Courts & Legal

Jones v. US, Case 24-2053, Nonprecedential Opinion

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential opinion in Jones v. US, Case 24-2053, an appeal originating from the Court of Federal Claims. The opinion was posted on April 24, 2026. Nonprecedential opinions do not constitute binding precedent but resolve the specific dispute between the parties. The full opinion is available via the linked PDF.

TQ Delta v. CommScope Holding Company - Patent Dispute

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential opinion in appeal 24-1587, TQ Delta LLC v. CommScope Holding Company Inc., on April 24, 2026. The appeal originated from the US District Court (DCT) and was decided as a nonprecedential opinion, meaning it does not establish binding precedent for future cases. The opinion is available as PDF from the court's opinions and orders page.

In re Christopher E. Maeder - Chapter 13 Dismissed for Bad Faith

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin found that debtor Christopher E. Maeder did not file his Chapter 13 petition in good faith, determining instead that he engineered the bankruptcy to avoid repaying a $110 million copyright infringement debt owed to Eternix Ltd. The court granted motions to convert the case from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7, finding that Maeder engaged in extensive pre-bankruptcy planning including shielding assets from creditors, paying lavishly on non-Eternix creditors, and valuing his company CivilGEO at zero despite telling family it was worth millions. Eternix is Maeder's only significant creditor, with the underlying district court case involving allegations that Maeder copied Eternix's Blaze Terra mapping software.

Brooke Rose S. v. Commissioner of Social Security

Plaintiff Brooke Rose S. filed a Petition for Review challenging the Social Security Administration's denial of her disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income claims. The United States District Court for the District of Idaho reviewed the Administrative Law Judge's decision denying her claim, applying the substantial evidence standard under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The plaintiff raised two grounds of error: the ALJ's rejection of Dr. Laurence Hicks' medical opinion without valid supportability analysis, and the alleged failure to include neck-flexion limitations in the residual functional capacity determination. The court issued its Memorandum Decision and Order on April 23, 2026, in Case No. 1:24-cv-00584.

JL v Secretary of State for the Home Department Refugee Status Revocation Burden of Proof

The Court of Appeal in [2026] EWCA Civ 498 addressed a novel question of asylum law: where a person was granted refugee status for one reason ('Reason 1') that is no longer applicable, and that person relies upon a second reason ('Reason 2') to resist cessation of refugee status, who bears the burden of proof with respect to Reason 2? The appellant is a national of the Democratic Republic of Congo whose refugee status was revoked following conviction and 15-month imprisonment sentence. The court found the Secretary of State did not oppose the appeal and the criteria for a second appeal were satisfied. Practitioners and immigration judges should note that this judgment establishes guidance on burden-of-proof allocation in refugee cessation cases where multiple rationales may apply.

Titan Wealth Services Limited & Anor v Tavistock Investments PLC & Ors — Breach of Confidence Amendment Ruling

The Court of Appeal (Lord Justice Males) allowed an appeal against Mr Justice Bryan's decision to permit the respondents to amend their Defence and Counterclaim to add a counterclaim for breach of confidence against the appellants. The court held that the proposed amendment was neither coherent in its terms nor sufficiently particularised to enable the appellants to understand the case against them, and therefore should not have been allowed. The judgment clarifies the standard that applies to amendments introducing breach of confidence claims in commercial disputes, particularly in the context of confidentiality obligations under commercial agreements such as the Outsourced Management Agreement dated September 2021 between Titan AM and Tavistock AM.

Thakrar v Secretary of State for Justice - Prison Rules 45 and 46 CSC Interpretation

The Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in Kevan Thakrar v Secretary of State for Justice, interpreting Prison Rules 45 (Removal from Association) and 46 (Close Supervision Centres) governing the segregation of prisoners in the Long Term High Security Estate. The court examined time limits under Rule 45 (up to 72 hours initially, extendable to 14 days with Secretary of State approval beyond 42 days total) versus Rule 46 CSC placement (monthly renewals, no upper limit) and the interplay between these provisions. The judgment clarifies that Rule 45 does not apply to prisoners subject to a Rule 46(1) direction, and that Designated Cells under Rule 46 operate independently from Rule 45 time constraints. Prison law practitioners and HMPPS administrators should note that CSC prisoners held in Designated Cells may be held indefinitely without the cumulative time limits applicable to Rule 45 segregation.

