9th Circuit Court of Appeals (25 summaries)
United States v. Albino-Loe
Notices to Appear when introduced in a removal hearing, are not testimonial and do not run afoul of constitutional concerns; and, a court is prohibited from ruling on sentence enhancements in removal cases where the state of the originating offense did not permit certain affirmative defenses.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Oliner v. Kontrabecki
In order to seal all records of a civil proceeding, the party must show that there is an overriding compelling government interest in sealing the record.
Area(s) of Law:- Bankruptcy Law
Perez-Palafox v. Holder
When determining whether a crime is a “serious crime” for removability, the Board of Immigration Appeals can rely on the Matter of Frentescu test to determine seriousness without going beyond the record.
Area(s) of Law:- Immigration
Mills v. United States
The Quiet Title Act permits a plaintiff to waive the federal government's right of sovereign immunity when there is a “dispute” over real property interest claimed by the federal government.
Area(s) of Law:- Standing
Li v. Holder
When hearing a pre-REAL ID Act immigration removal proceeding, an Immigration Judge may interpret inconsistent testimony regarding one claim as adverse credibility toward other claims.
Area(s) of Law:- Immigration
United States v. Kahre
When calculating the tax responsibility for compensation in gold coins or certificates, the employer must use the fair-market value, not the face-value, of the coins.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
United States v. Christensen
When calculating a sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)(2), a judge is free to give more or less weight to different factors and can provide an upward variance beyond what a probation officer has already suggested; such an upward variance beyond the sentencing range is not considered impermissible double counting if the variance is reasonable based on the facts.
Area(s) of Law:- Sentencing
Indep. Training v. Cal. Dep't Indus. Relations
"Federal Purposes" under the National Apprenticeship Act mean those projects that require conformity with federal apprenticeship standards for as a conditional of financial assistance eligibility.
Area(s) of Law:- Labor Law
USW Local 12-369 V. USW Int'l
Union officers may be disciplined under § 609 of the Labor-Management Recording and Disclosure Act for actions taken in their official capacity.
Area(s) of Law:- Labor Law
Hazle v. Crofoot
Under a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim, when an injury has been indisputably proven, the plaintiff is entitled to a damage award by law, and/or a new trial if zero damages are awarded by the jury.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Rights § 1983
Corvello v. Wells Fargo Bank
Under the Home Affordable Modification Program("HAMP"), when a mortgage servicer offers a Trial Pay Period ("TPP") to determine candidacy for a modified mortgage, they must notify the homeowner if they do not qualify, of if the homeowner complies with the TPP, the mortgage servicer must offer a modified mortgage.
Area(s) of Law:- Contract Law
Ketchikan Drywall Servs. v. ICE
Employers must fully complete I-9 forms for their employees and merely copying work authorization documents without transcription to the I-9 is a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Area(s) of Law:- Immigration
Murdaugh v. Ryan
Under the Sixth Amendment, a jury must weigh aggravating versus mitigating factors in applying an aggravating sentencing bonus.
Area(s) of Law:- Habeas Corpus
United States v. Smith
When applying enhancements to a sentence, it is permissible to double count for the same occurrence of conduct if the enhancements are to address separate concerns.
Area(s) of Law:- Sentencing
United States v. Gillenwater
At a pretrial competency hearing, a defendant’s right to testify “is of a constitutional magnitude,” and only the defendant can waive this constitutional right to testify on his own behalf.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Procedure
In the Matter of: Fitness Holdings Int'l
Bankruptcy courts may recharacterize loans as an equity investment for the purpose of § 548 and must apply state bankruptcy law to determine if a creditor has a "right to payment."
Area(s) of Law:- Bankruptcy Law
Ecological Rights Foundation v. PG&E
Under the Clean Water Act, a complaint must allege that the source of pollution stems from a point source or industrial activity, and under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a complaint must allege that the pollutant is statutorily defined hazardous or solid waste.
Area(s) of Law:- Environmental Law
United Transp. Union v. BNSF Railway Company
An order, and not just an award, stemming from a Railway Labor Act arbitration panel is reviewable by a District Court and an allegation of corruption within an arbitration panel is a proper complaint pursuant to the National Railroad Adjustment Board 45 U.S.C. § 153.
Area(s) of Law:- Labor Law
Kuxhausen v. BMW Financial Services
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1446, the time limits for removal are not triggered where (1) the removability of the initial complaint cannot be determined without valuation information from the defendant and (2) no subsequent document filed with the court provides a basis for removal.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Procedure
Kuxhausen v. BMW Financial Services
Under 28 U.S.C. § 1446, the time limits for removal are not triggered where (1) the removability of the initial complaint cannot be determined without valuation information from the defendant and (2) no subsequent document filed with the court provides a basis for removal.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Procedure
Faulkner v. ADT Security Services, Inc.
Stipulation of a Tribal Enrollment Certificate was insufficient evidence to establish the defendant’s Indian status for purposes of the defendant’s conviction under the Major Crimes Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1153, which grants federal jurisdiction over enumerated crimes committed by Indians in Indian country.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Procedure
United States v. Lee
When a defendant pleads guilty to violating a broad statute with 2 or more offenses, the court must be specific, for the purposes of determining career offender status or other enhanced sentencing designations, which offense was committed.
Area(s) of Law:- Criminal Law
Sims v. Stanton
To have a qualified immunity in depriving someone of their 4th amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure within the curtilage of their home, the officer must either be chasing someone who is suspected of a felony violation or is presently a violent threat to the community or the officer.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Rights § 1983
United States v. Wolf Child
When a sentencing condition implicates a recognized fundamental liberty interest the court must apply enhanced procedures involving an individualized assessment to ensure that the condition applied is reasonable in its deterrent value and is not overly broad. Furthermore, this enhanced procedure must be made part of the record.
Area(s) of Law:- Sentencing
McCall v. Facebook, Inc.
Under FRCP 23(e), a cy pres class action settlement is fair where individual recovery would be de minimus , and the funds go to create an advocacy group whose articles of incorporation demonstrate an adequate nexus to the plaintiffs’ interests, even if an employee of the defendant is a member of the advocacy group’s board of directors.
Area(s) of Law:- Civil Procedure