Supreme Court takes up RICO and veterans “benefit of the doubt” cases

Supreme Court takes up RICO and veterans “benefit of the doubt” cases

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In a list of orders released from the justices’ private conference last week, the justices granted review in four cases – adding those cases to the lone four cases that they have agreed to take up for the 2024-25 term since early January. Monday’s grants involve (among others) the interpretation of federal racketeering laws and the “benefit of the doubt” rule for veterans.

In Medical Marijuana v. Horn, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether a commercial truck … Read the rest

RICO injury, federal jurisdiction, and giving veterans the benefit of the doubt

RICO injury, federal jurisdiction, and giving veterans the benefit of the doubt

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The Relist Watch column examines cert petitions that the Supreme Court has “relisted” for its upcoming conference. A short explanation of relists is available here.

The Supreme Court is back in the relist business with a vengeance. On Monday, it granted review of the Biden administration’s newly relisted petition seeking to establish the lawfulness of its efforts to regulate so-called “ghost guns,” as well as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first-time relist arguing that a plaintiff who won a … Read the rest

On presidential immunity, a riveting national civics lesson

On presidential immunity, a riveting national civics lesson

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Today is the last day of argument for the 2023-24 term, and – as everyone in the courtroom knows – we are here to see what is probably the biggest case of the term: Trump v. United States.

Yesterday, after an intense argument over abortion and emergency care in Moyle v. United States, Chief Justice John Roberts popped over to Georgetown University Law Center’s annual end-of-arguments reception, which revolves around the law school’s Supreme Court Institute and … Read the rest

FICA sanctions for financial services providers

This blog was co-authored by Michael McCarthy, trainee associate, litigation insurance.

On 20 March 2024 the Financial Sector Conduct Authority published a number of administrative sanctions for financial services providers who had failed to comply with the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). The FSCA, the supervisory body responsible for financial services providers under FICA, issued the sanctions following inspections it conducted during the course of 2023. Each FSP was found to have contravened section 42(1) and (2) of FICA for … Read the rest

Justices dubious about dismissing suits while waiting for arbitration

Justices dubious about dismissing suits while waiting for arbitration

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Monday’s argument in Smith v. Spizziri was this month’s case under the Federal Arbitration Act. This one explores what a trial court can do when it refers a pending suit to arbitration. Section 3 of the FAA says that if the court refers the case to arbitration, it “shall on application of one of the parties stay the trial of the action until such arbitration has been had.” The question is whether the trial court, instead of staying the … Read the rest

Supreme Court to hear case on criminal penalties for homelessness

Supreme Court to hear case on criminal penalties for homelessness

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The Supreme Court will hear oral argument on Monday in a case that one legal expert has called the “most important Supreme Court case about homelessness in at least 40 years.” The issue before the court is the constitutionality of ordinances in an Oregon town that bar people who are homeless from using blankets, pillows, or cardboard boxes for protection from the elements while sleeping within the city limits. Defending the ordinances, the city contends that the laws simply … Read the rest