Fujishima Family Trust Appeal - Probate Court Trustee Removal and Surcharge Rulings Affirmed

The Intermediate Court of Appeals of the State of Hawai'i affirmed two orders and judgments from the Circuit Court of the First Circuit (Probate Court) in trust proceeding no. 1CTR-22-0000164. In the first matter (CAAP-23-0000537), the court affirmed the August 16, 2023 judgment adopting the Master's recommendations and imposing a $422,522.22 surcharge against former co-trustee Eadean M. Buffington. In the consolidated appeal (CAAP-24-0000807), the court affirmed the October 31, 2024 judgment voiding the Fujishima Family Trust dated September 1, 2005, based on findings of undue influence over grantor Evelyn Fujishima. The appellate court rejected Buffington's arguments that the Probate Court erred in procedure, evidentiary standards, and the scope of relief granted.

Csizmazia v. Brady Appeal Dismissal Affirmed

The Intermediate Court of Appeals of the State of Hawai'i affirmed the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit's dismissal of claims against Shelagh Brady, a Canadian citizen, holding that Hawai'i courts lacked personal jurisdiction over her under the state's long-arm statute. The court applied the Yamashita v. LG Chem due process framework, finding that Brady's contacts with Hawai'i—facilitating the sale of her brother's 51% interest in a Maui rental property yielding $264,768—did not establish sufficient purposeful availment and that exercising jurisdiction would not comport with fair play and substantial justice given the burden on a foreign defendant and alternative fora available.

Dylan Scott Corral v. Warden FMC Devens — Habeas Petition Dismissed

The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted Respondent's Motion to Dismiss in Dylan Scott Corral v. Warden, FMC Devens, dismissing a habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 that challenged the Federal Bureau of Prisons' determination to involuntarily medicate the petitioner. The court found the petitioner's claims unavailing regarding both the substantive dangerousness determination and the procedural sufficiency of BOP's appeal process. The petitioner, who was committed for treatment after being found incompetent to stand trial in the Eastern District of California on charges of mailing threatening communications, had been transferred to FMC Devens in Massachusetts.

Lotus Foods Boston LLC v. Go Fresh 365 Inc. Summary Judgment

The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts granted in part and denied in part Defendants Go Fresh 365, Inc. and Long Deng's Motion for Summary Judgment in Lotus Foods Boston, LLC v. Go Fresh 365, Inc. et al. The court granted summary judgment for Defendants on Lotus's breach of contract claim and on all claims against Deng individually, finding Lotus cannot establish Defendants are liable as successors in interest on the promissory note executed by non-party New Ming, Inc. The court denied summary judgment as to Lotus's unjust enrichment claim, allowing that claim to proceed. This ruling affects parties involved in commercial loan disputes and successor liability questions.

Bloom v. Campbell III - Motion to Amend Denied

Magistrate Judge Boal denied plaintiff Gary M. Bloom's motion to amend his complaint to add six additional defendants (Jennifer Sims, RPM Talent Agency, Shelley A. Piña, John Edward Keough, Manny Jae Media LLC, and Powerful Story Lines LLC) in this entertainment/patent attorney dispute. The court found the motion untimely because Bloom filed it on December 30, 2025, approximately seven months after the May 30, 2025 deadline set in Judge Stearns's scheduling order. Bloom's amended complaint asserts ten claims against defendant Campbell III including fraud in inducement, breach of contract, quantum meruit, unjust enrichment, and declaratory judgment of copyright ownership related to allegedly plagiarized creative projects.

Parks v. Knutson - Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice

Plaintiff Allen Alexander Parks filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of Case No. CIV-25-1564-D without prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i) on April 9, 2026. The court construed the notice as effective immediately without further court action and directed the Clerk to terminate the action in the records. The referral to United States Magistrate Judge Chris M. Stephens under 28 U.S.C. § 636 was vacated.

