Federal Courts

Astellas Pharma Inc. v. Ascent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Patent Infringement

The US District Court for the District of Delaware issued a Memorandum and Order in a patent infringement case involving Astellas Pharma Inc. and Ascent Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The case concerns Ascent's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for a generic version of Astellas's Myrbetriq® and alleges infringement of several patents under the Hatch-Waxman Act.

Shelton v. Patton - Motion to Dismiss Opinion

The District of Delaware issued an opinion in Shelton v. Patton, addressing defendants' motions to dismiss all five counts of the plaintiff's complaint. The court is considering whether the complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6).

Ayestas v. Harris County District Attorney's Office - Habeas Corpus

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a discovery order in a habeas corpus case involving a capital murder conviction. The court found that the district court lacked jurisdiction over the selective-prosecution claims, vacating the order that compelled the Harris County District Attorney's Office to produce internal memoranda.

Teacher v. Principal - First Amendment Prayer Rights

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing a principal's claim of qualified immunity in a lawsuit filed by a teacher who alleges her prayer on school grounds was prohibited. The court will determine if the principal's actions violated the teacher's First Amendment rights.

Fifth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Employment Discrimination Case

The Fifth Circuit affirmed a district court's decision to dismiss a plaintiff's employment discrimination and retaliation claims with prejudice. The dismissal was based on the plaintiff's counsel's repeated failure to comply with discovery orders and court deadlines over four years of litigation. The court found the dismissal to be a proper exercise of discretion.

US v. Tekola - Sentence Affirmed for Drug Distribution

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed Isaac Tekola's sentence for drug distribution charges. The court upheld the district court's decision to apply a sentencing enhancement for maintaining a premises for drug trafficking, finding it was a primary use of his residence.

Miller v. Lamanna - Appeal of Dismissal

The Second Circuit vacated a district court's dismissal of a former corrections officer's race discrimination and retaliation claims. The appellate court found the district court erred by converting a summary judgment motion into a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal motion, considering only the complaint's allegations.

US v. Aryeetey - Affirmation of Conviction and Sentence

The Second Circuit affirmed the conviction and sentence of Ivanjoel Aryeetey for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court found no abuse of discretion in admitting DNA evidence and deemed the sentence substantively reasonable.

Safdieh v. Commissioner - Tax Court Summary Judgment Granted

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a Tax Court order that had granted summary judgment to Joseph Safdieh, ruling that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue may assess penalties for failing to report control of a foreign business. The court remanded the case for further proceedings.

US v. Jiminez - Sentence Affirmation for Felony Conviction

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's judgment against William Jimenez, upholding his 105-month sentence for possessing ammunition after a felony conviction. The court found no abuse of discretion in the imposed special conditions of supervised release, including electronic device searches and mental health counseling.