August 18, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (joined by Richman, Higginbotham, Stewart, Elrod, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, JJ.), Ho, J., concurring, Jones, J., concurring in judgment only (joined by Smith, Oldham, JJ.); Title VII, employment discrimination Reversing 12(b)(6) dismissal of female correctional officers’ Title VII disparate treatment claim against county for policy … More August 18, 2023, opinions

August 15, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (Richman, Dennis, Haynes), qualified immunity, municipal liability Reversing qualified immunity summary judgment on plaintiff’s false arrest claim, but affirming summary judgment on excessive force claim and on municipal liability claim. As to the false arrest claim, the Court held that the arresting officer entered the curtilage of the plaintiff’s property … More August 15, 2023, opinions

July 14-18, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Richman, Wiener, Willett), Wiener, J., concurring; Title IX, sec. 1983 Denying rehearing en banc, and withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion, reversing denial of qualified immunity dismissal of sec. 1983 claim on state-created danger grounds, and remanding for proceedings of Title IX claims arising from sexual assault of … More July 14-18, 2023, opinions

July 11, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (King, Smith, Elrod), criminal, sex offender registration Reversing order granting request to terminate sex offender registration obligation. The Court held that “the unambiguous language of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act deems Nazerzadeh a tier II sex offender, and … that status demands that his registration continues.” Graves, J. … More July 11, 2023, opinions

May 1, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), venue, insurance, forum selection clause Affirming dismissal without prejudice of plaintiff’s coverage suit for forum non conveniens, on basis that parties’ insurance policy contained an enforceable forum-selection clause requiring litigation in the courts of England and Wales with no return-jurisdiction clause required. Holding that it should apply … More May 1, 2023, opinions

April 14, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), criminal, sentencing, First Step Act Affirming resentencing on remand under the First Step Act, in which district court declined to retroactively apply the decrease in the 25-year mandatory minimum under the First Step Act to defendant’s sentence for discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of … More April 14, 2023, opinions

March 21, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Barksdale, Haynes), qualified immunity, Equal Protection, municipal liability Reversing dismissal of plaintiffs’ excessive force, denial of medical care, and unlawful arrest claims arising from fatal shooting during routine traffic stop; affirming dismissal of remaining claims for unlawful arrest and detention and racial discrimination; and denying as moot motion to … More March 21, 2023, opinions

March 8, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Smith, Duncan, Oldham), Oldham, J., concurring; trademark infringement, sovereign immunity Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s trademark claims arising from reading-incentive program against county school district; and affirming on alternative grounds to the sovereign immunity grounds relied on by the trial court the dismissal of plaintiff’s trademark claims against nonprofit … More March 8, 2023, opinions

December 21-22, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Graves, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), insurance Affirming declaratory judgment in favor of insurance company that it did not owe coverage or defense to its insured for damages incurred by insured’s employees. Southwick, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Higginson), excessive force, municipal liability Reversing 12(b)(6) dismissal of excessive force claims against officer who punched plaintiff … More December 21-22, 2022, opinions

November 2-9, 2022, opinions

(Playing a bit of catch-up after some traveling and oral arguing, so the “Designated for Publication” summaries will be a bit briefer than usual) Designated for publication Graves, J. (Wiener, Graves, Oldham), Wiener, J., dissenting; products liability Affirming dismissal of products-liability claims against firearms manufacturer for an allegedly faulty trigger mechanism. The Court held that … More November 2-9, 2022, opinions