Verdict . News

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment in FBI Disability Case

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's summary judgment ruling favoring the federal government in a disability discrimination case brought by former FBI forensic accountant Allepichian Aldrich. The non-precedential decision upheld the lower court's dismissal of claims under the Rehabilitation Act and Americans With Disabilities Act.

•Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment for federal government in FBI employee disability case

•Former forensic accountant Allepichian Aldrich alleged discrimination, failure to accommodate, and hostile work environment

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3rd Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Discrimination Claims vs Chain IQ

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of wrongful termination claims brought by Cheryl Peebles against Chain IQ Americas Inc. The appeals court ruled that Peebles' allegations of racial discrimination under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981, as well as claims under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, were factually insufficient to proceed.

•Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of employment discrimination lawsuit on Feb. 3, 2026

•Plaintiff alleged racial discrimination under federal Title VII and Section 1981 civil rights laws

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of ADA Case Against Electronic Materials Co.

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's dismissal of an ADA lawsuit brought by Robert Koscielski, a 20-year employee of DDP Specialty Electronic Materials who was terminated after developing a rare brain condition affecting his balance. The court held that Koscielski could not perform essential job functions even with accommodation.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed dismissal of ADA lawsuit against DDP Specialty Electronic Materials

•20-year employee terminated after developing permanent neurological condition affecting balance

State Court

•Contract formatting is generally irrelevant to substantive unconscionability analysis

California Supreme Court

California Supreme Court Clarifies Unconscionability Standards

The California Supreme Court ruled February 2, 2026, in Fuentes v. Empire Nissan, Inc., clarifying how courts should analyze illegible contract terms when determining unconscionability. The court held that a contract's format is generally irrelevant to substantive unconscionability analysis but requires close scrutiny of difficult-to-read contract terms.

•Courts must closely scrutinize terms in difficult-to-read contracts for unfairness

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

6th Circuit Vacates GM Discrimination Ruling After Supreme Court Decision

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a district court's dismissal of a male employee's sex discrimination claim against General Motors, following the Supreme Court's decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services that eliminated the background-circumstances pleading requirement for reverse discrimination cases.

•Sixth Circuit vacated district court dismissal of GM employee's sex discrimination claim following Supreme Court's Ames decision

•Supreme Court eliminated background-circumstances pleading requirement for reverse discrimination cases in 2025

Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

8th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Religious Discrimination Claims

The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's dismissal of religious discrimination claims brought by Benjamin Zarn against the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The case involved allegations under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Minnesota state laws.

•Eighth Circuit affirmed dismissal of religious discrimination claims against Minnesota Department of Human Services

•District court dismissed state law claims for lack of jurisdiction and granted summary judgment on federal claims

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals

2w ago•5 min read

Sixth Circuit Affirms Summary Judgment for Delta Air Lines in Race Bias Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has upheld a district court's summary judgment in favor of Delta Air Lines and two employees in a race discrimination lawsuit filed by former flight attendant Jacqueline Meadows under Title VII and Michigan civil rights law.

•Sixth Circuit affirmed district court's summary judgment for Delta Air Lines in race discrimination case

•Former flight attendant Jacqueline Meadows alleged discrimination under Title VII and Michigan civil rights law

Third Circuit Court of Appeals

3w ago•4 min read

3rd Circuit Revives Job Discrimination Case Over Truck Driver's Past Conviction

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court's dismissal of a discrimination case involving a truck driver who was rejected for employment after voluntarily disclosing a 15-year-old armed robbery conviction. The court ruled that Pennsylvania's fair hiring laws apply even when an applicant self-reports their criminal history.

•Third Circuit reversed district court dismissal of employment discrimination case involving criminal history

•Pennsylvania fair hiring law applies even when applicant voluntarily discloses criminal record

Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

3w ago•5 min read

4th Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Age Discrimination Suit Against VA Town

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of an age discrimination lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Turner against the Town of Narrows, Virginia. Turner alleged the town discriminated against him based on his age when it hired a candidate in his early twenties for a parks director position instead of him.

•Fourth Circuit affirmed dismissal of age discrimination lawsuit filed by 60-year-old Jeffrey Turner against Town of Narrows, Virginia

•Turner was rejected for Parks and Recreation Director position in favor of candidate in his early twenties