4th Circuit Daily Opinions

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.

Fourth Circuit Affirms Ruling in Hoffman v. INOVA Health Care

The Fourth Circuit affirmed a district court's dismissal of claims brought by two CRNAs against Inova Health Care Services and North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA). The plaintiffs alleged discrimination and joint employer status after their clinical privileges were suspended and employment terminated due to refusal of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Hoffman v. Inova Health Care Services - Employment Discrimination

The Fourth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of employment discrimination claims filed by two CRNAs against Inova Health Care Services and NAPA. The court found that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim and that one plaintiff did not exhaust administrative remedies.

Beckford v. Elevance Health, Inc. - Employment Discrimination Appeal

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated and remanded a district court's grant of summary judgment in favor of Elevance Health, Inc. The court found that the district court erred in its assessment of the prima facie case for employment discrimination, potentially shifting the burden of proof prematurely. The case involves claims of race discrimination under Title VII and other statutes.

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.

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 The unpublished opinion does not constitute binding precedent.

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.

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. 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. 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.