4TH-CIRCUIT

Ralston v. Clarke - Civil Rights Appeal

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 civil action filed by a Virginia inmate. The court found no abuse of discretion in the denial of the inmate's motion for appointment of counsel or in delaying discovery rulings pending a motion to dismiss. The inmate forfeited appellate review by not challenging the district court's disposition in his informal brief.

Heather Cogdell v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance - ERISA Disability Benefits

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court's decision in Heather Cogdell v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company. The court held that an untimely decision by a plan administrator on an internal appeal of a disability benefits claim, governed by ERISA, does not warrant deferential review.

Bullock v. Hamby - Civil Rights Appeal

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to dismiss a prisoner's civil rights lawsuit for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The unpublished opinion clarifies that such decisions, while not binding precedent, uphold the procedural requirements for inmate litigation.

US v. Cory Currie - Criminal Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed in part and affirmed in part the appeal of Cory Fernando Currie. The court granted the government's motion to dismiss the appeal based on the appeal waiver in Currie's plea agreement, finding the district court conducted a proper Rule 11 hearing.

US v. Rashaun Taylor - Appeal Dismissed for Untimely Filing

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Rashaun Taylor's appeal for lack of jurisdiction due to an untimely filed notice of appeal. The court denied his motions to consolidate and for Brady v. Maryland consideration, upholding the district court's order denying his motion to compel discovery.

US v. John Moore - Fourth Amendment Search and Seizure

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated and remanded a conviction for John Henry Moore, instructing the district court to conduct an evidentiary hearing on the defendant's motion to suppress evidence seized during searches of his apartment. The court found the district court erred by denying the motion without a hearing.

River Richards v. Major Brian Parks - Appeal of Complaint Dismissal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's dismissal of River Richards' amended complaint without prejudice. The court found no reversible error in the dismissal for failure to state a claim or in the denial of the motion for reconsideration. The decision is unpublished and not binding precedent.

Brandon Thompson Appeal Dismissed by Fourth Circuit

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Brandon J. Thompson's appeal of a district court order denying his motion for relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The court found that Thompson failed to make the requisite showing for a certificate of appealability, thus denying the appeal.

US v. Lloyd Royal III - Compassionate Release Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's denial of Lloyd Mack Royal III's motion for compassionate release under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(1)(A). The court found no reversible error in the lower court's decision. This unpublished opinion does not constitute binding precedent.

Cooper v. City of Wheeling - Malicious Prosecution Claim

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded a malicious prosecution claim. The court found that the appellant's claim was not time-barred under the two-year statute of limitations but affirmed the dismissal of the claim against the City of Wheeling due to lack of municipal policy or custom allegations.