Verdict . News

3w ago•4 min read

•Clemente family companies and sons appeal district court ruling favoring Puerto Rico government

First Circuit Hears Clemente Family Appeal Against Puerto Rico Officials

The sons of baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente and their companies have appealed to the First Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging Puerto Rico's use of their father's name and image on commemorative license plates. The case involves multiple government officials and concerns proceeds funding a sports district that will replace an initiative originally conceived by Clemente and his wife.

•Dispute involves unauthorized use of Roberto Clemente's name and image on commemorative license plates

3w ago•4 min read

•First Circuit reversed removal order for lawful permanent resident with two Massachusetts lewdness convictions

First Circuit Reverses Removal Order for Cape Verde Resident's Lewdness Convictions

The First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed an immigration removal order against Lucio Ivaldo Cabral Fortes Tomar, a lawful permanent resident from Cape Verde, ruling that Massachusetts' "open and gross lewdness" statute does not categorically constitute a crime involving moral turpitude under federal immigration law.

•Court held that Massachusetts' "open and gross lewdness" statute is not categorically a crime involving moral turpitude

3w ago•5 min read

•First Circuit denied rehearing petitions in StandWithUs v. MIT case involving First Amendment and Title VI intersection

First Circuit Denies Rehearing in MIT Free Speech and Title VI Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit denied both a petition for rehearing and a petition for rehearing en banc in StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice v. MIT, a case involving the intersection of First Amendment free speech rights and Title VI anti-discrimination protections.

•Judge Dunlap concurred but expressed concerns that the panel went further than necessary to resolve the dispute

3w ago•2 min read

•Erik K. Sargent, a federal VA employee, sued the VA Secretary claiming retaliation for reporting fraudulent activities

First Circuit Reviews VA Employee's False Claims Act Retaliation Suit

The First Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a district court's dismissal of a False Claims Act retaliation claim brought by federal employee Erik K. Sargent against Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins. The lower court dismissed the case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, ruling that Congress had not waived federal sovereign immunity for such claims.

•District court dismissed the case, ruling Congress had not waived sovereign immunity for False Claims Act retaliation claims against the government

3w ago•4 min read

•First Circuit affirmed dismissal of lawsuit by eleven Rockport residents challenging new zoning district

1st Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Rockport Zoning Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a lawsuit brought by eleven Rockport, Massachusetts residents challenging the creation of a new zoning district. The appeals court agreed that the residents lacked standing to pursue their claims against the Town of Rockport.

•Appeals court agreed residents lacked standing for their constitutional and statutory claims

Jan 21, 2026•4 min read

•First Circuit affirmed district court ruling enforcing wage settlement against Wheatleigh Hotel

1st Circuit Upholds Hotel Worker Settlement in Wheatleigh Class Action

The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court ruling that enforced a global settlement agreement between former employees and the luxury Wheatleigh Hotel. The hotel corporation had attempted to void the settlement that resolved multiple wage and hour lawsuits, including a certified class action.

•Hotel corporation failed to void settlement by challenging dual representation of individual and class plaintiffs