United States

Duke v. Luxottica - ERISA Retirement Plan Class Action Opinion

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on a class action lawsuit alleging Luxottica's retirement plan violated ERISA by using outdated actuarial assumptions. The court held that the plaintiff has standing to seek plan reformation but not monetary payments to the plan, and that the effective vindication doctrine precludes mandatory arbitration of claims on behalf of the plan.

United States v. Woods - Competency to Stand Trial

The Second Circuit affirmed a district court's order extending a defendant's hospitalization beyond the initial four-month period while the government determined whether to seek civil commitment. The court clarified the application of 18 U.S.C. § 4241(d)(2)(B) in cases where a defendant is found incompetent to stand trial.

US v. Cardenas - Cocaine Import Conspiracy Conviction

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the conviction of Jay James Roldan Cardenas for conspiracy to import cocaine. The court found that the district court erred in excluding evidence crucial to Roldan's defense of lacking criminal intent, remanding the case for further proceedings.

Safdieh v. Commissioner - Tax Court Decision Appeal

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a Tax Court decision, holding that the Commissioner of Internal Revenue may assess penalties for failure to report foreign business control. The court vacated the Tax Court's order granting summary judgment to the taxpayer and remanded the case for further proceedings.

US v Jimenez - 105 Months Prison for Felony Ammo Possession

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's sentence of 105 months imprisonment and three years of supervised release for William Jimenez, who pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition after a felony conviction. The court upheld the special conditions of supervised release, including searches of electronic devices and mandatory mental health counseling.

US v. Aryeetey - Felon in Possession of Firearm Conviction Affirmed

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence of Ivan Joel 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.

Connecticut Fair Housing Center v. CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions Opinion

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Connecticut Fair Housing Center v. CoreLogic Rental Property Solutions. The court vacated in part, affirmed in part, and reversed in part the district court's decision regarding claims of disparate impact discrimination under the Fair Housing Act and violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Broadcast Music Inc. v. North American Concert Promoters Association - Antitrust

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a district court's decision regarding music licensing fees set by Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) for the North American Concert Promoters Association (NACPA). The court found the imposed rates and expanded definition of gross revenues to be unreasonable, remanding the case for further proceedings.

Lanesborough 2000, LLC v. Nextres, LLC - Court Opinion on Arbitration Award

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reviewed a district court's confirmation of an arbitration award between Lanesborough 2000, LLC and Nextres, LLC. The court found the contractual waiver of appeal rights ambiguous and affirmed in part, vacated in part, and remanded the case regarding an injunction of a state-court proceeding.

B.B. v. Hochul - Child Welfare Certification Challenge

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed in part and affirmed in part a lower court's decision in B.B. v. Hochul. The court found that plaintiffs, children removed from their parents, have standing to challenge New York's certification scheme for relative foster parents, which denied certification based on criminal history or child abuse reports. The court remanded for further proceedings.