Verdict . News

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit reversed summary judgment dismissing excessive force claim against Phoenix police officer

9th Circuit Reverses Police Excessive Force Ruling in 2020 Phoenix Curfew Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's summary judgment dismissal of an excessive force claim against a Phoenix police officer who shot David Saccoccio with less-lethal rounds during civil unrest enforcement in May 2020.

•Officer Eric Gomez shot David Saccoccio with less-lethal rounds during May 2020 civil unrest curfew enforcement

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

•Mother and daughter from El Salvador represented themselves in federal immigration appeal

9th Circuit Denies El Salvador Family's Asylum Appeal

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed a petition from Reina Madelin Torres-Contreras and her minor daughter, both El Salvador citizens, challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of their asylum case. The family had previously been denied asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture by an Immigration Judge.

•Case involved denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection

Jan 14, 2026•1 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed BLM's contract approval with JS Livestock for Nevada wild horse facility holding up to 4,000 animals

9th Circuit Upholds BLM Wild Horse Facility Contract in Nevada

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court ruling favoring the Bureau of Land Management in a challenge to its approval of a contract for a private facility to house up to 4,000 wild horses and burros in Nevada. Friends of Animals lost its appeal seeking to block the off-range corral facility operated by JS Livestock in Winnemucca.

•Friends of Animals had standing to challenge the contract but lost on the merits of their environmental and animal welfare claims

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

•Three-judge panel unanimously granted petition without oral argument on Jan. 13, 2026

9th Circuit Grants Immigration Petition, Orders Fresh BIA Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit granted a petition for review filed by Jose Israel Chamorro-Castillo, a Mexican national, reversing the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of his case. The court remanded the matter for reconsideration in light of a recent en banc decision.

•Court cited recent en banc decision Rivera-Valdes as grounds for remand to BIA

Jan 13, 2026•2 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Central Contra Costa Transit Authority in employment discrimination case

9th Circuit Upholds Transit Authority Firing of Bus Operator

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Central Contra Costa Transit Authority in an employment discrimination lawsuit. Former bus operator Shannon Cross had sued after being terminated following a collision with a bicyclist.

•Former bus operator Shannon Cross was terminated after collision with bicyclist and policy violations

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit en banc overruled decades-old "pure question of law" exception to plain error review

9th Circuit En Banc Overrules 'Pure Question of Law' Exception

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting en banc, overruled longstanding precedent that allowed unpreserved legal challenges to be reviewed de novo rather than under the more restrictive plain error standard. The ruling came in a case affirming enhanced sentencing for a methamphetamine dealer.

•All unpreserved legal challenges must now be reviewed under restrictive plain error standard

Jan 13, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit held TCPA doesn't prohibit text messages with video files without prior consent

9th Circuit: TCPA Doesn't Cover Text Messages with Video Files

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Telephone Consumer Protection Act does not prohibit sending text messages containing video files without prior express consent. The decision affirmed a district court's dismissal of a class action lawsuit against the Republican National Committee.

•Court distinguished between initial message transmission and recipient's choice to play video

Jan 12, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit reversed Nevada district court's summary judgment ruling favoring senior lender Hall CA-NV over title insurance proceeds

9th Circuit Reverses Nevada Court in Hotel Finance Dispute

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Nevada district court's summary judgment ruling in a complex financing dispute between lenders over a failed Reno hotel renovation project. The appeals court found errors in the lower court's interpretation of title insurance proceeds distribution and damages award.

•Appeals court found errors in contract interpretation regarding parties' intent in commercial financing agreement

Jan 12, 2026•4 min read

•Ninth Circuit affirmed district court dismissal without oral arguments

9th Circuit Affirms Dismissal in Nevada Foreclosure Case

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court's dismissal of a lawsuit filed by James and Jean White against debt collection company Prestige Default Services, LLC. The unpublished January 12, 2026 memorandum decision upheld rulings in a case involving foreclosure proceedings on a Las Vegas property.

•Case involved timing dispute over trustee substitution in foreclosure proceedings