Check out the newest edition of Short Circuit, a weekly feature written by a group of individuals at the Institute for Justice.
Exciting updates on ongoing cases! Last year, Eric Arnold, an IJ client, had his house in Macon-Bibb County, Ga. demolished without notice or legal proceedings as part of a secretive code enforcement program. In another case, Jennifer Heath Box, also an IJ client, was wrongfully arrested and spent three days in jail due to mistaken identity. Learn more about these cases here and here.
- A Ecuadoran national challenges his illegal reentry conviction, citing racist motivations behind the law. Second Circuit rules against him.
- Ghislaine remains in prison. Second Circuit upholds decision.
- Fifth Circuit rules on judicial estoppel in trust agreement case.
- Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe dismissed. Fifth Circuit affirms decision.
- University student’s free speech rights upheld by Sixth Circuit in social media case.
- Employees’ First Amendment rights violated in “equity training” case. Eighth Circuit rules against school district.
- Oregon senator’s First Amendment retaliation claim dismissed by Ninth Circuit.
- Officer found liable for injuring protester in Ninth Circuit case.
- Interesting Title VII case in Eleventh Circuit involving discrimination claims.
- Georgia truck driver wins case against police in Eleventh Circuit.
- Minister’s First Amendment rights upheld in Eleventh Circuit.
Reversed and remanded.
Victory! Friends, if you’ve been reading this humble newsletter for a time, you will undoubtedly remember IJ’s three separate lawsuits against the FBI for raiding a Beverly Hills, Calif. safe-deposit box business, lying to a judge, and seizing hundreds of millions of dollars of assets from box owners who were not accused of any crime. Earlier this year, in Case #1, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the raid violated the Fourth Amendment. And this week, in Case #3, the feds decided to throw in the towel after their incompetent property-management practices (described as “malpractice” by one FBI evidence technician) came to light. Which means IJ client Don Mellein will be compensated for 63 gold coins that went missing after being left unsecured. (Moreover, a judge has ordered the gov’t to pay $21k for stonewalling discovery.) Click here to learn more. And stay tuned for updates on Case #2, which is pending before the D.C. Circuit.
