Verdict . News

•Federal Circuit dismissed Crocs's untimely appeal challenging ITC's no-violation finding against active respondents

Federal Circuit Dismisses Crocs Appeal Against ITC Trade Ruling

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed part of Crocs Inc.'s appeal against an International Trade Commission ruling that found no violation of Section 337 trade laws. The court determined that Crocs's appeal regarding certain respondents was untimely filed.

•Court upheld ITC's limited exclusion order against defaulting respondents in Section 337 investigation

•Federal Circuit affirmed government victory in customs dispute involving import liquidation and valuation issues

Federal Circuit Affirms Government Victory in Midwest-CBK Trade Case

The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling favoring the United States in a long-running customs dispute with Midwest-CBK, LLC, rejecting the company's challenge to import liquidation and valuation decisions.

•Court rejected Midwest-CBK's argument that its entries were deemed liquidated by operation of law

•Federal Circuit affirmed TTAB's refusal to register 'ALL RISE' and 'HERE COMES THE JUDGE' trademarks

Federal Circuit Upholds Trademark Denial for Baseball Catchphrases

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board's decision refusing registration of trademark applications for baseball-related phrases including 'ALL RISE' and 'HERE COMES THE JUDGE.' Michael P. Chisena, representing himself pro se, unsuccessfully challenged the denial in a case involving the Major League Baseball Players Association and Yankees star Aaron Judge.

•Pro se appellant Michael Chisena lost against MLB Players Association and Aaron Judge

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds 24-Year Sentence in Major Drug Conspiracy Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and 24-year prison sentence of Christopher Texidor, who led a drug trafficking organization that moved nearly 3,000 kilograms of marijuana from California to Pennsylvania. The court rejected all of Texidor's sentencing challenges in a decision issued Jan. 8.

•Christopher Texidor received 292 months for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, plus 240 months concurrent for wire fraud

•Third Circuit rejected all appeals challenging leadership enhancement and sentence length

•Federal Circuit affirmed dismissal of challenge to Russian sanctions affecting plaintiff's bank shares

Federal Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Sanctions Challenge in Tindall v. US

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the dismissal of James Tindall's challenge to Russian sanctions that blocked his shares in a state-owned bank. The court upheld the Claims Court's ruling on res judicata grounds.

•Court upheld res judicata ruling, indicating plaintiff previously litigated similar claims

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Affirms 96-Month Bank Fraud Sentence for Alabama Attorney

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 96-month federal sentence for Anna Michelle La Rue, who pleaded guilty to bank fraud while working as an office manager at an Alabama law firm. La Rue had challenged the upward variance from sentencing guidelines as substantively unreasonable.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 96-month sentence for bank fraud committed while working at Alabama law firm

•Defendant challenged upward variance from guidelines as substantively unreasonable under federal law

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Affirms Money Laundering Conviction in Cross-Border Drug Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentencing calculation for Liza Garcia, who pleaded guilty to drug-related money laundering charges in connection with a cross-border narcotics smuggling operation. The court rejected Garcia's challenge to the district court's base offense level calculation in a per curiam decision filed January 8, 2026.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed Garcia's money laundering conviction and sentencing calculation

•Garcia recruited David Apaseo to transport narcotics from Mexico to the United States

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Fraud Convictions Against CEO Abdur Rahim Islam

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction of Abdur Rahim Islam, CEO of Universal Companies, on 18 counts of federal fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion charges. The court rejected Islam's appeal after he was found guilty of improperly claiming personal expenses as business deductions.

•Third Circuit affirmed 18-count conviction for fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion

•Islam improperly claimed personal expenses including vacations and bribes as business deductions

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Rejects Financial Professional's Jury Trial Challenge to FINRA

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of D. Allen Blankenship's attempt to block FINRA disciplinary proceedings. Blankenship argued the Seventh Amendment entitled him to a federal jury trial rather than FINRA's administrative process.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of Blankenship's constitutional challenge to FINRA disciplinary proceedings

•Blankenship argued Seventh Amendment entitled him to federal jury trial rather than FINRA administrative process