Verdict . News

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•1965 permanent injunction required St. Mary Parish schools to desegregate, with enforcement lasting 60 years

5th Circuit Reviews 60-Year St. Mary Parish Desegregation Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is reviewing a school desegregation case involving St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, that dates back to 1965. The School Board is appealing a district court's refusal to dissolve a permanent injunction that has governed the district's operations for nearly six decades.

•School Board seeks to dissolve injunction citing procedural problems, after new class representatives sought modifications in 2019

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Reviews Racial Hostile Work Environment Standards

The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a case that could reshape how workplace discrimination claims are evaluated, deciding whether evidence of general discrimination against racial minorities can support an individual employee's hostile work environment claim.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of discriminatory termination claims but revived hostile work environment claim

•Court found substantial evidence to support racial hostile work environment allegations despite insufficient evidence for termination claims

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal of ADA Suit Against NJ Courts

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed by Hilda Kennedy against the New Jersey court system. Kennedy, who is legally blind and physically impaired, alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act during state court proceedings in Atlantic County.

•Third Circuit affirmed dismissal with prejudice of ADA discrimination lawsuit against New Jersey court system

•Plaintiff Hilda Kennedy alleged disability discrimination during four state court proceedings in Atlantic County

•Three black residents sued Lexington, Mississippi police officers and city for civil rights violations

Fifth Circuit Reviews Civil Rights Case Against Lexington Police

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is reviewing a civil rights lawsuit filed by three black residents against police officers and the City of Lexington, Mississippi, a small segregated town in Holmes County.

•Lexington is described as a 'tiny and deeply segregated town' with 1,500 black and 300 white residents

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Private Prison Death Lawsuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Christine Williams against CoreCivic of Tennessee over her son's fatal drug overdose at the Whiteville Correctional Facility. Williams had alleged that severe understaffing at the private prison contributed to her son's death.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed dismissal of lawsuit against CoreCivic over inmate's fatal drug overdose

•Mother alleged severe understaffing allowed unfettered drug access leading to son's death

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Rules on Police Excessive Force During Mental Health Crisis

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a published decision in Castro-Reyes v. City of Opa-Locka, addressing police use of force during a mental health emergency. The case involves allegations that four Florida police officers used excessive force while detaining Jafet Castro-Reyes under the state's Baker Act.

•Eleventh Circuit issued published decision in police excessive force case during mental health crisis

•Four Opa-Locka officers allegedly tased, punched, and dragged suspect during Baker Act detention

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

11th Circuit Tackles Hostile Work Environment Standards in Race Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a split decision in *Melton v. I-10 Truck Center*, affirming summary judgment on discrimination and retaliation claims while vacating dismissal of a hostile work environment claim. The court addressed whether workplace discrimination against all racial minorities can support an individual employee's hostile environment claim.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of discrimination and retaliation claims but revived hostile work environment claim

•Court addressed whether discrimination against all racial minorities can support individual hostile environment claims

•Fifth Circuit affirmed termination of probationary San Antonio police officer Lucy Abajian-Salon following off-duty incident with construction workers

Fifth Circuit Upholds San Antonio Officer's Termination Over Off-Duty Incident

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the termination of probationary San Antonio police officer Lucy Abajian-Salon, who was fired after an off-duty confrontation with construction workers in her neighborhood resulted in property damage allegations.

•Officer's federal discrimination lawsuit under Title VII, Section 1981, and Texas Labor Code was dismissed by district court and upheld on appeal

•Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for Texas State Trooper Donald Hinote in Section 1983 excessive force lawsuit

Fifth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Texas Trooper in Fatal Shooting

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling in favor of Texas State Trooper Donald Hinote in a federal civil rights lawsuit. The parents of Ronald Elizondo Jr. had sued the trooper under Section 1983 for excessive force in their son's fatal shooting.

•Parents of Ronald Elizondo Jr. sued trooper over their son's fatal shooting but lost at both district and appellate court levels