Verdict . News

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•5 min read

6th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Housing Officer's Civil Rights Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a lower court's complete dismissal of William Shelton's lawsuit against the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority. The appeals court upheld the dismissal of Shelton's First Amendment claims as untimely filed and affirmed summary judgment in favor of CMHA on his Title VII discrimination claims.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed complete dismissal of employment discrimination lawsuit against Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority

•First Amendment claims dismissed as untimely filed beyond statute of limitations period

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Against Software Developer in Trade Secret Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment against NEXT Payment Solutions in its trade secret dispute with CLEAResult Consulting. The appeals court upheld the lower court's finding that NEXT failed to define its alleged trade secrets with sufficient specificity under federal law.

•Seventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment against NEXT Payment Solutions in trade secret dispute over scheduling software

•District court found NEXT failed to define alleged trade secrets with sufficient specificity under federal law

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

7th Circuit Upholds Conviction for Threats Against Chicago Abortion Clinic

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Farhan Sheikh, a college student who threatened to kill doctors, patients, and visitors at a Chicago abortion clinic via social media. Sheikh's constitutional challenges to federal threat statutes and procedural arguments were rejected by the three-judge panel.

•Farhan Sheikh convicted under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) for making threats against abortion clinic personnel via iFunny social media post

•Seventh Circuit rejected constitutional challenges to federal threat statute and claims of procedural errors

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•1 min read

9th Circuit Upholds BLM Wild Horse Facility Contract in Nevada

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court ruling favoring the Bureau of Land Management in a challenge to its approval of a contract for a private facility to house up to 4,000 wild horses and burros in Nevada. Friends of Animals lost its appeal seeking to block the off-range corral facility operated by JS Livestock in Winnemucca.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed BLM's contract approval with JS Livestock for Nevada wild horse facility holding up to 4,000 animals

•Friends of Animals had standing to challenge the contract but lost on the merits of their environmental and animal welfare claims

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 78-Month Sentence for Felon Firearm Possession

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 78-month sentence for Christian Isaiah Carter, who was convicted of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Carter challenged the district court's classification of his prior Georgia aggravated assault conviction as a 'crime of violence' for sentencing enhancement purposes.

•Carter received a 78-month sentence for felon in possession of firearm under federal law

•The main issue was whether Georgia aggravated assault qualifies as a 'crime of violence' for sentencing enhancement

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Denies Compassionate Release for Drug Offender's 50-Year Term

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the denial of a compassionate release motion filed by federal prisoner Edson Gelin, who is serving a 600-month sentence for narcotics and firearm convictions. Gelin, representing himself pro se, argued the district court abused its discretion by failing to consider intervening changes in law and his health conditions.

•Edson Gelin, serving 600 months for drug and firearm charges, lost his compassionate release appeal

•The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of his pro se motion under federal statute

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Apple Win in Patent Security Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential disposition Tuesday affirming Apple Inc.'s summary judgment victory against R.N Nehushtan Trust Ltd. in a patent infringement case involving cellular device security technology.

•Federal Circuit affirmed Apple's complete summary judgment victory in patent infringement case

•R.N Nehushtan Trust's patents covered cellular device security technology called DUSS

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms Google Victory in IPA Technologies Patent Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision favoring Google LLC in a patent dispute with IPA Technologies Inc. The nonprecedential ruling, issued January 14, 2026, upheld the PTAB's findings in two inter partes review proceedings without detailed explanation.

•Federal Circuit issued summary affirmance under Rule 36 without written opinion

•Case originated from two PTAB inter partes review proceedings filed in 2019

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Addresses VA Insurance Coverage for Explosive Ordnance

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision January 14 in McKinney v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, addressing veteran Hugh Campbell McKinney's petition to expand Traumatic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage to include illnesses caused by explosive ordnance exposure during military service.

•Hugh Campbell McKinney petitioned VA to expand TSGLI coverage to include explosive ordnance-related illnesses

•VA denied the rulemaking petition in March 2023, prompting Federal Circuit review