Verdict . News

5d ago•4 min read

•Three Illinois school employees were terminated after refusing both COVID-19 vaccination and weekly testing on religious grounds

7th Circuit Upholds School Employee Terminations Over COVID Testing Refusal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Title VII claims brought by three Illinois school employees who were terminated after refusing both COVID-19 vaccination and weekly testing on religious grounds. The February 13, 2026 decision addresses religious accommodation requirements during pandemic health mandates.

•The Seventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of Title VII claims, finding insufficient identification of specific religious beliefs violated by testing

6d ago•4 min read

•Jennifer Shirk was terminated from Indiana University for sending inappropriate emails to senior officials about resolved workplace issues

7th Circuit Upholds Indiana University Employee Firing for Email Misconduct

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Indiana University's termination of Jennifer Shirk, a former online instructional designer who was fired for sending inappropriate emails to senior university officials about resolved workplace issues.

•She claimed retaliation for taking medical leave and requesting accommodations for mental health conditions including OCD and PTSD

•Seventh Circuit affirmed equal payment priority between Great West Casualty and Nationwide Agribusiness for fatal truck crash coverage

7th Circuit Affirms Equal Coverage Priority in Fatal Truck Crash Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court ruling that Great West Casualty Company and Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company have equal payment priority for coverage in a fatal tractor-trailer collision that killed Patrick J. Brennan near Sycamore, Illinois.

•The dispute arose from a June 2021 collision near Sycamore, Illinois that killed Patrick J. Brennan in a side-impact crash

•Defendant insisted on self-representation throughout criminal proceedings involving mail fraud and tax evasion charges

7th Circuit Affirms Defendant's Right to Self-Representation in Fraud Case

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision allowing defendant Eunice Salley to represent herself in criminal proceedings involving mail fraud and tax evasion charges. The appeals court rejected Salley's argument that the lower court erred in permitting her self-representation.

•Appeals court unanimously found waiver of counsel was knowing and voluntary despite serious charges

•The Seventh Circuit dismissed the Wisconsin Voter Alliance's lawsuit against state election officials for lack of Article III standing

7th Circuit Dismisses Wisconsin Voter Alliance Case Over Standing

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit dismissed a case brought by the Wisconsin Voter Alliance against Wisconsin election officials, ruling that the advocacy group failed to establish proper Article III standing to sue in federal court. The February 10, 2026 decision reinforces strict requirements for organizational standing in election-related litigation.

•The court applied strict standing requirements from recent Supreme Court precedent, requiring concrete injuries beyond procedural violations

•Seventh Circuit affirmed drug trafficking conviction despite Fourth Amendment challenge to surveillance methods

7th Circuit Affirms Drug Conviction Despite Surveillance Challenge

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the drug trafficking conviction of Antonio Carrazco-Martinez, rejecting his Fourth Amendment challenge to government surveillance using cell-site simulators and hidden cameras. The February 5, 2026 decision addresses key questions about modern investigative technology in criminal cases.

•Government used warrant-authorized cell-site simulators and hidden cameras to investigate Chicago-Mexico drug operation

•Seventh Circuit reversed district court ruling that would have enforced $50 million settlement agreement

7th Circuit Voids $50M Broiler Chicken Settlement Over Open Terms

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a $50 million settlement agreement in the massive broiler chicken antitrust litigation is unenforceable because material terms remained unresolved when parties exchanged acceptance emails.

•Court held that material terms left unresolved at time of email acceptance prevented binding contract formation

2w ago•4 min read

•Seventh Circuit affirmed federal court priority over retroactively corrected state judgment

7th Circuit Rules on Asset Priority Between Competing Judgment Creditors

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court ruling that prioritized one creditor's federal judgment over another's retroactively corrected state court judgment in a dispute over healthcare company assets. The case involved competing claims between Vivek Bedi and MedLegal Solutions over Premium Healthcare Solutions' assets.

•Original state judgment named wrong defendant, creating asset priority conflict when corrected

2w ago•2 min read

•Norwegian father granted interim visitation rights with daughters during Hague Convention appeal

7th Circuit Grants Father's Request for Interim Visitation Rights During Hague Convention Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed a lower court's denial and granted Norwegian father Yves Aubert's emergency request to reinstate regular visitation with his two daughters while his Hague Convention child abduction case remains on appeal. The court ruled on February 3, 2026, in a dispute involving international custody rights.

•Seventh Circuit reversed district court's denial of visitation request