The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s decision to grant summary judgment in favor of Mercy Health Services Iowa Corp. (doing business as MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center) in a lawsuit brought by a former physician assistant, Michelle Siebrecht. Siebrecht had alleged discrimination based on disability under…
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Trial Court Decision Upheld: Injured Worker Fails to Provide Necessary Medical Evidence on Appeal
The Tennessee Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board has affirmed a lower court’s decision denying further medical and temporary disability benefits to an employee who sustained injuries in a work-related fall. The Board found that the employee, Bennie Anderson, failed to present the required expert medical evidence to support his claims on…
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Ninth Circuit Denies Rehearing in Fight Over Trump Administration’s Internal RIF Plans
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied a petition for rehearing, both at the panel level and en banc, in a high-stakes legal battle concerning the disclosure of internal government documents related to planned large-scale federal workforce reductions (RIFs) initiated under President Donald J. Trump’s Executive…
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No Copyright Infringement: Ninth Circuit Upholds Ruling Against ‘Top Gun’ Article Owners in ‘Maverick’ Sequel Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s decision, ruling in favor of Paramount Pictures Corporation in a copyright dispute brought by the heirs of Ehud Yonay, the author of the 1983 magazine article “Top Guns.” The Yonays claimed that Paramount’s 2022 blockbuster sequel, *Top Gun: Maverick*,…
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Missouri’s Mandatory Halloween Sign for Sex Offenders Violates Free Speech, Eighth Circuit Rules
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down a Missouri law that required registered sex offenders to post a sign on Halloween stating, “No candy or treats at this residence.” The court affirmed the district court’s finding that this specific mandate constitutes compelled speech, violating the First Amendment, though…
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Life Sentence Upheld: Nebraska Supreme Court Reaffirms Limits on Reviewing Sentencing Decisions
The Nebraska Supreme Court has affirmed a life sentence imposed on Armon K. Rejai for second degree murder, making it clear that appellate courts will not second-guess a trial judge’s sentencing decision unless there is a clear abuse of discretion. The ruling strongly reasserts established legal principles, specifically rejecting the…
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Tattoo Trouble: Ninth Circuit Upholds Jury Finding Against Photographer in Kat Von D Copyright Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a district court’s ruling in favor of tattoo artist Katherine Von Drachenberg (Kat Von D) and her former shop, High Voltage Tattoo, against photographer Jeffrey Sedlik, who claimed copyright infringement over his iconic photograph of Miles Davis. The case hinged on the…
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9th Circuit Strikes Down California’s Urban Open-Carry Gun Ban in Major Second Amendment Ruling
A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday delivered a major Second Amendment victory for gun rights advocates by ruling that California’s ban on openly carrying firearms in most of the state is unconstitutional, dealing a setback to one of the nation’s strictest gun-control regimes. The U.S. Court of Appeals for…
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Ninth Circuit Pauses Fatal Shooting Case, Seeks Nevada High Court Guidance on Negligence Law
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has temporarily halted proceedings in a high-stakes federal lawsuit stemming from a lethal police shooting in Las Vegas, asking the Nevada Supreme Court to clarify two fundamental questions about state tort law. The decision to certify these questions means the outcome…
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Credit Card Dispute Fails as Court Upholds Summary Judgment Against ‘Sovereign Citizen’ Arguments
The Second District Court of Appeals of Ohio has affirmed a lower court’s decision granting summary judgment to Capital One, N.A., in a debt collection case against Dave R. Campbell Sr., concluding that the appellant’s defenses were “purely frivolous.” The ruling definitively dismissed Mr. Campbell’s attempts to use complex, non-traditional…