Justia U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion Summaries

Petitioner, a citizen of Guatemala, entered the U.S. without permission in 2002. He was charged as removable in 2013 and sought cancellation of removal. Petitioner admitted to paying $8,000 to an individual to help his brother and daughters unlawfully enter the U.S. in 2015 and 2016, after he was served with a notice to appear. The IJ determined Petitioner had engaged in alien smuggling, was not a person of good moral character, 8 U.S.C. 1101(f)(3), 1182(a)(6)(E), and was ineligible for cancellation of removal. The BIA rejected Petitioner's argument that events occurring after the service of a notice to appear could not be used to evaluate his good moral character under the stop-time rule, 8 U.S.C. 1229b(d)(1). Aliens who are ordered removed may apply for cancellation of removal if they have maintained a continuous physical presence in the U.S. for at least 10 years and have been a person of good moral character for such period. Under the “stop-time rule,” the physical presence period ends when DHS serves the notice to appear so that aliens cannot continue to accrue physical presence time during the pendency of lengthy removal proceedings. The Third Circuit denied his petition for review. The stop-time rule does not truncate the good moral character window. The relevant time period for evaluating an alien’s good moral character is the 10-year period before the final administrative decision on an alien’s application for cancellation of removal. View "Mejia-Castanon v. Attorney General United States" on Justia Law

Under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 (NGA), 15 U.S.C. 717, Tennessee Gas holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, authorizing it to construct natural gas pipelines in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Tennessee Gas sought easements over King’s 975-acre Pike County, Pennsylvania tract. After unsuccessfully attempting to purchase the easements, Tennessee Gas filed a condemnation action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 71.1. The parties stipulated that Tennessee Gas could access and possess the easements, then engaged in discovery pertinent to determining the appropriate compensation. The district court ruled that federal law governs the substantive determination of just compensation and that, although King could recover consequential damages for professional fees and development costs under Pennsylvania law, it could not do so under federal law. The Third Circuit reversed. Because federal law does not supply a rule of decision on this precise issue, the court created a common law remedy, opting to incorporate state law as the federal standard. The court reasoned that fashioning a nationally uniform rule is unnecessary, incorporating state law does not frustrate the NGA’s objectives, and application of a uniform federal rule would risk “upsetting the parties’ commercial expectations” based upon “the already well-developed state property regime.” View "Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co v. Permanent Easement for 7.053 Acres" on Justia Law

Tibet, a holding company, “effectively control[led]” Yunnan, a manufacturer. Tibet attempted to raise capital for Yunnan's operations through an initial public offering (IPO). Zou was an investor in Tibet and the sole director of CT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tibet. Tibet’s control of Yunnan flowed through CT. Zou told Downs, a managing director at the investment bank A&S, about the IPO. A&S agreed to serve as Tibet’s placement agent. Zou and downs were neither signatories to Tibet’s IPO registration statement nor named as directors of Tibet but were listed as non-voting board observers chosen by A&S without formal powers or duties. The registration statement explained, “they may nevertheless significantly influence the outcome of matters submitted to the Board.” The registration statement omitted information that Yunnan had defaulted on a loan from the Chinese government months earlier. Before Tibet filed its amended final prospectus, the Chinese government froze Yunnan’s assets. Tibet did not disclose that. The IPO closed, offering three million public shares at $5.50 per share. The Agricultural Bank of China auctioned off Yunnan’s assets, which prompted the NASDAQ to halt trading in Tibet’s stock. Plaintiffs sued Zou, Downs, Tibet, A&S, and others on behalf of a class of stock purchasers under the Securities Act of 1933, 15 U.S.C. 77k(a). The Third Circuit directed the entry of summary judgment in favor of Zou and Downs, holding that a nonvoting board observer affiliated with an issuer’s placement agent is not a “person who, with his consent, is named in the registration statement as being or about to become a director[ ] [or] person performing similar functions,” under section 77k(a). The court noted the registration statement’s description of the defendants, whose functions are not “similar” to those of board directors. View "Obasi Investment Ltd v. Tibet Pharmaceuticals Inc" on Justia Law

