Verdict . News

Jan 12, 2026•2 min read

•Third Circuit affirmed district court's finding that Thomas Wade violated supervised release conditions

Third Circuit Affirms Supervised Release Violation for Firearms Convict

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a district court's finding that Thomas Clay Wade violated his supervised release conditions. The non-precedential decision addressed the admissibility of out-of-court statements in violation proceedings.

•Court ruled good cause existed for admitting out-of-court statements in violation proceedings

•Third Circuit granted summary action in consolidated appeals involving $9 million judgment collection

3rd Circuit Grants Summary Action in $9M Judgment Collection Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a non-precedential opinion granting summary action in consolidated appeals involving Mark Stiffler's challenge to preliminary injunctive relief. Rivertown TCI, L.P. seeks to collect on a state court judgment exceeding $9 million.

•Mark Stiffler unsuccessfully challenged preliminary injunctive relief granted to Rivertown TCI, L.P.

•Third Circuit rejected Penn faculty lawsuit seeking to block university document production to Congress

3rd Circuit Rejects Penn Faculty Suit Over Congressional Document Requests

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit by University of Pennsylvania faculty members who sought to block the university from providing documents to Congress about campus antisemitism. The faculty argued the document production violated their civil rights.

•Faculty members feared congressional documents would increase negative publicity and harassment

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of discrimination lawsuit by former Pennsylvania narcotics agent Beverly Rivera

3rd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Ex-Narcotics Agent's Bias Suit

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of a discrimination lawsuit filed by Beverly Rivera, a former Pennsylvania narcotics agent. Rivera alleged hostile work environment and discriminatory termination against the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office.

•Rivera alleged hostile work environment and discriminatory termination based on race and ethnicity

•Former Prudential employee Young Cho filed class action under ERISA alleging fiduciary duty breaches in 401(k) plan management

Third Circuit Hears ERISA Class Action Against Prudential Over 401(k) Plan

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has received an appeal in a class action lawsuit filed by former Prudential employee Young Cho against Prudential Insurance Company of America and investment oversight officials. The case involves allegations of fiduciary duty breaches related to the management of Prudential's employee 401(k) savings plan.

•Multiple defendants include Prudential Insurance, Investment Oversight Committee members, and Bellwether Consulting

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of Blankenship's constitutional challenge to FINRA disciplinary proceedings

3rd Circuit Rejects Financial Professional's Jury Trial Challenge to FINRA

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's dismissal of D. Allen Blankenship's attempt to block FINRA disciplinary proceedings. Blankenship argued the Seventh Amendment entitled him to a federal jury trial rather than FINRA's administrative process.

•Blankenship argued Seventh Amendment entitled him to federal jury trial rather than FINRA administrative process

•Third Circuit ruled hotel guests have no reasonable privacy expectation five hours after checkout

3rd Circuit: No Hotel Privacy Rights Five Hours After Checkout

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy in a hotel room searched five hours after checkout time. The precedential decision in United States v. Ryan Mendoza affirms a district court's denial of a motion to suppress evidence.

•Court affirmed district court's denial of motion to suppress evidence from post-checkout room search

•Christopher Texidor received 292 months for drug trafficking and firearm offenses, plus 240 months concurrent for wire fraud

3rd Circuit Upholds 24-Year Sentence in Major Drug Conspiracy Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the conviction and 24-year prison sentence of Christopher Texidor, who led a drug trafficking organization that moved nearly 3,000 kilograms of marijuana from California to Pennsylvania. The court rejected all of Texidor's sentencing challenges in a decision issued Jan. 8.

•Third Circuit rejected all appeals challenging leadership enhancement and sentence length

•Third Circuit affirmed denial of compassionate release motion under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i)

3rd Circuit Denies Compassionate Release for Life-Term Federal Inmate

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has denied William Baskerville's appeal seeking compassionate release from federal prison under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A)(i). The non-precedential decision, filed January 8, 2026, upheld a lower court's denial of Baskerville's motion for sentence reduction in a case dating back to 2003.

•Baskerville was sentenced to nine concurrent life terms for witness intimidation and drug trafficking