Verdict . News

•Second Circuit partially affirmed district court ruling in copyright case against Shutterstock

2nd Circuit Partially Affirms Copyright Ruling Against Shutterstock

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mixed ruling in McGucken v. Shutterstock, Inc., partially affirming a lower court's decision in a copyright infringement case involving hundreds of unauthorized photographs. Professional photographer Elliott McGucken sued the stock photo marketplace after discovering his work on their platform without permission between 2018 and 2022.

•Professional photographer Elliott McGucken sued over hundreds of unauthorized photos on platform from 2018-2022

•Second Circuit issued summary order with no precedential effect in healthcare reimbursement dispute

2nd Circuit Dismisses Anesthesiologists' Appeal Against UnitedHealthcare

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on Feb. 6, 2026, in Long Island Anesthesiologists PLLC v. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York Inc., a dispute involving the Empire Plan Medical/Surgical Program administration.

•Long Island Anesthesiologists PLLC challenged UnitedHealthcare's administration of Empire Plan Medical/Surgical Program

•Second Circuit found arbitration appeal waiver language too vague to be enforceable

Second Circuit Rules Appeal Waiver Too Vague in Arbitration Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that a contractual waiver of the 'right to appeal' in an arbitration agreement was too ambiguous to prevent appellate review. The decision came in a commercial loan dispute between Lanesborough 2000, LLC and Nextres, LLC.

•Court required waiver provisions to be 'clear and unequivocal' to prevent appellate review

•Second Circuit ruled Duke has standing for plan reformation under Section 502(a)(2) but not for monetary payments to the plan

2nd Circuit Rules on ERISA Class Action Against Luxottica Pension Plan

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a mixed ruling in a class action lawsuit alleging that Luxottica's pension plan systematically violated ERISA by using outdated actuarial assumptions to calculate retirement benefits. The court affirmed in part and reversed in part the lower court's decision regarding arbitration and standing issues.

•Court applied effective vindication doctrine to prevent mandatory arbitration of the plan reformation claim

•Care One, LLC and multiple Connecticut healthcare facilities appealed an NLRB decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals

Care One Healthcare Network Appeals NLRB Decision to Second Circuit

A network of Connecticut healthcare facilities operated by Care One, LLC has appealed a National Labor Relations Board decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The case involves multiple healthcare centers across Connecticut and challenges actions by NLRB members and an administrative law judge.

•The case involves nine healthcare centers across Connecticut operated under the Care One network

•Second Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of Rabobank Medical Plan in ERISA benefits dispute

2nd Circuit Affirms Rabobank Medical Plan Win in ERISA Benefits Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Rabobank Medical Plan in a dispute with the estate of a deceased plan participant. The case involved executor Sheri Savage challenging the medical plan's decisions regarding benefits for her deceased sister Cindy Sieden.

•Estate executor Sheri Savage challenged the plan's decisions regarding her deceased sister's benefits

•Second Circuit found BIA provided insufficient reasons for denying motion to reopen

2nd Circuit Reverses BIA on Immigration Reopening Deadline Standards

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit granted Leonel Pinilla Perez's petition challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of his untimely motion to reopen removal proceedings. The court found the BIA provided insufficient reasons for denying the motion and remanded for further consideration.

•Case establishes precedent on 'reasonable diligence' standard for removed noncitizens

•Second Circuit affirmed district court judgment favoring Radish Media, Inc.

2nd Circuit Affirms District Court in Lim v. Radish Media Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court's judgment in *Jun Young Lim v. Radish Media, Inc.* in a summary order issued Feb. 5, 2026. The non-precedential ruling concluded an employment dispute between Lim and the media company.

•Summary order carries no precedential effect under federal appellate rules

•Second Circuit issued summary order in class action against Beech-Nut Nutrition Co. on February 5, 2026

2nd Circuit Issues Summary Order in Cantor v. Beech-Nut Class Action

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order on February 5, 2026, in the case of Cantor v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Co., involving a class action lawsuit with dozens of named plaintiffs. The three-judge panel rendered a decision that will not have precedential effect due to its summary order status.

•Case involves over 60 named plaintiffs led by Jeremy Cantor seeking class action status