Verdict . News

•The Eleventh Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Nationwide due to a 58-month delay in insurance notice from 2013 to 2018

11th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment on 58-Month Insurance Notice Delay

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's ruling that a 58-month delay in providing insurance notice violated a policy's requirement for notice 'as soon as reasonably possible.' The case involves a minor's sexual abuse claim against David Jacobs Barrow and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

•The court ruled the delay violated the policy's requirement for notice 'as soon as reasonably possible' as a matter of law

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 7, 2026•2 min read

8th Circuit Reviews Minnesota Sex Offender Civil Commitment Lawsuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit is hearing a major class action lawsuit challenging Minnesota's civil commitment program for sex offenders. Fourteen plaintiffs representing a broader class are suing state officials for alleged constitutional violations.

•Class action involves 14 named plaintiffs representing potentially hundreds of civilly committed individuals in Minnesota

•Defendants include high-ranking state officials sued in both personal and official capacities

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Sexual Harassment Case Against CEO

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of sexual harassment claims against WNB Group LLC and its CEO Jay Wallis. The court ruled that plaintiff Lorna Vinsant failed to establish that alleged harassment created a hostile work environment or that retaliation occurred.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing hostile work environment and retaliation claims

•Court found alleged harassment did not meet legal standard for severity or pervasiveness under Title VII

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Dismissal in ON24 Securities Class Action Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a memorandum opinion Tuesday affirming a lower court's dismissal of a securities class action lawsuit against ON24, Inc. and major investment banks. Leadersel Innotech ESG alleged the company's IPO documents contained misleading statements about customer churn rates.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of securities class action against ON24, Inc. over alleged IPO disclosure failures

•Lawsuit claimed company failed to disclose material customer churn rates before going public in 2021

Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals

10th Circuit Affirms Sexual Abuse Sentence Enhancement

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a sentence enhancement for Leo Steban Chumwalooky, who pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country. The appellate court upheld the district court's finding that Chumwalooky had supervisory control over the victim.

•Leo Steban Chumwalooky pled guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country under federal jurisdiction

•District court applied sentence enhancement for supervisory control over victim under U.S.S.G. § 2A3.2(b)(1)

•Eleventh Circuit vacated Barry's sentence for legal error in accountability determination

11th Circuit Vacates Sentence in $2M Credit Card Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated the sentence of Abdoulaye Barry, who was convicted in a sophisticated credit card fraud scheme that netted over $2 million in cigarette purchases from Sam's Club. The appeals court ruled that the district court erred by holding Barry accountable for the full amount charged by all co-conspirators without first determining his individual responsibility.

•Fraud scheme used stolen credit cards and shared Sam's Club memberships to buy $2M in cigarettes

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed conviction for conspiracy to possess 5+ kilograms of cocaine on vessel under U.S. jurisdiction

11th Circuit Upholds Maritime Drug Trafficking Conviction

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction of Ronald Mijail Arregoces Barros for conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine aboard a vessel under U.S. jurisdiction. The January 7, 2026 ruling upholds the Southern District of Florida's original conviction in this high-seas drug trafficking case.

•Defendant challenged government authority under Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act in foreign Exclusive Economic Zones

•Eleventh Circuit reviewed Howard's appeal challenging racketeering conviction and 168-month sentence

11th Circuit Upholds Conviction in Federal Racketeering Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has issued an unpublished opinion addressing Phillip Timothy Howard's appeal of his federal racketeering conviction and 168-month prison sentence. Howard challenged both his guilty plea and the sentence imposed by the Northern District of Florida.

•Howard argued his guilty plea lacked factual basis and was not knowing and voluntary

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Reverses Summary Judgment in Corporate Veil Piercing Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court's summary judgment ruling that protected Higher Connection LLC managers from personal liability. The court remanded the case involving breach of contract claims between Ignite International Limited and the company's executives.

•Ninth Circuit reversed district court's summary judgment protecting Higher Connection LLC managers from personal liability

•Case involves corporate veil piercing claims where plaintiff won against LLC but not individual managers