Verdict . News

•Eleventh Circuit clarifies FLSA settlement standards when combined with other legal claims

11th Circuit Rules on FLSA Settlement Standards in CBD Franchise Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a published decision in *Thomas O'Neal v. American Shaman Franchise Systems, Inc.*, addressing how Fair Labor Standards Act claims can be settled when combined with other legal claims. The case involves a franchisee dispute with the CBD American Shaman franchise system.

•Case involves CBD American Shaman franchise system and employment-related dispute

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed denial of guilty plea withdrawal in money laundering case

11th Circuit Denies Plea Withdrawal in $6M Money Laundering Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of Malachi Mullings's request to withdraw his guilty plea in a money laundering case involving millions of dollars from an African fraud scheme. Mullings had argued his attorney coerced him into pleading guilty.

•Defendant claimed attorney coercion but court found insufficient grounds for withdrawal

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed 180-month sentence under Armed Career Criminal Act

11th Circuit Upholds 15-Year Sentence for Felon's Firearm Possession

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a 180-month prison sentence for Tomario Ricardo Hicks, who pled guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The enhanced sentence was imposed under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

•Hicks pled guilty to felon-in-possession charge after 2022 traffic stop

•Four CBP officers challenged female-only night shift assignments at Tampa Port as Title VII violations

11th Circuit Upholds CBP Female-Only Night Shifts at Tampa Port

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled on a Title VII discrimination case challenging U.S. Customs and Border Protection's policy of designating three night shifts at the Port of Tampa as female-only positions. The case involved multiple CBP officers who argued the gender-based staffing policy violated federal employment discrimination laws.

•CBP defended the policy as necessary to ensure female officers were available for same-gender searches

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of discrimination and retaliation claims but revived hostile work environment claim

11th Circuit Tackles Hostile Work Environment Standards in Race Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a split decision in *Melton v. I-10 Truck Center*, affirming summary judgment on discrimination and retaliation claims while vacating dismissal of a hostile work environment claim. The court addressed whether workplace discrimination against all racial minorities can support an individual employee's hostile environment claim.

•Court addressed whether discrimination against all racial minorities can support individual hostile environment claims

•Stephen Regis Jr. exploited underage girls aged 12-15 through Snapchat, providing vapes, drugs, and alcohol for explicit images

11th Circuit Overturns 3 Child Porn Convictions in Florida Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed three child pornography convictions against Stephen Regis Jr., a Florida man who exploited underage girls by providing them with vapes, drugs, and alcohol in exchange for explicit images. The court ruled some images did not meet the federal statutory definition of child pornography.

•The Eleventh Circuit reversed three child pornography convictions while affirming 14 other convictions

•Michael Bowe seeks Eleventh Circuit authorization for a second federal sentence challenge under 28 U.S.C. § 2255

Eleventh Circuit Reviews Successive Federal Sentence Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is considering Michael Bowe's application to file a second federal sentence challenge under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The court must determine whether Bowe's claims meet strict statutory requirements for successive habeas petitions.

•Court must certify the motion meets narrow requirements involving newly discovered evidence or new constitutional law

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of discriminatory termination claims but revived hostile work environment claim

11th Circuit Reviews Racial Hostile Work Environment Standards

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a case that could reshape how workplace discrimination claims are evaluated, deciding whether evidence of general discrimination against racial minorities can support an individual employee's hostile work environment claim.

•Court found substantial evidence to support racial hostile work environment allegations despite insufficient evidence for termination claims

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed Michael Shirley's conviction for honest services wire fraud and 87-month sentence

11th Circuit Upholds Wire Fraud Conviction of Michael Shirley

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the conviction and 87-month sentence of Michael Courtney Shirley for conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. Shirley had challenged both the sufficiency of evidence and jury instructions defining 'public official.'

•Shirley challenged evidence sufficiency and jury instructions defining 'public official'