Justia U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion Summaries

Indiana enacted a statute making it a misdemeanor for a person to knowingly or intentionally approach within 25 feet of a law enforcement officer who is lawfully engaged in official duties, after being ordered by the officer to stop approaching. Several media organizations and news outlets challenged this law, arguing that it is unconstitutionally vague under the Fourteenth Amendment because it allows police officers too much discretion in deciding when to issue a do-not-approach order, potentially leading to arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. The plaintiffs asserted that the law chills their newsgathering activities, as journalists often need to approach police officers in public spaces to report on events.The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana denied the State’s motion to dismiss for lack of standing, finding that the plaintiffs had sufficiently alleged injury in fact. The district court then granted a preliminary injunction, concluding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on their Fourteenth Amendment vagueness claim, would suffer irreparable harm without relief, and that the balance of harms and public interest favored an injunction. The court did not address the plaintiffs’ First Amendment claims. The State appealed the preliminary injunction to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, arguing that the law was not unconstitutionally vague and that the plaintiffs lacked standing.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s preliminary injunction. The appellate court held that the plaintiffs had standing and that the case was not moot, even though a second, narrower buffer law had been enacted. The court found that the original buffer law was unconstitutionally vague because it gave law enforcement officers unfettered discretion to decide when to issue a do-not-approach order, thus encouraging arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement. The court remanded the case for the district court to reconsider the appropriate scope of the injunction in light of recent Supreme Court precedent limiting universal injunctions. View "Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press v. Rokita" on Justia Law

Monica Richards, a long-time employee in her early fifties, applied for a promotion at Eli Lilly & Company after serving as an interim District Sales Manager. The promotion was instead awarded to a younger, less experienced candidate. Richards filed suit in federal court, alleging age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and Massachusetts law. She sought to proceed collectively on behalf of all Eli Lilly employees aged 40 or older who were denied promotions since February 2022, claiming a companywide bias favoring “Early Career Professionals” over older employees.In the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Richards moved for conditional certification of a collective action and requested that notice be sent to potential opt-in plaintiffs. The parties disputed the appropriate standard for issuing such notice. The district court applied the Lusardi “modest factual showing” standard, declined to consider the employer’s opposing evidence, and granted conditional certification, agreeing to send notice. Recognizing uncertainty in the law, the district court certified the question for interlocutory appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b).The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the case to clarify the standard for issuing notice in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and ADEA collective actions. The court held that, before notice may issue, plaintiffs must present evidence raising a material factual dispute as to whether the proposed collective is similarly situated. Both parties’ evidence must be considered, and the district court retains discretion to manage the process, including authorizing limited discovery or narrowing the scope of notice. The court rejected both the lenient Lusardi standard and heightened standards requiring proof by a preponderance of the evidence or a strong likelihood of similarity. The Seventh Circuit vacated the district court’s order and remanded for further proceedings under the clarified standard. View "Richards v. Eli Lilly & Company" on Justia Law

A high school in Indiana implemented a policy requiring teachers to address students by the first names listed in the school’s database, which, for transgender students, reflected their chosen names. A teacher objected to this policy on religious grounds, believing that using names inconsistent with students’ biological sex would violate his faith. The school initially accommodated him by allowing him to address all students by their last names only. After a year, complaints from students, parents, and staff led the school to rescind this accommodation, requiring the teacher to use students’ first names or face termination. The teacher resigned and later attempted to rescind his resignation, but the school treated it as final.The teacher sued the school corporation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, alleging violations of Title VII for failure to accommodate his religion and for retaliation. The district court denied the teacher’s motion for summary judgment on the accommodation claim, finding a factual dispute about the sincerity of his religious beliefs. The court granted summary judgment to the school on both claims, concluding that accommodating the teacher imposed more than a de minimis cost due to student and staff complaints and potential Title IX liability. The court also found no evidence of pretext in the school’s stated reasons for its actions.On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the case in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Groff v. DeJoy, which clarified that an employer must show a “substantial” burden to deny a religious accommodation under Title VII. The Seventh Circuit held that material factual disputes remained regarding whether the accommodation caused an undue hardship on the school’s mission or exposed it to legal liability. The court affirmed the denial of summary judgment on the sincerity issue, affirmed the decision not to revisit the retaliation claim, reversed the grant of summary judgment to the school on the accommodation claim, and remanded for further proceedings. View "Kluge v. Brownsburg Community School Corporation" on Justia Law