Southern Nazarene University v. HES Facilities Management LLC

Southern Nazarene University sued HES Facilities Management for allegedly applying the federally restricted herbicide HYVAR X-L IVM to areas where its use is expressly prohibited, poisoning soil, decimating mature trees and landscaping on SNU's Bethany campus. HES moved to dismiss arguing SNU failed to comply with OKLA. STAT. tit. 2, § 3-82D, which requires filing a written complaint with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry within 90 calendar days of alleged damages or before 25% of damaged crops are harvested, whichever occurs first. The court analyzed whether SNU's action is barred for failure to comply with the statutory pre-filing requirement. The case involves claims for breach of contract, negligence, fraud, wrongful injury to timber under Oklahoma law, and declaratory relief.

Curtis Classen et al. v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company et al. — Motion to Remand Denied

The United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma denied Plaintiffs' Motion to Remand in Curtis Classen et al. v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company et al. (Case No. CIV-25-910-D). The court rejected State Farm's fraudulent joinder argument regarding defendant Jeremy Henley, finding State Farm failed to meet its heavy burden of proving plaintiffs cannot establish a cause of action against Henley in state court. The case will remain in federal court under diversity jurisdiction.

Thomas Towns v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company; Kevin Murphy Insurance Agency, Inc.

Plaintiff Thomas Towns sued State Farm Fire and Casualty Company and Kevin Murphy Insurance Agency, Inc. in Oklahoma state court arising from hail damage to his property. State Farm removed the case to federal court based on diversity jurisdiction, arguing Murphy Agency was fraudulently joined to defeat federal jurisdiction. The Court analyzed the fraudulent joinder standard and issued an order on Plaintiff's Motion to Remand, addressing whether State Farm could establish fraudulent joinder of the non-diverse Murphy Agency. The ruling determines whether the case proceeds in federal court or is remanded to state court.

J&J Hudson LLC v. Simmons Bank: Order on Motion to Confirm Arbitration Award

The US District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma granted JE Dunn Construction Company's Motion to Confirm Arbitration Award, rejecting J&J Hudson LLC's argument that confirmation should be stayed pending resolution of J&J's separate claims against Simmons Bank. The arbitration award was issued in favor of JE Dunn on February 17, 2026, and has now been converted into a judgment enforceable against J&J. The court applied the Federal Arbitration Act standard requiring confirmation absent enumerated statutory grounds for vacatur.

AG Bonta Moves to Permanently Block Trump Mail Voting Executive Order

California Attorney General Rob Bonta co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing a motion for summary judgment seeking to permanently block President Trump's Executive Order No. 14399, which restricts mail voting by requiring voter eligibility pre-authorization by the federal government. The coalition argues the executive order unconstitutionally invades states' authority to regulate elections. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has ordered responses by May 7, 2026, with a hearing scheduled for June 2, 2026 at 7:00 AM PT.

California Updates Tribal Regalia Guidance for Graduation Ceremonies

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued a joint letter on April 23, 2026, reminding school superintendents, charter school administrators, and high school principals of students' rights to wear Tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies and related school events under California Education Code Section 35183.1. The letter updates prior guidance from 2025 to reflect amendments made by AB 1369 (Ramos, 2025), which extended the scope of adornment rights, clarified that students and families determine what qualifies as cultural or religious significance, and explicitly prohibited local educational agencies from requiring any preapproval process. The amendments also protect students from being forced to wear a cap when it is incompatible with their adornment.

Juan Francisco Solano Barrero, alias Pacho o Millos, Charged with Bribing Police to Smuggle Contraband Through Cartagena

The Fiscalía General de la Nación formally accused Juan Francisco Solano Barrero, alias Pacho o Millos, of serving as a key operator for the criminal organization led by Diego Marín Buitrago, alias El Viejo o Papá Pitufo, by coordinating bribery payments to members of the Policía Fiscal y Aduanera at the port of Cartagena. The investigation documented six separate bribery events in which Solano Barrero delivered a total of 348 million Colombian pesos to POLFA officers in exchange for facilitating the irregular entry of cigarettes, textiles, and toys from Panama and their subsequent overland distribution to cities in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. He was charged before a specialized criminal judge in Bogotá with aggravated conspiracy to commit crime and bribery.

