Verdict . News

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 16, 2026•4 min read

4th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Families' Claims Against Guilford DSS

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of federal claims brought by two families against Guilford County, North Carolina and its Department of Social Services. The unpublished decision rejected challenges by the Rhoads and Ethridge families against multiple DSS officials.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed dismissal of federal civil rights claims against Guilford County DSS

•Two families (Rhoads and Ethridge) challenged actions by multiple DSS officials and employees

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 The unpublished memorandum decision partially affirmed and partially reversed the lower court's summary judgment ruling.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 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

•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

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 15, 2026•4 min read

11th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims vs Racing Group

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld the dismissal of employment discrimination claims filed by Valerie Lowery against Jefferson County Racing Association. The appeals court found that Lowery's pro se complaint failed to state valid claims under Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

•Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of Lowery's Title VII and ADA claims for failure to state a claim

•Plaintiff alleged race discrimination, disability discrimination, and retaliation against racing association

Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

7th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Race Discrimination Suit vs United

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a racial discrimination lawsuit against United Airlines. Passenger Yubo Miao alleged he was removed from a flight due to his race, but the appeals court found no plausible discrimination claims.

•Seventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of racial discrimination lawsuit against United Airlines

•Passenger Yubo Miao alleged removal from flight was based on his Chinese ancestry

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

Fifth Circuit Considers En Banc Review in Texas v. Bondi EEOC Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is reviewing a petition for rehearing en banc in a significant employment law dispute between the State of Texas and federal officials including Attorney General Pamela Bondi and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission leadership.

•Fifth Circuit considering en banc review after August 2025 panel decision favored Texas

•Case involves Attorney General Bondi and entire EEOC leadership structure as defendants

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

Jan 14, 2026•4 min read

6th Circuit Issues Decision in Booth v. Lazzara Medical Malpractice Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has issued a decision in Brandi Booth v. Jonathan Lazzara, a medical malpractice and wrongful death case involving the estate of Dustin Booth against multiple defendants including the City of Monroe, Ohio.

•Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued published decision in wrongful death medical malpractice case

•Case involves estate of Dustin Booth against doctor and City of Monroe, Ohio among other defendants