U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

May 25, 2023

Law Digest — US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit — May 25, 2023

US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit Insurance; Claim: Where a law firm sought recovery of costs incurred when the government executed a search warrant at the firm, that wasn’t a “claim” under the firm’s insurance policy. The warrant authorized law enforcement to carry out the search and seizure without regard to any response […]

May 24, 2023

Government withdraws filing that claimed defense firms profited from Ravenell money laundering

Federal prosecutors have withdrawn a filing that claimed criminal defense firms and lawyers profited from a money laundering scheme involving a convicted Baltimore defense attorney.

May 23, 2023

Government raid on Baltimore law firm not covered by insurance, 4th Circuit rules

A Baltimore law firm's insurer is not obligated to cover the costs incurred after federal agents raided the firm, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled.

May 9, 2023

Ravenell seeks full 4th Circuit review of conviction

Baltimore defense attorney Kenneth W. Ravenell is asking the entire 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to consider tossing his money-laundering conviction, the latest effort by the once-prominent lawyer to avoid federal prison. In a petition filed Tuesday, Ravenell asked the appeals court for an en banc review of last month‘s decision by a three-judge […]

May 4, 2023

Law Digest — 4th Circuit, Md. Supreme Court — May 4, 2023

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit Criminal; Sentencing Guidelines: Where the trial court applied a Sentencing Guidelines provision that increased a defendant’s offense level by four, but the provision did not take effect until after the conduct charged in the indictment had occurred, and that plain error affected the defendant’s substantial rights, the […]

The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in two cases challenging the Biden administration's student debt relief program. (Hunter Savery/Capital News Service)
Apr 27, 2023

Supreme Court weighs appeal preservation question in Md. prisoner assault case

A former Maryland correctional officer's request to appeal a federal jury verdict in a prisoner assault is at the center of a key procedural question being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Apr 25, 2023

4th Circuit affirms Ravenell’s money laundering conviction, prison sentence

A federal appeals court has upheld the federal money laundering conviction and nearly five-year prison sentence for Baltimore defense attorney Kenneth W. Ravenell.

Mar 16, 2023

Law Digest — 4th US Circuit, Md. Appellate Court — March 16, 2023

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit Criminal; Circuit split over scope of 28 U.S.C.§ 2244(b)(1): In an issue of first impression, the court joined the Sixth and Ninth Circuits in holding that 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(1), which requires dismissal of “[a] claim presented in a second or successive habeas corpus application under section […]

Mar 8, 2023

4th Circuit will hear Snyder arguments in sealed courtroom

A federal court will hear oral arguments about grand jury subpoenas related to the criminal case against prominent medical malpractice attorney Stephen L. Snyder.

Mar 2, 2023

Law Digest — 4th US Circuit, Md. Supreme Court — March 2, 2023

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit Contract; retirement benefits: Where the State of Maryland enacted legislation in 2004 that “entitled” certain retired state employees to state-subsidized prescription drug benefits in retirement, but the state removed that benefit in 2011 after passage of the Affordable Care Act, retirees’ claims for breach of contract were […]

Feb 27, 2023

Baltimore appeals loss over ordinance that lets landlords keep evicted tenants’ property

The city of Baltimore will ask a federal appeals court to reconsider the outcome of a lawsuit that challenged an ordinance giving landlords the right to take immediate possession of items left behind when an eviction takes place. The tenants who brought the lawsuit, Marshall and Tiffany Todman, won a $186,000 jury verdict this month […]

Jan 11, 2023

4th Circuit hears statute of limitations arguments in Ravenell’s appeal

A three-judge federal appeals court panel heard oral arguments Wednesday in the dispute that has dragged on since a jury found attorney Kenneth Ravenell guilty in December 2021.

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