John Feerick Shares Gold Medal Award Memory

In honor of its 150th anniversary, NYSBA published a commemorative article featuring John Feerick, dean emeritus at Fordham Law School, sharing his memory of receiving the Gold Medal Award in 1996. Feerick recalled being the first recipient from the Bronx and reflected on his involvement drafting the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and his work on Electoral College reform through NYSBA publications. The article does not create any compliance obligations or regulatory changes.

Romania: Four Indicted for €115k Fraud Targeting Young Farmers EU Funds

The EPPO in Cluj-Napoca filed an indictment at Cluj Court against four individuals for suspected fraud targeting EU funds for young farmers co-financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The defendants submitted false documents to Romania's Agency for Financing Rural Investments (AFIR) and received €45,000 of the €115,000 they unlawfully sought. Two consultants who issued false professional qualification certificates entered plea agreements in March 2026. One house and several plots of land worth approximately €170,000 were seized to compensate estimated damage to the EU budget.

CIPO Consults on Expedited Patent Examination Programs and Grace Period

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) launched a public consultation on April 23, 2026, seeking views on two patent-related topics: expedited patent examination programs (including feedback on 4 existing programs and 2 potential new options) and the patent grace period with pre-filing disclosures. The consultation will remain open for at least 2 months, with the closing date to be announced. CIPO specifically notes this consultation will inform Canada's participation in international patent discussions on grace period harmonization, indicating potential policy alignment with global IP standards.

Cynthia Jane Bohn Censured for Improper Contact with Children in Custody Case

Attorney Cynthia Jane Bohn received a Public Censure from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility on April 23, 2026. The Board found that Ms. Bohn met with two minor children without the guardian ad litem present, discussed pending custody litigation with them, informed them they could be placed in foster care, and physically held one child's arm during the meeting. The court later disqualified Ms. Bohn from representing the mother. She was censured for violating Rules 4.2, 4.4, and 8.4(d) of the Tennessee Rules of Professional Conduct.

Rutherford County Attorney Dalen L. P. Farmer Censured

On April 23, 2026, the Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court issued a Public Censure against Dalen L. P. Farmer, an attorney in Rutherford County, Tennessee. The censure stems from Farmer's failure to respond to a motion to compel discovery, his failure to forward the motion to his client, his failure to file a response, and his failure to appear in court, resulting in a default judgment and sanctions against his client in a partition and promissory fraud action. A Public Censure is a rebuke and warning that does not affect the attorney's ability to practice law.

Commonwealth v. Robert Sanderson, Sr. - Witness Intimidation Conviction Vacated

The Massachusetts Appeals Court vacated Robert Sanderson Sr.'s conviction for witness intimidation under G.L. c. 268, § 13B(b) because the evidence was sufficient for the July 13, 2021 incident but insufficient for the August 2, 2021 incident, and the jury returned a general verdict making it impossible to determine which incident supported the conviction. The court concluded that the Commonwealth proved beyond a reasonable doubt only one of the two alleged acts of witness intimidation. The judgment is vacated and the verdict set aside.

Argyropoulos v. Argyropoulos - MA Appeals Court Affirms Judgments

The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed modification and contempt judgments from the Probate and Family Court dated April 28, 2025. The husband's appeals failed because he failed to provide an adequate appellate record, omitting the trial transcript, judgment of divorce, contempt complaint, and most trial exhibits. The court held it has no obligation to locate or create an adequate record for a party's benefit, and pro se litigants are held to the same standards as practicing attorneys.

M.L. v. B.M. - Appeals Court Affirms One-Year Abuse Prevention Order

The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a District Court judge's extension of an abuse prevention order for one year against defendant B.M. under G.L. c. 209A. The court upheld the judge's findings that the defendant's conduct was "threatening" and "menacing" despite finding that individual email messages contained nothing that "actually comes out and threatens." The judge found the defendant's conduct was "escalating," causing the plaintiff to fear him, and that inferentially the plaintiff's fear was reasonable. The appeals court also affirmed the denial of the defendant's three posthearing motions for findings of fact and rulings of law, for reconsideration, and to reopen the case to introduce additional evidence.

Massachusetts Appeals Court Affirms Father Primary Physical Custody

The Massachusetts Appeals Court affirmed a corrected modification judgment awarding primary physical custody of the parties' minor child to the defendant father, while maintaining joint legal custody. The court rejected all three arguments raised by the mother on appeal, including claims that the judge erred in finding a material change in circumstances, in determining the child's best interests favored the father, and in structuring the joint legal custody arrangement with the father having tie-breaking authority.

