Verdict . News

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 9, 2026•2 min read

11th Circuit Affirms 15-Year Sentence for McKay in Child Exploitation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 180-month prison sentence for Brian Joseph McKay, who pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges. McKay challenged his sentencing, arguing the district court improperly considered rehabilitation factors.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 180-month prison sentence plus lifelong supervised release for Brian McKay

•Investigation began with tip from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

Tenth Circuit Rules in Wrongful Death Case Against Oklahoma Health Clinic

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued an order and judgment Thursday in a wrongful death lawsuit against Turn Key Health Clinics LLC following the death of Lorri Gayle Tedder while in pretrial custody at Rogers County Jail. The case involves claims by estate representatives Ashley Myers and Courtney Vaughn against the Oklahoma health clinic and defendant Kylee Foster.

•Tenth Circuit issued order and judgment in wrongful death case against Turn Key Health Clinics LLC

•Lorri Gayle Tedder died after suffering cardiac episode while in pretrial custody at Rogers County Jail

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Reverses OSHA Citations Against Ohio Paper Factory

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit granted Sofidel America's petition for review, reversing OSHA safety citations issued after a worker injury at the company's Circleville, Ohio paper factory. The appeals court overturned the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission's earlier decision upholding multiple workplace safety violations.

•Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed OSHA safety citations against Sofidel America's Ohio paper factory

•Citations were issued after worker injury involving R88 Rewinder machine at Circleville facility

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds 30-Year Sentence in Federal Child Sex Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a 30-year prison sentence for Soumya Rudra, who pleaded guilty to three federal sex offenses involving minors. The case involved interstate travel for illicit sexual conduct and transportation of child sexual abuse material.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed 30-year sentence for interstate child sex crimes

•Defendant traveled from Pennsylvania to Ohio to meet minor victim

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Upholds Healthcare Kickback Conviction for David Copeland

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has affirmed the conviction of David Byron Copeland on federal healthcare fraud charges. Copeland was found guilty by a jury in the Middle District of Florida on multiple counts of soliciting, receiving, offering, and paying healthcare kickbacks and bribes in violation of federal anti-kickback statutes.

•David Copeland convicted on five counts of healthcare kickbacks and bribes under federal anti-kickback statute

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed conviction but jury had acquitted him on conspiracy charge

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Denies Asylum Petition for Salvadoran National

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied Victor Manuel Cerritos Rivas's petition for review of an immigration court decision rejecting his asylum application. The January 9, 2026 ruling upholds the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision to deny the Salvadoran national's requests for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied asylum petition in unpublished per curiam opinion

•Case involves Salvadoran national whose father was murdered when he was an infant

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Reverses Immigration Ruling, Strips Court Jurisdiction

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling that favored a Liberian citizen's immigration case, determining the lower court lacked jurisdiction to review the Department of Homeland Security's denial of his green card application. The appeals court ruled in *Abrahim Mohamed Fofana v. Kristi Noem* that federal courts cannot review certain immigration decisions.

•Eighth Circuit reverses district court ruling that favored Liberian citizen's immigration case

•Appeals court rules federal courts lack jurisdiction to review certain DHS immigration decisions

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Circuit Affirms ITC No-Infringement Finding in Patent Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the International Trade Commission's determination that optical networking devices did not infringe two patents owned by Mark Sandstrom. The nonprecedential decision upheld an Administrative Law Judge's summary determination of no violation of Section 337.

•Federal Circuit affirmed ITC's no-infringement determination in optical networking patent case

•Pro se appellant Mark Sandstrom lost appeal involving two patents against Xenogenic Development

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 8, 2026•4 min read

Fourth Circuit Affirms Ruling Against Bimbo Foods in Davis Distribution Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court ruling in favor of Walter Davis in his contractual dispute with Bimbo Foods Bakeries Distribution, LLC. The January 8, 2026 decision centered on whether Davis's distribution agreement covered an automated fulfillment center within his territory.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed district court ruling in favor of Walter Davis in distribution territory dispute with Bimbo Foods

•Case centered on whether Davis's distribution agreement covered an automated fulfillment center in his territory