Radiowala entered the United States on a visitor’s visa in 1998, with his wife and two children, fleeing a noted Indian gangster. Following a 2017 vehicle stop, he was charged as removable because he was present in the U.S. without having been admitted or paroled. Radiowala sought cancellation of removal (8 U.S.C. 1229b(b)(1)), asylum (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(1)(A)), and protection under the Convention Against Torture. He testified that he started out supporting a family of four on $300 a week and eventually developed a lucrative business. He is the sole provider for his mother in India, his wife and two children who emigrated with him, and two more children, both U.S. citizens. His fourth child is in high school. The Immigration Judge denied relief. The Board of Immigration Appeals affirmed. Radiowala sought judicial review, citing his relatively non-existent criminal history and his role as the sole provider for his family. The Third Circuit denied his petition. The principal avenue for relief, cancellation of removal, is a ground on which the Board’s decision is largely unreviewable. Radiowala became ineligible for asylum more than 19 years ago and the proposed social groups of which he is a part are not legally cognizable. Substantial evidence supports the determination that he is unlikely to be tortured if returned to India. View "Radiowala v. Attorney General United States" on Justia Law

Adams Outdoor Advertising sought a permit to install a billboard near an interchange on U.S. Route 22 in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation denied the permit because Pennsylvania law prohibits “off-premise” billboards within 500 feet of a highway interchange. Adams challenged the provision as too vague and under the First Amendment because there is no time limit for PennDOT’s decisions on applications. The district court ruled in Adams’ favor on the time-limit claim and entered an injunction barring the enforcement of the permit requirement until PennDOT establishes reasonable time limits on its permit decisions. The court dismissed Adams’ vagueness challenge and First Amendment scrutiny challenge. The Third Circuit agreed that the permit requirement violates the First Amendment because it lacks a reasonable time limit for permit determinations and that the Interchange Prohibition communicates clearly what it prohibits and is not vague. The court reversed in part. While the Interchange Prohibition is not subject to strict scrutiny, the record is insufficient to establish the required reasoning for the prohibition. View "Adams Outdoor Advertising Ltd v. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation" on Justia Law

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandated that women’s health insurance include coverage for preventive health care. The Health Resources and Services Administration issued guidelines that indicated that preventative health care includes contraceptive care. Nonprofit religious entity employers could invoke "the Accommodation," which permits employers to send a self-certification form to their insurance issuers to exclude contraceptive coverage from the group health plan while providing payments for contraceptive services for plan participants and beneficiaries, separate from the group health plan, without the imposition of cost sharing, premium, fee, or other charge on plan participants or beneficiaries or on the eligible organization or its plan.Following Supreme Court decisions concerning ACA, the Accommodation was extended to for-profit entities that are not publicly traded, are majority-owned by a relatively small number of individuals, and that object to providing contraceptive coverage based on the owners’ religious beliefs. The district court entered a preliminary injunction, prohibiting the rule’s enforcement nationwide.The Third Circuit affirmed, reasoning that the agencies did not follow the APA and that the regulations are not authorized under the ACA or required by the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Sates will face unredressable financial consequences from subsidizing contraceptive services, providing funds for medical care associated with unintended pregnancies, and absorbing medical expenses arising from decreased use of contraceptives for other health conditions. The current Accommodation does not substantially burden employers’ religious exercise and its extension is not necessary to protect a legally-cognizable interest. The public interest favors minimizing harm to third-parties by ensuring that women who may lose ACA-guaranteed contraceptive coverage. View "Pennsylvania v. President of the United States" on Justia Law

Tilija was active in the Nepali Congress Party (NCP), the political rival of the Maoists. While campaigning for the NCP, Maoists attacked him, throwing stones at his face, resulting in stitches. Maoists told Tilija’s father that they planned to kill Tilija. Discharged from the hospital, Tilija stayed at a hotel instead of going home, then moved four hours away. Maoists called him three times, stating that they would kill him when they found him. Tilija moved to Kathmandu. Maoists called and again threatened him. Tilija stopped using his cell phone. According to Tilija, the police did not investigate crimes committed by Maoists. Tilija left Nepal. In the U.S., charged removable (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(7)(i)(I)), Tilija sought asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The IJ denied relief, finding that Tilija was credible, adequately corroborated his claim, and was targeted for his political opinion but that the harm did not rise to the level of persecution and that Tilija did not establish that the government was unable or unwilling to protect him. Before the BIA, Tilija presented new, previously unavailable, evidence that after his merits hearing his wife was assaulted and raped because of his political activities and NCP affiliation. Tilija’s wife submitted medical records and corroborating letters. The BIA upheld the denial of relief. The Third Circuit remanded, holding, as a matter of law, that the new evidence established a prima facie asylum claim. View "Tilija v. Attorney General United States" on Justia Law