Morales v Commonwealth — SJC Affirms Judgment on Competency and Due Process

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the denial of a G. L. c. 211, § 3 petition seeking immediate dismissal of criminal charges against a defendant found incompetent to stand trial. The defendant argued that G. L. c. 123, § 16 (f) violated due process because it is undisputed he will never regain competency. The SJC held that the motion judge made no finding as to the defendant's likelihood of regaining competency and that one forensic psychologist's opinion did not indisputably prove this. The single justice did not abuse her discretion in declining to reach the merits absent exceptional circumstances warranting extraordinary relief.

Commonwealth v. Ushon: SJC Adopts Counterman Standard for Juvenile Threat Prosecutions Under G.L. c. 269, § 14(b)

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court adopted the Counterman mens rea standard for prosecutions under G.L. c. 269, § 14(b) (threats against places), holding the Commonwealth must prove the defendant 'consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communications would be viewed as threatening violence.' The ruling aligns Massachusetts threat prosecutions with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 Counterman decision and the SJC's own 2024 Cruz decision. The juvenile defendant reposted a school shooting image on TikTok; the case was remanded for further proceedings consistent with the new standard.

SB 284 Georgia Law Provides Financial Relief to Fraud Victims

Georgia Senate Bill 284 was signed into law on April 23, 2026, taking effect immediately. The new law authorizes Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, acting as Securities Commissioner, to issue orders requiring that lost investments be repaid directly to defrauded investors — a significant expansion from the prior framework, which allowed only penalties to the state. With these enhanced enforcement tools, affected investors may achieve faster financial recovery, and the Secretary expects a stronger deterrent against scams and Ponzi schemes targeting Georgia residents.

Secretary Raffensperger Ensures Voter Access During South Georgia Wildfires

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is coordinating with South Georgia counties and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to ensure ballot access for voters impacted by recent wildfires. Clinch, Echols, Brantley, and Lowndes counties are among those affected, with parts of Echols County under mandatory evacuation. The largest wildfire near the Clinch-Echols county line has grown to thousands of acres due to drought conditions, creating potential election impacts including power outages, road closures, and possible temporary polling location relocations.

Chan v Moore — Director Loan Account Dispute Judgment

In Chan v Moore [2026] FCA 496, the Federal Court of Australia dismissed Julia Mei Chu Chan's claim that A$3,037,101 received by Integrated Natural Solutions Pty Ltd (in liquidation) from a Hong Kong related company constituted a capital contribution by her, finding insufficient documentary evidence to support her 'sisterly loan' theory. The Court entered judgment for liquidator Daniel Peter Moore on the cross-claim, establishing that Julia Chan owes A$996,085 to INS Australia on her director loan account, with parties required to confer on consent orders by 8 May 2026.

Bharat Bahadur KC v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs - Visa Cancellation Judicial Review Dismissed

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed the amended originating application for judicial review brought by Bharat Bahadur KC challenging the Administrative Review Tribunal's decision of 8 April 2025, which affirmed a delegate of the Minister's decision not to revoke the mandatory cancellation of the applicant's visa under s 501CA(4) of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). The applicant, a 43-year-old Nepali citizen who arrived in Australia on 8 March 2008, sought review on multiple grounds including alleged misapplication of Ministerial Direction 110 and failure to attribute weight to his community contributions. The Court ordered the applicant to pay the first respondent's costs of the proceeding.

Johnson v Wilson Security Pty Ltd - Settlement and Distribution Scheme Approved

The Federal Court of Australia approved a settlement and settlement distribution scheme in representative proceedings brought under the Fair Work Act 2009 against Wilson Security Pty Ltd. The scheme provides for distribution to group members, with approved deductions of $915,000 for applicant legal costs and $87,530 for administration costs. Rory Michael Markham of Adero Pty Ltd was appointed as Administrator of the Scheme with powers and immunities as contained in the Scheme, and all remaining claims of the applicant and Bound Group Members are dismissed upon the Administrator providing the required certificate to the Court.

