Verdict . News

•Ninth Circuit ruled that reporting domestic abuse would have been futile for Honduran asylum seeker

9th Circuit Grants Asylum Petition in Honduras Domestic Violence Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals partially granted a petition for review in a domestic violence asylum case, ruling that a Honduran woman's failure to report gang-related abuse to authorities should not bar her claim when such reporting would have been futile.

•Court remanded case after BIA denied asylum based on failure to report gang-related violence

•Ninth Circuit affirmed jury verdict finding Graham County Sheriff not liable for custody death

9th Circuit Affirms Jury Verdict for Graham County Sheriff in Custody Death Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a jury verdict finding Graham County Sheriff PJ Allred not liable for the death of Jorden Simms, who died after jumping from a moving transport vehicle while in county custody. The appeals court rejected arguments that jury instructions were confusing regarding multiple defendants.

•Jorden Simms died after jumping from moving transport vehicle while in county custody

•Ninth Circuit affirmed denial of qualified immunity for three Washington Department of Health officials in First Amendment retaliation case

9th Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity for Washington Health Officials

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of qualified immunity for three Washington Department of Health officials accused of terminating an employee in retaliation for protected First Amendment speech. The ruling allows Erika Henry's federal civil rights lawsuit to proceed against officials Umair Shah, Jessica Todorovich, and Roy Calica.

•Erika Henry alleges her termination violated her constitutional right to free speech

•Ninth Circuit reversed BAP decision blocking debtor's malpractice suit against former bankruptcy counsel

9th Circuit Reverses BAP, Allows Debtor to Sue Bankruptcy Counsel

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Bankruptcy Appellate Panel decision and ruled that debtor Mehri Akhlaghpour can continue her state court legal malpractice lawsuit against her former bankruptcy counsel. The January 20, 2026 decision clarifies the application of the Barton doctrine regarding when debtors must seek bankruptcy court permission to sue court-appointed attorneys.

•Case clarifies application of Barton doctrine requiring bankruptcy court permission to sue court-appointed attorneys

Jan 16, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court's denial of preliminary injunction against Clark County's short-term rental ordinance

9th Circuit Upholds Clark County Short-Term Rental Ban

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of a preliminary injunction sought by Diamond Sands Apartments, LLC against Clark County, Nevada's ordinance prohibiting unlicensed short-term rentals. The apartment complex operator's Eighth Amendment challenge failed.

•Diamond Sands Apartments operates a 360-unit complex in Las Vegas and challenged $4,000 fines under the Eighth Amendment

Jan 16, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment against David Henry in Section 1983 civil rights lawsuit

9th Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment Against Tacoma Police Civil Rights Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling against David Henry in his civil rights lawsuit against Tacoma police officers. Henry's Section 1983 lawsuit alleged constitutional violations stemming from his 2021 arrest following a traffic collision.

•Case involved allegations of constitutional violations by Tacoma police officers following 2021 traffic collision

Jan 16, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit denied qualified immunity to five Nevada Department of Corrections officers in prisoner civil rights case

9th Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity to Nevada Prison Officers

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court's denial of qualified immunity to five Nevada Department of Corrections employees in a civil rights lawsuit filed by prisoner Daine Crawley. The unpublished memorandum decision partially affirmed and partially reversed the lower court's summary judgment ruling.

•Court partially affirmed and partially reversed district court's summary judgment ruling in Crawley v. Williams

Jan 16, 2026•5 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal of RNC lawsuit against Google over email spam filtering practices during 2022

9th Circuit Rejects RNC Lawsuit Against Google Over Email Filtering

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of the Republican National Committee's lawsuit against Google, rejecting claims that the tech giant improperly filtered RNC emails to Gmail users' spam folders during 2022.

•Court found RNC failed to establish required 'special relationship' with Google under California common-carrier law

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit partly reversed district court's summary judgment on grandmother's excessive force claims against SWAT officers

9th Circuit Reviews SWAT Team Excessive Force Claims by Grandmother

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a case where grandmother Norma Eisenmann sued police officers after a SWAT team allegedly used excessive force while apprehending a fugitive from her vehicle. The federal appeals court issued a memorandum decision affirming some claims while reversing others.

•Original case involved allegations SWAT team used overzealous tactics while apprehending fugitive from grandmother's vehicle