On May 7, 2020, the Supreme Court decided United States v. Sineneng-Smith, No. 19-67, holding that, absent extraordinary circumstances, courts must adhere to the principle of party presentation and decide only those questions...more
On May 7, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Kelly v. United States, No. 18-1059, holding that for purposes of the federal wire fraud or federal-program fraud statutes, there can be no criminal violation...more
5/10/2020
/ Appeals ,
Bridgegate ,
Criminal Convictions ,
Federal-Program Fraud ,
Governor Christie ,
Intent to Obtain Money or Property ,
Kelly v United States ,
Political Scandals ,
Public Officials ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
Wire Fraud
On June 27, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Rucho v. Common Cause, No. 18-422, holding that claims of partisan gerrymandering present nonjusticiable political questions that cannot be resolved by the federal courts under...more
6/28/2019
/ Appeals ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
First Amendment ,
Gerrymandering ,
Political Parties ,
Political Question Doctrine ,
Redistricting ,
Remand ,
Rucho v Common Cause ,
SCOTUS ,
Vacated ,
Viewpoint Discrimination
On January 8, 2019, the Supreme Court decided Henry Schein, Inc., et al. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc., No. 17-1272. The Federal Arbitration Act allows parties to agree by contract that an arbitrator decide threshold...more
1/9/2019
/ Appeals ,
Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Arbitrators ,
Contract Terms ,
Exceptions ,
Federal Arbitration Act ,
Henry Schein Inc v Archer and White Sales Inc ,
Judicial Review ,
Motion to Compel ,
Question of Arbitrability ,
Remand ,
SCOTUS ,
Vacated ,
Wholly Groundless Doctrine
On January 8, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Culbertson v. Berryhill, No. 17-773, holding that the Social Security Act permits an attorney fee award greater than 25 percent of the claimant’s past-due...more
1/9/2019
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Appeals ,
Attorney Representation Agreements ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Concurrent Litigation ,
Culbertson v Berryhill ,
Denial of Benefits ,
Fee Caps ,
Litigation Fees & Costs ,
Past-Due Benefits ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
Social Security Act ,
Social Security Benefits ,
Title II ,
Trial Fees
On June 22, 2018, the Supreme Court decided WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corp., No. 16-1011, holding that the damages provision of the Patent Act, 35 U.S.C. § 284, allows a plaintiff to recover lost foreign profits...more
6/25/2018
/ 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(2) ,
35 U.S.C. § 284 ,
Appeals ,
Damages ,
Domestic Injury ,
Extraterritoriality Rules ,
Foreign Sales ,
Lost Profits ,
Patent Act ,
Patent Infringement ,
Patents ,
Remand ,
SCOTUS ,
Vacated ,
WesternGeco LLC v Ion Geophysical Corporation
On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court decided Wisconsin Central Ltd. v. United States, No. 17-530, holding that a railroad company’s employee stock options are not taxable “compensation” under the Railroad Retirement Tax Act...more
6/22/2018
/ Appeals ,
Compensation & Benefits ,
Employee Stock Purchase Rights ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
Non-Taxable Income ,
Payment-In-Kind ,
Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) ,
Remand ,
Remuneration ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
Stock Options ,
Taxable Income ,
Wisconsin Central Ltd v United States
On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Lucia v. Securities and Exchange Commission, No. 17-130, holding that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s administrative law judges are subject to the U.S....more
6/22/2018
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Administrative Proceedings ,
Appeals ,
Appointments Clause ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Final Written Decisions ,
Lucia v SEC ,
Officers of the United States ,
Remand ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Violations ,
Special Trial Judges (STJs)
On June 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., No. 17-494, holding that states can require out-of-state sellers to collect and remit sales tax on goods shipped to the state, even if...more
6/22/2018
/ Appeals ,
Commerce Clause ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Internet Retailers ,
Interstate Commerce ,
Out-of-State Companies ,
Physical Presence Test ,
Quill ,
Reversal ,
Sales & Use Tax ,
SCOTUS ,
South Dakota v. Wayfair ,
Substantial Nexus
On February 27, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Patchak v. Zinke, No. 16-498. No opinion commanded a majority of the Court, but six justices concluded that the plaintiff’s lawsuit under the Indian...more
3/1/2018
/ Appeals ,
Article III ,
Casinos ,
Dismissals ,
Governmental Immunity ,
Indian Gaming ,
Indian Reorganization Act ,
Jurisdiction ,
Lack of Authority ,
Land Owners ,
Land Trusts ,
Legislative Process ,
Patchak v Zinke ,
SCOTUS ,
Secretary of the Interior ,
Separation of Powers