Newman v El-Sheikh Investment Holdings Costs Ruling 2026 FCA 512

The Federal Court of Australia ordered on 24 April 2026 that both the Plaintiff (Philip Newman as trustee of the bankrupt estate of Khaled Mohamed El-Sheikh) and the Interested Party (Nicholas Cooper as trustee of Ms Kylie El-Sheikh's personal insolvency estate) recover their costs in the proceeding as costs in the winding up of El-Sheikh Investment Holdings Pty Ltd. The orders were made pursuant to sections 466(2) and 556(1)(b) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). The Interested Party had initially sought a limited receivership but ultimately supported liquidation and consented to the costs order.

ASIC v Binance Australia Derivatives $10M Penalty PDS and TMD Breach

The Federal Court of Australia found Oztures Trading Pty Ltd (trading as Binance Australia Derivatives) contravened the Corporations Act 2001 by failing to give Product Disclosure Statements to 524 retail clients before offering and issuing cryptocurrency derivative products including USDT and coin-margined futures and options contracts during 7 July 2022 to 21 April 2023. The defendant also failed to make required target market determinations and breached multiple conditions of its Australian Financial Services Licence including inadequate training, systems, and dispute resolution. The Court ordered an aggregate civil penalty of $10,000,000 and costs of $200,000, with the defendant having admitted the contraventions.

ACCC v Emma Sleep GmbH - $15M Penalty for Misleading Conduct

The Federal Court of Australia ordered Emma Sleep Southeast Asia Inc and Emma Sleep Pty Ltd to each pay a pecuniary penalty of $7,500,000 (total $15 million) for contraventions of section 29(1)(i) of the Australian Consumer Law concerning misleading and deceptive conduct in the sale of mattresses. The Court also imposed a three-year injunction restraining both respondents from advertising mattresses, bed frames, pillows and accessories on the Emma Sleep Website and Top 5 Best Mattress Website. Payment is due within 30 days of the order.

Towle v Registrar Young [2026] FCA 485 — Administrative Law Application Dismissed

The Federal Court of Australia (O'Sullivan J) dismissed an application for judicial review brought by Thomas William Raymond Towle against Registrar Stuart Young. The applicant sought review of a Registrar's decision on 7 October 2025 to refuse acceptance of documents for filing on grounds they constituted an abuse of process and were frivolous and/or vexatious. The Court upheld the Registrar's Decision, finding the documents manifestly untenable and destined to fail if accepted for filing.

Bhullar v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2026] FCA 484

Three Indian nationals (Harpreet Singh Bhullar, Ranjit Kaur Bhullar, and their son Abeyjot Singh Bhullar) appealed the dismissal of their judicial review application challenging refusal of a subclass 500 student visa. The first appellant applied on 14 December 2017 to study Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery; a delegate refused the application on 15 February 2018 on the basis that the applicant failed to satisfy the genuine temporary entrant criterion in cl 500.212(a) of Schedule 2 to the Migration Regulations 1994 (Cth). The Administrative Appeals Tribunal affirmed the refusal following a hearing on 20 July 2020. Justice O'Sullivan dismissed the appeal on 23 April 2026, finding no jurisdictional error in the primary judge's reasoning.

Song v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2026] FCA 504

The Federal Court of Australia dismissed an application for extension of time to appeal lodged by two Malaysian citizens (Hooi See Song and Henry Tan) who had their Student (Temporary) (Subclass 572) visa applications refused. The refusal was based on the provision of bogus bank documents in support of the visa application, which triggered the PIC 4020 requirement under the Migration Regulations 1994. Owens J found that the applicants' proposed ground of appeal ('I meet all the conditions to grant the student visa') was insufficient as it was a bare assertion that did not identify any error in the Tribunal's decision or engage with the primary judge's reasons. The extension of approximately six months was denied with costs.

Hubexo v CoreLogic - Leave to Amend Confined to Revised Annexures Only

Hubexo Australia Pty Ltd sought leave to amend particulars of loss and damage in ongoing proceedings against CoreLogic Australia Pty Ltd, RP Data Pty Ltd, and Cordell Information Pty Ltd, specifically to rely on confidential annexures appended to an expert report. The court granted leave to rely on Revised Confidential Annexures A, B and C appended to the Ross report of 19 December 2025, but declined to permit simultaneous use of original and revised annexures for liability and quantum respectively. The court also addressed improper unilateral communication by a party with the Court without the knowledge or consent of other parties.

Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria v White Ray (Oakleigh) Pty Ltd - Penalty $600,000 for ACL Contraventions

The Federal Court of Australia ordered White Ray (Oakleigh) Pty Ltd, a real estate agency, to pay pecuniary penalties of $600,000 for nine admitted contraventions of sections 18 and 30(1) of the Australian Consumer Law. Between March 2022 and November 2023, the firm deliberately advertised nine residential properties for sale at indicative prices materially below (in some cases more than 30%) both the prices it expected and the prices for which the properties actually sold. The penalties are payable in two instalments: $300,000 within 15 days and $300,000 within six months.

Lynch v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2026] FCAFC 51

The Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia dismissed an appeal challenging the mandatory cancellation of Mr Lynch's visa under s 501(3A) of the Migration Act 1958. The court considered whether the Administrative Review Tribunal's decision not to revoke the cancellation offended against principles from Teoh (1995) regarding the best interests of the child under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and whether ministerial Direction No 110 was invalid or procedurally unfair. The appeal was dismissed with costs on 24 April 2026.

Roy Moore v. Senate Majority PAC — Defamation and False-Light Invasion of Privacy Ruling

The Eleventh Circuit reversed the district court's denial of Senate Majority PAC's renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law in Roy Moore's defamation and false-light invasion of privacy suit under Alabama law. The court held that Moore, as a public figure, failed to present clear and convincing evidence that SMP published a campaign ad implying he solicited a 14-year-old girl with actual malice under the New York York Times v. Sullivan standard. The jury's $8.2 million compensatory damages award was vacated. The case was remanded with instructions to enter judgment for SMP.

RMP Properties of Valdosta LLC v. Houston Specialty Insurance Co - Diversity Jurisdiction Disclosure Order

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark L. Hornsby of the Western District of Louisiana ordered plaintiff RMP Properties of Valdosta, LLC to file an amended Diversity Jurisdiction Disclosure Statement no later than April 8, 2026. The court found the original disclosure insufficient because alleging an LLC is 'solely owned' by a named individual does not satisfy the specificity required under Fifth Circuit precedent for establishing federal diversity jurisdiction. The order cites Harvey v. Grey Wolf Drilling Co., Settlement Funding, L.L.C. v. Rapid Settlements, Ltd., and SXSW, L.L.C. v. Fed. Ins. Co. as governing authority.

ICEE Co v. Brantley Default Judgment Order Deadline May 1 2026

The US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a memorandum order in ICEE Co et al v. Jeff Brantley (Civil Action No. 25-cv-008) on March 31, 2026. The court directed plaintiffs, who obtained entry of default, to file a Motion for Default Judgment by May 1, 2026. The motion must be supported by affidavits and documentation proving the validity of service, defendant's liability, and any damages sought. Plaintiffs were warned that failure to comply may result in dismissal for failure to prosecute.

Lopez-Martinez v. Blanche - Asylum Petition Granted, Case Remanded to BIA

The First Circuit granted Victor Geovany Lopez Martinez's petition for review and remanded his case to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The court found that the BIA wrongly concluded that Lopez's opposition to gangs does not constitute a political opinion, and failed to adequately address his religion-based claims for asylum and withholding of removal. The Immigration Judge (IJ) had also found Lopez not credible due to inconsistencies between his border credible-fear interview statements and later immigration court testimony. The case returns to the BIA for further proceedings consistent with the appellate ruling.

Motor Vehicles Exchangeable Licences Amendment Order (NI) 2026 Designates Moldova

The Motor Vehicles (Exchangeable Licences) (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 amends the 2022 Order by adding the Republic of Moldova to Table 4 of Schedule 1, designating it under Article 19D(2)(b) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 as a country whose Category B driving licences may be exchanged for Northern Ireland licences. Gibraltar is also added to Schedule 2 as a country from which a licence may have been exchanged. Licences exchangeable under the Moldova designation are those where the driving test was passed in Moldova, an EEA state, the UK, or specified Table 1/2/3 countries. The Order comes into operation on 1st June 2026.