 2026, in A.A.C., et al. v. Starpoint Central School District, et al. The case involves multiple student plaintiffs challenging actions by school district officials in both individual and official capacities.

•Second Circuit issued summary order in student rights case against Starpoint Central School District

•Multiple school officials named individually and in official capacity, suggesting civil rights violations

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Bank Fraud Conviction Against Emiliya Radford

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Emiliya Radford on federal charges of bank fraud, wire fraud, and federal program theft. The court upheld her 66-month prison sentence and $298,042.72 restitution order in a case involving fraud at a Georgia chiropractic office.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed Emiliya Radford's convictions for bank fraud, wire fraud, and federal program theft at a Georgia chiropractic office

•Court upheld 66-month prison sentence and $298,042.72 restitution order despite Radford's challenges to conviction and sentencing enhancements

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Consecutive Supervised Release Terms for Repeat Offender

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to impose consecutive 12-month supervised release terms on Patrick Newcomer, who violated his existing federal supervised release by committing new state crimes. Newcomer had argued the terms should run concurrently.

•Patrick Newcomer violated federal supervised release by committing new state burglary and firearm possession crimes in 2024

•District court revoked his supervised release and imposed consecutive 12-month terms for each original federal conviction

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Employment Case Against Denver Schools

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has affirmed a district court's dismissal of an employment action brought by Gregory Michael Majersky against Denver Public Schools. Majersky, representing himself pro se, unsuccessfully challenged the lower court's ruling in what appears to be a security-related employment dispute.

•The Tenth Circuit affirmed dismissal of pro se plaintiff Gregory Majersky's employment action against Denver Public Schools

•Majersky worked in security for the school district and filed his complaint in December 2023 after amending initial filings

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Reviews Police Accountability Case Against Denver

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has issued a ruling in Mendenhall v. City and County of Denver, a municipal liability case that attracted support from prominent civil rights organizations and legal scholars. The federal appeals court determined the case without oral argument after reviewing briefs and the appellate record.

•Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals issued ruling in municipal liability case against Denver

•Multiple civil rights organizations and legal scholars filed amicus briefs supporting police accountability

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds SEC Victory in $19M Microcap Securities Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the SEC's victory against Spartan Securities Group and associated defendants in a complex microcap securities fraud case involving nineteen shell companies that sold securities at inflated prices.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed SEC victory against Spartan Securities Group in microcap fraud case involving 19 shell companies

•Defendants created shell companies with no business operations and sold securities at inflated prices

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Elder Fraud Conviction, Rejects Suppression Appeals

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Everette Jhamal Thibou in an international elder fraud conspiracy case. The court rejected his appeals challenging the denial of motions to suppress evidence and statements obtained during his arrest.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed conviction of Everette Jhamal Thibou for conspiracy to commit wire fraud in international elder-fraud scheme

•Court rejected three challenges: suppression of vehicle search evidence, suppression of statements allegedly taken without Miranda warnings, and improper use of victim impact statements at sentencing