A group of industrial and commercial purchasers of natural gas in Wisconsin alleged that several gas companies participated in a conspiracy to fix natural gas prices between 2000 and 2002. The plaintiffs claimed that the defendants engaged in practices such as wash trading, churning, and false reporting to manipulate published price indices, which in turn affected the prices paid by purchasers in Wisconsin. The plaintiffs sought remedies under Wisconsin antitrust law, including both a “full consideration” refund of payments made under contracts tainted by the conspiracy and treble damages.The litigation was initially consolidated with similar cases from other states in multidistrict proceedings in the District of Nevada, where class certification was denied. After the Ninth Circuit vacated that denial and remanded, the Wisconsin case was returned to the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. There, the plaintiffs renewed their motion for class certification under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3), relying on expert testimony to show that the alleged price-fixing had a common impact on all class members. The defendants countered with their own experts, arguing that the natural gas market’s complexity and variations in contract terms precluded common proof of impact. The district court certified the class, finding that common questions predominated, but did not fully resolve the disputes between the parties’ experts.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the class certification order. The court held that, under recent Supreme Court and Seventh Circuit precedent, the district court was required to engage in a more rigorous analysis of the conflicting expert evidence regarding antitrust impact and the existence of a national market. The Seventh Circuit vacated the class certification and remanded the case for further proceedings, instructing the district court to make factual findings on these expert disputes before deciding whether class certification is appropriate. View "Arandell Corporation v. Xcel Energy Inc." on Justia Law

Nathan Nissenbaum was convicted in Illinois state court of aggravated criminal sexual assault, home invasion, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated domestic battery after an incident involving his former girlfriend, D.K. The evidence at trial included testimony from D.K., physical evidence, and Nissenbaum’s own admissions. Nissenbaum’s defense was that the encounter was consensual, based on their prior relationship and history of “rape play.” He was sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment.After his conviction, Nissenbaum filed a post-trial motion in the Illinois state court, alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. He claimed his attorney failed to properly advise him about the risk of mandatory consecutive sentences and his realistic chances at trial, which he argued led him to reject a plea deal that would have resulted in a lesser sentence. The trial court held an evidentiary hearing and found that Nissenbaum had not demonstrated ineffective assistance, concluding he was adequately informed and would not have accepted a plea regardless. The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed, finding no prejudice from any alleged deficiencies, and the Illinois Supreme Court denied further review.Nissenbaum then sought federal habeas relief in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, renewing his ineffective assistance claim. The district court denied the petition, holding that the Illinois Appellate Court had not unreasonably applied federal law in finding no prejudice. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed, holding that the state court’s decision was not contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established Supreme Court precedent. The Seventh Circuit found that Nissenbaum failed to show a reasonable probability he would have accepted a plea offer but for counsel’s alleged errors, and thus habeas relief was barred. View "Nissenbaum v. Jennings" on Justia Law

On July 21, 2018, Sara Rodriguez and her daughters were carjacked at gunpoint in Chicago as they returned to their parked Chevrolet Equinox. Two armed men forced them out of the vehicle, which was then driven away by the assailants. Later that evening, a shooting occurred at a nearby park, and witnesses saw a man matching the carjacker’s description fleeing in a vehicle resembling the stolen Equinox. Early the next morning, police located the Equinox, but the occupants escaped after a crash. Inside the vehicle, officers found items linking Kashif Dukes to the car, including his cell phone, DNA, and a pistol later connected to the park shooting. Angelica Rodriguez initially gave a tentative identification of Dukes in a photo lineup, but seven months later, she identified him with high confidence.The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, presided over Dukes’s trial. The government introduced evidence tying Dukes to the carjacking and shooting, including forensic and social media evidence. Dukes challenged the reliability of the eyewitness identification and objected to the admission of evidence about the uncharged shooting, arguing it was prejudicial. The jury found Dukes guilty of carjacking, brandishing a firearm during the carjacking, and possession of a firearm by a felon. The district court denied Dukes’s motion for acquittal.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the case. The court held that evidence of the shooting was admissible as direct evidence of the charged firearm possession and, under Rule 404(b), as relevant to motive for the carjacking. The court also found the evidence sufficient to support the convictions, noting that the jury could reasonably infer Dukes’s guilt from both direct and circumstantial evidence. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court’s judgment. View "United States v. Dukes" on Justia Law

