Verdict . News

•Third Circuit found SBA violated Administrative Procedure Act in PPP loan forgiveness denial

3rd Circuit Rules SBA Violated APA in PPP Loan Forgiveness Case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Small Business Administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act by declining to fully forgive a Paycheck Protection Program loan to Essintial Enterprise Solutions LLC. The precedential decision centers on whether payments to independent contractors qualify as "payroll costs" under the PPP statutory framework.

•Court ruled payments to independent contractors qualify as 'payroll costs' under PPP statute

•Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of employment discrimination lawsuit on Feb. 3, 2026

3rd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims vs Chain IQ

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of wrongful termination claims brought by Cheryl Peebles against Chain IQ Americas Inc. The appeals court ruled that Peebles' allegations of racial discrimination under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as well as claims under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, were factually insufficient to proceed.

•Plaintiff alleged racial discrimination under federal Title VII and Section 1981 civil rights laws

•Third Circuit vacated district court dismissal of pro se employment discrimination case

3rd Circuit Vacates Target Dismissal in Pro Se Employment Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of Marquitta Regaolo's employment discrimination lawsuit against Target Corporation. The appeals court ordered the case remanded for further proceedings after finding the lower court erred in dismissing the pro se plaintiff's complaint.

•Appeals court found error in dismissing case solely for failure to file opposition brief

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of securities lawsuit against Nuvei Corporation over rejected share tenders

3rd Circuit: SEC Best Price Rule Silent on Private Transfer Restrictions

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a lawsuit by former SPAC sponsors who claimed Nuvei Corporation violated SEC rules when rejecting their tendered shares. The court ruled the SEC's Best Price Rule does not prevent companies from enforcing private contractual restrictions during tender offers.

•Court ruled SEC Best Price Rule is silent on enforcing private share transfer restrictions during tender offers

•Third Circuit issued precedential ruling in consolidated immigration detention cases on Feb. 2, 2026

3rd Circuit Issues Precedential Immigration Detention Ruling

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a precedential decision in consolidated immigration detention cases involving detainees Adolph Michelin and Adewumi Abioye challenging their confinement at Moshannon Valley facilities.

•Cases involved detainees Michelin and Abioye challenging confinement at Moshannon Valley facilities

•Watson kidnapped a 14-year-old girl for three days and filmed sexual acts with her using his cellphone

3rd Circuit Affirms Child Pornography Conviction in Kidnapping Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected John Vincent Watson's appeal of his conviction on five counts of producing child pornography. Watson kidnapped a 14-year-old girl for three days and filmed sexual acts with her before she escaped and called police.

•The Third Circuit rejected Watson's appeal challenging his conviction on five counts of producing child pornography

•Three parents appealed district court's rejection of Equal Protection challenge to Philadelphia's selective high school admissions policy

Parents Challenge Philadelphia School Admissions Policy in Federal Appeal

Three parents appealed a federal court's rejection of their Equal Protection challenge to Philadelphia's selective high school admissions policy. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case that targets the school district's 2022 diversity initiatives affecting four selective schools.

•The Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a precedential opinion in February 2026 after hearing arguments in September 2025

•Third Circuit affirmed deportation order for Mexican couple with U.S.-citizen children

3rd Circuit Upholds Deportation for Mexican Couple Over Hardship Standard

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit denied a petition for review from David Camargo Gomez and Edith Ponce Cordero, affirming immigration courts' determination that the Mexican couple failed to prove their removal would cause exceptional hardship to their U.S.-citizen children.

•Court rejected arguments that immigration courts failed to properly analyze hardship factors

•Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment dismissing personal injury claims against Porsche entities

3rd Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Porsche Vapor Inhalation Lawsuit

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment against a Pennsylvania man who sued Porsche for personal injuries allegedly caused by inhaling engine coolant vapors from his 2004 Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

•Plaintiff alleged harm from inhaling engine coolant vapors with ammonia smell during 2016 incident