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Third Circuit Court of Appeals

TitleMax Companies Lose Federal Appeal Against Pennsylvania Banking Enforcement

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of lawsuits filed by TitleMax subsidiaries challenging Pennsylvania's enforcement of usury laws. The federal appeals court upheld the lower court's decision requiring abstention under the Younger doctrine.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of TitleMax federal lawsuits challenging Pennsylvania banking enforcement

•District court applied Younger abstention doctrine requiring deference to ongoing state proceedings

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Affirms City of Clarksburg's Firing of Employee After Medical Leave

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling upholding the City of Clarksburg's termination of employee Dominique Spatafore, who was fired three months after returning from medical leave for violating conduct policies.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed City of Clarksburg's termination of employee who violated conduct policies after medical leave

•Employee sent complaints to Mayor's wife and City Council instead of supervisors, also posted workplace complaints on Facebook

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

4th Circuit Vacates Maryland Drug Conviction Over Evidence Disclosure

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Robert Gary Moore's drug possession conviction after finding the state introduced undisclosed evidence during trial. The split 2-1 decision raises questions about prosecutorial disclosure obligations in criminal cases.

•Fourth Circuit vacated Maryland drug conviction in 2-1 split decision over late evidence disclosure

•State introduced undisclosed chain of custody report on second day of three-day trial

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Upholds Police Use of Force in League City Tackle Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's dismissal of an excessive force lawsuit filed by Yoni Orli Perdomo against League City police officers. Perdomo suffered serious head injuries when officers tackled him to the ground after he allegedly repeatedly struck an officer during a May 2022 confrontation.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of excessive force lawsuit against League City police officers

•Yoni Perdomo suffered serious head injuries when tackled to concrete after allegedly striking officer

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Rejects Insurance Companies' Arbitration Push in Louisiana

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an attempt by eight major insurance companies to compel arbitration in a coverage dispute with One Lakeside Plaza, L.L.C., citing Louisiana law that prohibits arbitration clauses in property insurance contracts. The court affirmed a district court ruling based on recent precedent from a similar case.

•Eight major insurance companies failed in their bid to compel arbitration in a Louisiana property coverage dispute

•The Fifth Circuit cited Louisiana law that expressly prohibits arbitration clauses in property insurance contracts

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit Rejects Felon's Second Amendment Challenge to Gun Law

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a constitutional challenge to federal felon-in-possession laws in United States v. Jeffery, filed January 7, 2026. Robert Lawrence Jeffery argued that the Supreme Court's Bruen decision invalidated his conviction under federal firearm prohibition statutes.

•Fifth Circuit rejected Second Amendment challenge to federal felon firearm possession laws

•Defendant argued Supreme Court's Bruen decision invalidated his conviction under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1)

Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 7, 2026•5 min read

Federal Circuit Upholds Patent Board Against Viasat in Flash Memory Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's decision finding certain claims of Viasat's flash memory error correction patent unpatentable for obviousness. The nonprecedential ruling represents a setback for the satellite communications company in its patent dispute with Western Digital Technologies.

•Federal Circuit affirmed Patent Trial and Appeal Board's obviousness finding against Viasat's flash memory patent

•Decision invalidates certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,966,347 for forward error correction technology

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Township Victory in Michigan Zoning Immunity Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's complete dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Benjamin and Sarah Martin and their company Soil Friends, LLC against Charter Township of Comstock, Michigan. The appeals court upheld immunity protections for municipal officials in the zoning dispute.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed complete dismissal based on absolute and qualified immunity protections for township officials

•Case involved farm owners challenging zoning restrictions on their commercial wine and cider operations

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms 80-Year Sentence in Child Pornography Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed Tuesday the conviction and 80-year prison sentence of Jarrod Sanford on federal charges including production and possession of child pornography. The appeals court rejected multiple arguments challenging evidence admission and sentencing.

•Jarrod Sanford received 80 years in prison for federal child exploitation charges including production and possession of child pornography

•The Sixth Circuit rejected challenges to evidence admission, including testimony about uncharged sexual abuse of the victim