United States Fourth Circuit - Opinion Summaries

Hawes v. US

Injury & Tort Law
The district court properly dismissed plaintiff's tort action where the discretionary function exception to the Federal Torts Claims Act covered all...

US v. Pierce

Criminal Law & Procedure, Sentencing
The district court-s judgment affirmed over 1) defendant's claim that the estimate of the loss resulting from his fraud was erroneous and 2)...

Anderson v. XYZ Corr. Health Serv.

Civil Rights, Criminal Law & Procedure, Injury & Tort Law
The Prison Litigation Reform Act does not require a prisoner to allege that he has exhausted his administrative remedies, and, consequently, a...

US v. Meikle

Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence
Defendant's drug conviction is affirmed over his claim that the district court erred when it denied his motion to suppress evidence seized following...

Lambeth v. Bd. of Comm'r

Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law
Plaintiffs' complaint, alleging that defendant violated the Establishment Clause when it authorized the phrase "In God We Trust" to be inscribed on...

In Re: Computer Learning Ctr. Inc.

Bankruptcy Law, Civil Procedure
Plaintiff-former trustee's appeal from the bankruptcy court's order, which awarded "interim" fees, is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction since the...

Boyd and Stevenson v. Office of Workers' Comp.

Administrative Law, Labor & Employment Law, Workers' Compensation
The Benefits Review Board erred when it held that plaintiff-coal company was responsible for payment of survivor benefits to a miner's widow.

Moody v. Polk

Criminal Law & Procedure, Sentencing
Defendant's death sentence is affirmed over his claim that his trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance at sentencing.

Res. Bankshares Corp. v. St. Paul Mercury Ins. Co.

Class Actions, Consumer Protection Law, Insurance Law
In a class-action lawsuit alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, defendant-insurer is not required to defend plaintiff since...

Maryland Stadium Auth. v. Ellerbe Becket Inc.

Civil Procedure, Construction, Contracts, Education Law
In a suit for breach of contract arising from the construction of a new arena for the University of Maryland, the district court lacked removal...