In early 2015, Daniel Stewart was stopped by Indianapolis police for a traffic violation, leading to the discovery of a handgun, over $9,000 in cash, and more than 800 grams of illegal narcotics in his car. A subsequent search of his home revealed additional drugs, nearly $500,000 in cash, and five more firearms. Stewart was found to be laundering drug proceeds through sham businesses. He was convicted in November 2016 on multiple counts, including drug distribution, firearm possession, and money laundering.The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana initially sentenced Stewart to life imprisonment plus five years. Stewart appealed, but the Seventh Circuit affirmed his convictions. He then sought postconviction relief, arguing that recent case law invalidated his sentence enhancements. The government conceded, and the district court ordered resentencing. At resentencing, the court imposed a 360-month term of imprisonment, considering Stewart's efforts at rehabilitation but also the severity of his crimes.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed Stewart's appeal of his resentencing. Stewart argued that the district court miscalculated his sentencing range under the career-offender guideline and misunderstood its discretion regarding his rehabilitation efforts. The Seventh Circuit found that the district court correctly applied the career-offender guideline and did not err in its consideration of Stewart's rehabilitation. The court also held that the district court provided a sufficient explanation for the increased sentences on the money laundering counts, which did not affect the overall sentence. The Seventh Circuit affirmed the district court's decision, upholding Stewart's 360-month sentence. View "United States v. Stewart" on Justia Law

P.A.-V., a Mexican citizen, first entered the U.S. in 1995 but was removed in 1998 and 1999. He re-entered in 1999 and remained until 2020 when he was arrested for DUI, leading to the reinstatement of his removal order by the Department of Homeland Security. He applied for protection under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and the Convention Against Torture (CAT), fearing violence in Mexico due to cartel activity linked to his parents' land. An immigration judge denied his application, and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirmed the decision.The immigration judge found P.A.-V.'s testimony credible but concluded that he had not shown past persecution or a reasonable fear of future persecution or torture. The judge noted that the violence experienced by his family was not directly linked to him and was consistent with general violence in the region. The judge also determined that P.A.-V. could safely relocate within Mexico. The BIA affirmed the judge's decision on the same grounds.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the case, applying a highly deferential standard of review. The court found that substantial evidence supported the immigration judge's and BIA's conclusions. The court held that P.A.-V. failed to establish past persecution or a reasonable fear of future persecution, as the evidence did not show a direct link between the violence and a threat to him. The court also agreed that P.A.-V. could reasonably relocate within Mexico. Additionally, the court found that P.A.-V. did not meet the higher burden required for CAT relief, as there was no evidence that the Mexican government would consent or acquiesce to any harm he might face. Consequently, the petition for review was denied. View "P. A.-V. v. Bondi" on Justia Law

Eric Skeens was convicted in Indiana of five counts of child molesting, based almost entirely on the detailed testimony of the child victim, K.W. There was no physical evidence presented at trial, but the prosecution relied on K.W.’s account, as well as supporting testimony from her mother, a school counselor, a therapist, and a sexual assault nurse who explained the absence of physical evidence. During closing arguments, Skeens’s attorney made a statement to the jury, “I believe her,” referring to K.W., which Skeens later argued constituted ineffective assistance of counsel.After his conviction, Skeens appealed to the Indiana Court of Appeals, which affirmed the conviction and found that the attorney’s statement did not prejudice the outcome, given the strength and detail of K.W.’s testimony. The Indiana Supreme Court declined to review the case, and Skeens’s subsequent state post-conviction and federal habeas petitions were also denied. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana denied relief, concluding that Skeens had not shown the state court’s decision was unreasonable under federal law.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the case, applying the deferential standards required by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and Strickland v. Washington. The court held that the Indiana Court of Appeals did not unreasonably determine the facts or unreasonably apply the Strickland standard when it concluded that there was no reasonable probability the outcome would have been different absent the attorney’s statement. The Seventh Circuit therefore affirmed the district court’s denial of Skeens’s habeas petition. View "Skeens v Neal" on Justia Law

Jonathan Cain applied for supplemental security income (SSI) due to severe impairments, including degenerative disc disease, migraine headaches, obesity, depression, and anxiety. Despite his conditions, an administrative law judge (ALJ) determined that Cain could perform certain types of work and denied his disability benefits. Cain challenged this decision in federal court.The United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana affirmed the ALJ's decision, holding that substantial evidence supported the ALJ's conclusion. The court found that the ALJ met the minimal articulation requirements in assessing the medical evidence and did not err in relying on the vocational expert's testimony.The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reviewed the case. The court held that the ALJ's decision was supported by substantial evidence. The ALJ adequately evaluated the medical opinions of Cain's treating physician, Dr. Amanda Williams, and the state agency psychologists, Dr. Joelle Larsen and Dr. Ken Lovko. The ALJ also properly relied on the vocational expert, Thomas Dunleavy, who provided a reliable basis for his job number predictions. The court concluded that the ALJ did not commit legal error and affirmed the district court's judgment. View "Cain v Bisignano" on Justia Law