Appeals

Ben Roberts-Smith Appeals Defamation Lawsuit Loss, Argues ‘Blooding the Rookie’ Statement in War Crimes Case Has Different Meaning

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SYDNEY, Australia – Lawyers representing Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, argued in court that statements referring to “blooding the rookie” may have only involved lawful killing in combat, rather than proof of an unarmed Afghan being executed. The remarks were made during an appeal hearing in the Full Court of the Federal Court after Roberts-Smith lost a defamation lawsuit to Nine Newspapers last year. Roberts-Smith filed the lawsuit in 2018 against the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and Canberra Times over their reporting of war crime allegations. However, his case was dismissed by … Read more

9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to Weigh Challenge to California’s Mail-In Voting System

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear oral arguments today in a lawsuit challenging California’s mail-in voting system. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Election Integrity Project California (EIPCa), a fringe right-wing group, claims that California’s voting laws and regulations surrounding universal mail-in voting, online voter registration, community ballot collection, and increased voting access are unconstitutional. The plaintiffs argue that several California Assembly and Senate bills, along with sections of the California Code of Regulations, violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the 14th Amendment. … Read more

Landmark Ruling: Appeals Court Overturns $365M Punitive Damages Against FedEx

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MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – In a recent ruling, an appeals court overturned a $365 million jury award of punitive damages against FedEx. The decision came after a trial in which FedEx was sued for allegedly overcharging customers through its fuel surcharge practices. The case, which dates back to 2006, accused FedEx of intentionally misleading customers about the application of its fuel surcharges. A jury had initially awarded the plaintiffs $5.5 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $365 million in punitive damages. However, the appeals court found that the punitive damages were excessive and violated FedEx’s … Read more

Appeals Court Raises Questions about Dismissal of Local Groups’ Petition for PFAS Testing, Uncertainty Looms

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Wilmington, North Carolina – A recent ruling by the Appeals Court has raised doubts about a district judge’s decision to dismiss a petition for PFAS testing submitted by local advocacy groups. The dismissal has ignited concerns among community members who have long pushed for comprehensive testing of these potentially harmful substances in their environment. The petition was filed by several local groups in an effort to compel the authorities to conduct extensive testing for PFAS, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFAS are man-made chemicals commonly found in products such as non-stick cookware, firefighting … Read more