Verdict . News

•Ninth Circuit vacated district court's denial of preliminary injunction for religious diet accommodation

9th Circuit Backs Buddhist Prisoner's Religious Diet Rights

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a lower court's decision and ruled that California state prisoner Maurice Lydell Harris, a Nichiren Buddhist, should be allowed a halal diet that aligns with his sincere religious beliefs. The court found the district court erroneously questioned the content and centrality of Harris's religious beliefs.

•Harris, a Nichiren Buddhist, sought halal prison diet as closest option to his religious dietary requirements

•Ninth Circuit partially reversed district court's dismissal of securities fraud claims under Securities Exchange Act sections 10(b) and 20(a)

9th Circuit Partially Revives Funko Securities Fraud Case Over Collectibles Loss

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has partially reversed a district court's dismissal of securities fraud claims against Funko Inc. and two officers. The case centers on allegations that the pop culture collectibles company misled investors before writing off millions of dollars in inventory, causing the stock to lose over half its value.

•Funko's stock lost over 50% of its value following massive writedown of pop culture collectibles worth tens of millions of dollars

•Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Ford Motor Credit and debt collection agency WIRB

9th Circuit Affirms Auto Repossession in Consumer Debt Collection Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment for Ford Motor Credit Company and a debt collection agency in a vehicle repossession dispute. Consumer Vanessa Chavez had challenged the repossession under federal fair debt collection laws and Arizona state statute.

•Consumer alleged vehicle repossession violated Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Arizona self-help statute

•Ninth Circuit denied rehearing petitions in 36-year-old reproductive rights case involving Guam medical groups

9th Circuit Denies Rehearing in Guam Reproductive Rights Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied petitions for rehearing in a decades-long reproductive rights lawsuit involving Guam medical groups and government officials. The court dismissed the appeal as moot following related proceedings involving Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero.

•Court dismissed appeal as moot following related proceedings involving Governor Leon Guerrero

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's summary judgment upholding California's switchblade regulations

9th Circuit Upholds California Switchblade Ban in Second Amendment Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's ruling upholding California's switchblade regulations against a Second Amendment challenge. The court rejected arguments from Knife Rights, Inc. and other plaintiffs that the state's restrictions on concealed carrying of switchblades violate constitutional rights.

•Court focused specifically on prohibition of concealed carrying of switchblades in public

•Ninth Circuit reversed district court order requiring disclosure of 6 million Volkswagen documents under FOIA

9th Circuit Reverses FOIA Order for 6M Volkswagen Documents

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court order requiring disclosure of six million documents that Volkswagen AG provided to federal prosecutors as part of its criminal plea deal with the Department of Justice.

•Documents were provided to DOJ as part of Volkswagen's criminal plea deal and obtained through grand jury investigation

•Ninth Circuit partially reversed district court's denial of qualified immunity to Nevada prison warden

9th Circuit Partially Reverses Qualified Immunity Denial for Prison Warden

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mixed ruling in *Cardenas-Ornelas v. Johnson*, partially reversing a district court's denial of qualified immunity to Nevada prison Warden Calvin Johnson. The case involved alleged constitutional violations during COVID-19 quarantine procedures at High Desert State Prison.

•Court found Eighth Amendment right to outdoor exercise was clearly established during COVID-19 pandemic

•Ninth Circuit denied petition by Mexican national challenging denial of withholding of removal and CAT protection

Ninth Circuit Denies Mexican National's Immigration Appeal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review filed by Maria Arriaga-Gutierrez, a Mexican national challenging an immigration judge's denial of her applications for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.

•Court applied deferential substantial evidence standard of review to immigration judge's factual findings

•Ninth Circuit reversed district court denial of preliminary injunction against Idaho's H.B. 710

9th Circuit Reverses Idaho Court, Blocks Children's Content Law

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit reversed a district court decision and granted a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Idaho's Children's School and Library Protection Act, ruling in favor of private schools and libraries challenging the law on First Amendment grounds.

•Law restricts schools and libraries from providing certain "harmful" content to minors