Married criminal defendants, Hall and Blunt, were convicted of engaging in a scheme to collect unemployment compensation benefits from federal and state agencies by using the identities of military service people. They had been appointed separate defense counsel at the onset of their case, each of whom engaged in extensive motion practice at every stage of the trial proceedings. They sought to be re-tried separately so that they may each have an opportunity to present their cases without any unwarranted constraints. The Third Circuit reversed the denial of their motions for severance. The court noted that Blunt’s testimony resulted in “clear” prejudice against Hall, “both from an emotional and evidentiary standpoint.” Blunt clearly was compelled to waive her privilege and testify in her own defense at trial. She stated in her initial motion for severance that she was being made to choose between preserving her spousal privilege and providing exculpatory testimony on her own behalf. View "United States v. Blunt" on Justia Law

A lawful permanent resident of the U.S. and a citizen of Zimbabwe, Nkomo was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. 1342; 1349, an “aggravated felony,” which made Nkomo removable and ineligible for most relief. About a month after she was sentenced to time served for that offense, the government initiated removal proceedings. The Board of Immigration Appeals found Nkomo ineligible for withholding because her wire fraud conviction was for a “particularly serious crime,” 8 U.S.C. 1231(b)(3)(B)(ii). Denying Convention Against Torture protection, the Board found that Nkomo had not shown a probability she would be tortured by or with the acquiescence of the government of Zimbabwe. The Third Circuit rejected her petition for review, first distinguishing the Supreme Court's 2018 "Pereira" decision and holding that the failure of the notice to appear to specify the time and place of Nkomo’s initial removal hearing did not deprive the immigration judge of jurisdiction over the removal proceedings. Nkomo appeared and participated in, her removal hearing. Nkomo’s argument would invalidate scores of removal orders and grants of relief without requiring the alien to allege she lacked sufficient notice of her hearing. The court rejected her claim for withholding of removal and noted that it lacked jurisdiction over the CAT claim. View "Nkomo v. Attorney General United States" on Justia Law

Police officers kicked down doors of a Camden, New Jersey residence. Hours earlier, Forrest had finished work for a contractor across the street. He went to the residence to speak with acquaintances and was inside, waiting for a cab. According to Forrest, the officers beat threatened him, then took Forrest to the hospital. In the police report, Officer Parry wrote that he had observed Forrest engaging in a hand-to-hand drug transaction, that Forrest initiated the physical altercation with officers, and that Forrest was in possession of 49 bags of a controlled substance.Forrest filed an Internal Affairs complaint in July 2008 but had no response. Forrest pleaded guilty to possession with intent and served 18 months. He was released when Parry admitted that he had falsified the police report. Three officers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to deprive individuals of their civil rights, disrupting over 200 criminal cases. Forrest’s suit under 42 U.S.C. 1983, 1985 was among 89 lawsuits against Camden. Forrest opted out of a global settlement. The district court unilaterally divided Forrest’s municipal liability claim into three theories: failure to supervise through Internal Affairs, failure to supervise, and failure to train. The court associated certain evidence to only the first theory, granted Camden summary judgment on the failure to supervise and train theories, excluded evidence that was material to the remaining theory, and “effectively awarded summary judgment on the state law negligent supervision claim.” The jury instructions confused the relevant law. The Third Circuit vacated. The artificial line, drawn by the district court, between what were ostensibly theories with largely overlapping evidence resulted in erroneous rulings as to what was relevant, and instructions as to what law the jury was to apply. View "Forrest v. Parry" on Justia Law