Verdict . News

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

•Fourth Circuit affirmed City of Clarksburg's termination of employee who violated conduct policies after medical leave

4th Circuit Affirms City of Clarksburg's Firing of Employee After Medical Leave

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court ruling upholding the City of Clarksburg's termination of employee Dominique Spatafore, who was fired three months after returning from medical leave for violating conduct policies.

•Employee sent complaints to Mayor's wife and City Council instead of supervisors, also posted workplace complaints on Facebook

Jan 7, 2026•4 min read

•Fourth Circuit vacated Maryland drug conviction in 2-1 split decision over late evidence disclosure

4th Circuit Vacates Maryland Drug Conviction Over Evidence Disclosure

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated Robert Gary Moore's drug possession conviction after finding the state introduced undisclosed evidence during trial. The split 2-1 decision raises questions about prosecutorial disclosure obligations in criminal cases.

•State introduced undisclosed chain of custody report on second day of three-day trial

•Fourth Circuit panel unanimously affirmed the conviction in a January 6, 2026 decision

4th Circuit Affirms Strother Criminal Conviction in Unpublished Opinion

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a criminal conviction against Robert Lee Strother in an unpublished opinion issued January 6, 2026. The three-judge panel unanimously upheld the district court's ruling from the Eastern District of North Carolina.

•Case originated from the Eastern District of North Carolina under Judge James C. Dever III

•Fourth Circuit dismissed Deputy Evans' appeal on jurisdictional grounds, finding factual disputes prevent appellate review

4th Circuit Dismisses Deputy's Appeal in Fatal Shooting of Veteran

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Deputy J. Evans' appeal in a case involving the fatal shooting of Adrian Roberts, a veteran experiencing a mental health crisis during an involuntary commitment order execution. The court ruled it lacked jurisdiction because the case involved factual disputes rather than legal issues.

•Veteran Adrian Roberts was shot and killed by deputy within seconds of officers forcibly entering his home during involuntary commitment order

•Fourth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for United Airlines in employment discrimination case filed by Leslie Anthony

4th Circuit Affirms United Airlines Win in Flight Attendant Bias Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court's summary judgment for United Airlines in an employment discrimination case filed by Leslie Anthony, a Black woman in her late fifties who was terminated during her probationary period as a flight attendant.

•Anthony, a Black woman in her late fifties, was terminated during probationary period for three attendance violations

•Fourth Circuit affirmed hospital's termination of respiratory therapist who refused COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds

4th Circuit Affirms Hospital's COVID Vaccine Mandate in Religious Case

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Charleston Area Medical Center's termination of respiratory therapist Charles Miller for refusing COVID-19 vaccination based on religious beliefs. The court held that accommodating an unvaccinated respiratory therapist would pose substantial health risks constituting undue hardship under Title VII.

•Court held that accommodating unvaccinated respiratory therapist would pose substantial health risks constituting undue hardship

Jan 6, 2026•5 min read

•Fourth Circuit partially reversed district court dismissal of discrimination claims against Baltimore Police Department

4th Circuit Issues Split Ruling in Baltimore Police Discrimination Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit delivered a mixed decision in Wanda Johnson v. Baltimore City, affirming parts of a lower court ruling while reversing others in a civil rights case against the Baltimore Police Department. The January 6, 2026 ruling drew a dissenting opinion and sends portions back to district court.

•Case involves Title VII racial discrimination and retaliation allegations by former police department employee

Jan 2, 2026•2 min read

•Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed jury verdict against five coal mining companies for WARN Act violations

4th Circuit Affirms WARN Act Victory Against Mining Companies

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed a jury verdict finding five West Virginia coal mining companies liable under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act for failing to provide proper notice before terminating employees. The January 2, 2026 decision upholds workers' rights protections in a class action lawsuit led by Jules Gautier.

•Companies failed to provide required 60-day notice before terminating employees in West Virginia

Jan 2, 2026•2 min read

•Fourth Circuit affirmed James Gould's conviction for illegal gun possession after mental health commitment

4th Circuit Affirms Gun Conviction After Mental Health Commitment

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed James Gould's federal firearms conviction, rejecting his Second Amendment challenge to laws prohibiting gun possession by those previously committed to mental institutions. The published decision concluded a case that began when police found Gould with a shotgun in his West Virginia home.

•Court rejected Second Amendment challenge to federal law prohibiting firearm possession by those involuntarily committed