United States

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.

McKeever v. State of North Carolina - Appeal Dismissed

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal filed by William N. McKeever, a North Carolina inmate, due to a late filing of the notice of appeal. The court found that the appeal period expired before McKeever filed his notice, thus lacking jurisdiction.

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.

Eric Exum v. Lieutenant Donna - Civil Action Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a district court's decision to dismiss a civil action filed by inmate Eric Ricardo Exum. The court found that Exum forfeited appellate review by failing to challenge the district court's ruling in his informal brief.

Christopher Martin v. Joseph Walters - Appeal Dismissal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Christopher James Martin's appeal of a district court's order. The court denied Martin's request for a certificate of appealability, finding he did not make the requisite showing of a denial of a constitutional right.

US v. Okechukwu Dimkpa - Affirmation of Conviction

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's denial of a physician's motion to vacate his conviction for unlawfully distributing oxycodone. The court found that the defendant procedurally defaulted his claim, which was based on a subsequent Supreme Court ruling regarding the mens rea requirement for such offenses, and did not demonstrate sufficient cause to overcome this default.

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.

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. 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.

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.