Verdict . News

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Employment Discrimination Dismissal Against NextCare

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's summary judgment dismissing employment discrimination claims by a former NextCare Michigan employee. Laquinta Hightower-Mathis alleged race and gender discrimination after being fired for making unprofessional comments to a police officer seeking treatment at the urgent care clinic.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing race and gender discrimination claims

•Employee terminated for making unprofessional comments to police officer at clinic

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 prevented Little Caesars from using 'Pizza Puff' in its advertising, while affirming the denial of injunctions against 'Crazy Puff' and 'Puff' terms. The Chicago-based Illinois Tamale Company had sued the pizza giant for trademark infringement over its 'Crazy Puffs' product.

•Seventh Circuit reversed preliminary injunction preventing Little Caesars from using 'Pizza Puff' in advertising

•Court affirmed denial of injunctions against 'Crazy Puff' and 'Puff' terms

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Reverses Injunction in Pizza Puff Trademark Battle

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's preliminary injunction preventing Little Caesars from using 'Pizza Puff' in its marketing, while affirming the denial of injunctions for 'Crazy Puff' and 'Puff.' Illinois Tamale Company had sued Little Caesars for trademark infringement over similar product names.

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

•Appeals court affirmed denial of injunctions for 'Crazy Puff' and 'Puff' terms

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Vacates Child Pornography Sentence Over Calculation Error

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the 130-month prison sentence of Cody Ray Syfrett, who was convicted of distributing and possessing child pornography, after finding the district court made an error in calculating his criminal offense level. The appellate court ordered a remand for resentencing in the Florida case.

•Defendant received two concurrent 130-month prison terms plus 15 years supervised release for child pornography charges

•Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals found district court erred in calculating criminal offense level during sentencing

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Rules in Aviation Charter Dispute Murphy v. Airway Air

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a ruling Jan. 16 in *Murphy v. Airway Air Charter, Inc.*, a case involving Richard and Kathleen Murphy against charter aviation companies including Noble Air Charter and Alex Gutierrez. The appellate decision stems from a Southern District of Florida case with implications for the aviation charter industry.

•Eleventh Circuit ruled in Murphy v. Airway Air Charter involving charter aviation dispute

•Richard and Kathleen Murphy prevailed at district court level against multiple aviation defendants

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms Fentanyl Distribution Conviction in Fatal Overdose

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Lawrence Coley III for fentanyl distribution resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute. Coley challenged the district court's denial of his motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing insufficient evidence supported his conviction.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed Lawrence Coley III's conviction for fentanyl distribution resulting in Gerald Conner's death

•Court rejected Coley's challenge that insufficient evidence supported his conviction under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Apple and Masimo End Patent Dispute with Federal Circuit Dismissal

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the patent appeal between Masimo Corporation and Apple Inc. by mutual agreement of both parties. The January 16, 2026 order ends the dispute that originated from a Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceeding.

•Federal Circuit dismissed Masimo v. Apple patent appeal by mutual agreement of both parties

•Case stemmed from Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceeding IPR2022-01299 challenging patent validity

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Upholds Nintendo Win Over Gamevice Patent Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling that Nintendo's Switch console does not infringe Gamevice's mobile gaming controller patents. The January 16, 2026 decision ends a patent dispute that began in 2018 over gaming accessory technology.

•Federal Circuit affirmed district court's summary judgment of noninfringement favoring Nintendo

•Court found Nintendo Switch lacks required 'confinement structures' and 'apertures' from Gamevice patents

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Rules in Sunoco Patent Case Against Energy Partners

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential decision on Jan. 16, 2026, in a patent infringement case involving Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals L.P. against Powder Springs Logistics, LLC and Magellan Midstream Partners L.P. The case centers on patent disputes over systems and methods for blending butane with gasoline.

•Federal Circuit issued nonprecedential decision in patent dispute over butane-gasoline blending technology

•District court found Magellan willfully infringed multiple patent claims after bifurcated jury trial