Appeals

Appeals Court Rejects ‘Excessive’ $5 Million Payout in Housing Nonprofit Dispute

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New York – A federal appeals court has overturned a $5 million award originally granted to a housing nonprofit, deeming the sum excessive. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the lower court made errors in awarding the large punitive damages for alleged housing discrimination. The case originated when a housing nonprofit accused a real estate company of racial discrimination, alleging that they deliberately avoided renting apartments to African American tenants. The lawsuit led to a 2019 trial in which the nonprofit was awarded $5 million as punitive damages by a New York district … Read more

Iowa Cleared to Implement New Restrictions on Book Availability Following Appeals Court Decision

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DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa has been given the green light by a federal appeals court to enforce restrictions within a new law aimed at addressing the presence of certain books in school libraries, which some claim are inappropriate for minors. This recent legal shift comes after a lower court’s decision to block the law was overturned, marking a significant moment in the ongoing discussion about educational content and parental control in the state. The law in question, passed by Iowa legislators, reflects growing concerns among some parents and conservative groups regarding the availability of … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Upholds $523,327 Award to Virginia Family for Pipeline Land Seizure

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Roanoke, VA — In a unanimous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, a Virginia family’s right to fair compensation was upheld, restoring a $523,327 jury verdict. The court’s decision countered a lower court that had reduced the Terry family’s compensation by half in a dispute over land taken for a pipeline project. The involved property, an 8.37-acre tract in Roanoke County, Virginia, was appropriated by Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC under the provisions of the Natural Gas Act for the construction of a natural gas conduit stretching from West Virginia to … Read more

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Landowners’ Rights Against Mountain Valley Pipeline Condemnation

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Richmond, Va. — A significant legal decision has landed in favor of a Roanoke County family after a federal appeals court reinstated a considerable jury award related to land condemnation for the Mountain Valley Pipeline. This ruling underscores ongoing clashes between property rights and energy infrastructure development. The Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond recently overturned a lower court’s decision that had significantly reduced the compensation awarded to the Terry family, whose land was partially seized for the pipeline project. Initially, the family had received over $500,000 for an eight-acre easary taken to … Read more