Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds 15-Year Sentence for Felon's Firearm Possession

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 180-month prison sentence for Tomario Ricardo Hicks, who pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The enhanced sentence was imposed under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 180-month sentence under Armed Career Criminal Act

•Hicks pled guilty to felon-in-possession charge after 2022 traffic stop

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Denies Plea Withdrawal in $6M Money Laundering Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of Malachi Mullings's request to withdraw his guilty plea in a money laundering case involving millions of dollars from an African fraud scheme. Mullings had argued his attorney coerced him into pleading guilty.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed denial of guilty plea withdrawal in money laundering case

•Defendant claimed attorney coercion but court found insufficient grounds for withdrawal

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

D.C. Circuit Upholds FERC Ban on Energy Efficiency Bidding

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Feb. 10 that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission properly approved a tariff amendment prohibiting companies from bidding Energy Efficient Resources in capacity auctions run by PJM Interconnection. Affirmed Energy LLC challenged the restriction but lost in a split decision.

•D.C. Circuit upheld FERC's approval of tariff amendment prohibiting Energy Efficient Resources from bidding in PJM capacity auctions

•Affirmed Energy LLC's challenge was rejected in a split decision, with Circuit Judge Pan filing a partial dissent

•Supreme Court will hear two Second Amendment cases in 2025-26 term: Wolford v. Lopez and United States v. Hemani

Supreme Court

Supreme Court's 2025-26 Second Amendment Docket Set as Courts Split on Bruen

The Supreme Court appears to have filled its oral argument docket for the 2025-26 term with two significant Second Amendment cases, as lower courts continue to struggle with implementing the framework established in the 2022 Bruen decision. The cases will address gun possession on private property and firearm restrictions for drug users.

•Lower courts continue struggling to apply the Bruen framework's 'text, history, and tradition' test established in 2022

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Louisiana Law Bars Maritime Indemnity Claim

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling that Louisiana law invalidates indemnity provisions in a contract dispute following an offshore platform accident. Aries Marine Corporation cannot seek indemnification from United Fire & Safety after a liftboat capsized during platform repairs.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed district court denial of Aries Marine's indemnification claim

•Contract between Fieldwood Energy and United Fire ruled nonmaritime in nature

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Issues Mixed Ruling in Navy Federal Credit Union Bias Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a split decision in a class action lawsuit alleging discriminatory lending practices by Navy Federal Credit Union. The appeals court affirmed parts of a lower court ruling while vacating others in the case brought by Laquita Oliver and nine other plaintiffs.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed parts of district court ruling while vacating others in discrimination case against Navy Federal Credit Union

•Class action involves 10 named plaintiffs represented by prominent civil rights attorneys including Ben Crump

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Pharma Giants Challenge Louisiana AG in Consolidated 5th Circuit Appeal

Major pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, Allergan, and AstraZeneca have filed consolidated appeals in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill. The consolidated cases involve multiple drug manufacturers opposing the state's top legal officer.

•Multiple major pharmaceutical companies including AbbVie, Allergan, and AstraZeneca are challenging Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in consolidated Fifth Circuit appeals

•Three separate cases have been consolidated under case numbers 24-30645, 24-30651, and 24-30673

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Denial of Injunction Against Minnesota Deepfake Law

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of a preliminary injunction against Minnesota's deepfake election law. The court ruled that plaintiffs Christopher Kohls and Mary Franson unreasonably delayed in seeking relief against the statute regulating AI-generated content in elections.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed denial of preliminary injunction against Minnesota deepfake election law

•Court found plaintiff Mary Franson unreasonably delayed in seeking emergency relief

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Rules on GoTV Streaming Patent Case Against Netflix

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision on February 9, 2026, in the patent dispute between GoTV Streaming, LLC and Netflix, Inc. The case involves three streaming technology patents and represents a significant development in intellectual property law affecting the streaming entertainment industry.

•Federal Circuit decided GoTV Streaming v. Netflix patent case on February 9, 2026, involving streaming technology patents

•GoTV owns three patents covering methods for tailoring video content to different device capabilities and screen sizes