Federal Courts

Stephanie Reddin v. Kristi Noem - Employment Discrimination Appeal

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a former Federal Air Marshal's discrimination lawsuit against the TSA. The court found the plaintiff failed to adequately plead she was a qualified individual capable of performing essential job functions, and that the TSA had provided reasonable accommodations.

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.

Fitzwater v. CONSOL Energy - ERISA Retiree Benefits

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision regarding the termination of CONSOL Energy's retiree welfare benefits plan. The court found that ERISA permits such changes when employers reserve the right to amend or terminate plans and employees are aware of these actions. The decision impacts employers with similar benefit plans and their former employees.

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.

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 - Affirmance of conviction in part, dismissal in part

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed in part and dismissed in part the appeal of Rashaun Antonio Taylor. The court vacated Taylor's conviction on Count 3 (use of a firearm during a RICO conspiracy) and its attendant sentence, but otherwise affirmed the district court's denial of his motion for relief.

US v. Antionne Cherry - Sentencing Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the sentence of Antionne Cherry, who appealed his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The court found that any error in calculating Cherry's sentencing guidelines range was harmless.

Phillip Hill v. Frederick County Maryland District Court - Civil Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's order dismissing a pro se civil complaint filed by Phillip Edward Hill against the Frederick County Maryland District Court and other defendants. The court found no reversible error in the district court's decision.

Vines v. Virginia Department of Corrections - Appeal Dismissed

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Clayton Vines's appeal of a district court order. The dismissal was based on Vines's failure to file timely objections to a magistrate judge's recommendation, thereby forfeiting appellate review. The unpublished opinion does not constitute binding precedent.

US v. Raoul Lafond - Affirmation of District Court Order

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to construe Raoul Lafond's motion for relief from judgment as an unauthorized, successive motion to vacate a sentence. The court denied Lafond's request to file a second or successive motion.