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Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Upholds Temple Hospital Win in Doctor Discrimination Case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for Temple University Hospital in a discrimination lawsuit filed by Dr. Judy Pan. The court found no error in the district court's ruling dismissing Pan's claims of discrimination and retaliation.

•Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Temple University Hospital in discrimination lawsuit

•Dr. Judy Pan's claims of discrimination and retaliation were rejected by appellate court

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 5, 2026•1 min read

8th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Hospital Worker's ADA, FMLA Claims

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing all discrimination claims brought by former MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center physician assistant Michelle Siebrecht. The appeals court upheld the district court's ruling that rejected Siebrecht's allegations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Iowa Civil Rights Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed complete dismissal of physician assistant's discrimination claims against MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center

•Case involved allegations under Americans with Disabilities Act, Iowa Civil Rights Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

5th Circuit Affirms Qualified Immunity for Police Supervisors in Louisiana Case

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for police supervisors in a civil rights lawsuit stemming from a 2020 traffic stop. The court ruled that Bilal Hankins failed to overcome qualified immunity defenses in his Section 1983 claims.

•Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for police supervisors in Section 1983 civil rights case

•Court ruled Bilal Hankins failed to overcome qualified immunity defense for supervisory defendants

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Upholds Nuclear Worker's Termination in Time Fraud Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed Energy Harbor Nuclear Corporation's termination of William Shears, rejecting his claims of disability and age discrimination. The court upheld a lower court's dismissal of Shears' lawsuit challenging his firing following a timesheet falsification investigation.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed Energy Harbor Nuclear Corporation's termination of longtime employee William Shears

•Court rejected Shears' claims of disability discrimination, failure to accommodate, and retaliation

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds 32-Year Sentence for Iowa Drug Trafficking Case

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals denied relief to Stephan Rashad Haley, who was sentenced to 384 months in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering charges in two consolidated federal cases.

•Stephan Haley received 384 months (32 years) in federal prison for drug, fraud, and money laundering offenses

•The Eighth Circuit affirmed the sentence, rejecting challenges to a drug premises enhancement

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Upholds Child Torture Sentence After Rejected Plea Deal

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on an appeal by Trina Mae Johnson, who pleaded guilty to multiple child abuse charges including torture, neglect, endangerment, and assault with a dangerous weapon after rejecting a government plea agreement offering a 120-month mandatory minimum sentence.

•Defendant rejected 120-month mandatory minimum plea deal before pleading guilty without agreement

•Johnson faced charges for child torture, neglect, endangerment, and assault with dangerous weapon

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Federal Employee Unions Challenge Trump Administration in 9th Circuit

A broad coalition of federal employee unions, environmental groups, and major cities has filed an appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging Trump administration policies. The case includes challenges to actions by President Trump, the Office of Management and Budget, and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency.

•Broad coalition of federal employee unions, environmental groups, and major cities challenges Trump administration policies in Ninth Circuit

•Case targets President Trump, OMB Director Russell Vought, and the new Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

9th Circuit Affirms Construction Firm Win in Pension Withdrawal Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling favoring Walker Specialty Construction, Inc. in a dispute over withdrawal liability under federal pension law. The appeals court held that the company's asbestos abatement work qualified it for an exemption from pension plan withdrawal liability.

•Ninth Circuit affirmed Walker Specialty Construction's exemption from pension withdrawal liability

•Court ruled asbestos abatement work qualifies for building and construction industry exemption under MPPAA

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Sets New Hobbs Act Standard for Federal Robbery Cases

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a published opinion in United States v. Jy'Quale Grable, establishing that force must occur before or during property taking to constitute robbery under the Hobbs Act. The court reversed Grable's conviction, ruling that force applied only after theft was complete does not meet federal robbery standards.

•Eleventh Circuit rules force must occur before or during property taking for Hobbs Act robbery conviction

•Court reverses Jy'Quale Grable's federal robbery conviction because force was used only after theft was complete