CLICK HERE FOR FULL TEXT |
SHERRYL DARBY,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
CHILDVINE, INC.; TYLER MAYHUGH; SAMANTHA
BLIZZARD,
Defendants-Appellees. |
No. 19-4214 |
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Ohio at Cincinnati.
No. 1:18-cv-00669—Michael R. Barrett, District Judge.
Argued: June 10, 2020
Decided and Filed: June 30, 2020
Before: GRIFFIN, THAPAR, and READLER, Circuit Judges.
_________________________
OPINION
_________________________
CHAD A. READLER, Circuit Judge. Sherryl Darby underwent a double mastectomy
following diagnosis of the growth of abnormal pre-cancerous cells along with a genetic mutation
that contributes to abnormal cell growth. Invoking the Americans with Disabilities Act and Ohio
law, Darby alleges she was discriminated against when her employer terminated her employment
upon learning of her condition. The district court dismissed her claims, concluding that Darby’s
genetic mutation had not yet manifested into a disability cognizable under the ADA. Because
Darby has plausibly alleged a condition covered by the ADA, we REVERSE. |
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TEXT |
ERVINE LEE DAVENPORT,
Petitioner-Appellant,
v.
DUNCAN MACLAREN, Warden,
Respondent-Appellee. |
No. 17-2267 |
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Western District of Michigan at Grand Rapids.
No. 1:14-cv-01012—Ellen S. Carmody, Magistrate Judge.
Argued: May 7, 2019
Decided and Filed: June 30, 2020
Before: COLE, Chief Judge; STRANCH and READLER, Circuit Judges.
_________________________
OPINION
_________________________
JANE B. STRANCH, Circuit Judge. Ervine Lee Davenport was convicted of first-degree
murder after a jury trial in Michigan state court. He challenges his conviction in a habeas corpus
petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 because he was visibly shackled at the waist, wrist, and ankles
during trial. The State of Michigan admits Davenport’s shackling was unconstitutional but
argues that the habeas petition should be denied because this error was harmless. The district
court agreed it was harmless error and denied the petition. Because “shackling is ‘inherently
prejudicial,’” Deck v. Missouri, 544 U.S. 622, 635 (2005) (quoting Holbrook v. Flynn, 475 U.S.
560, 568 (1986)), and the evidence of premeditation and deliberation necessary to a first-degree
murder conviction was not overwhelming, the State has not met its burden to show the restraints
did not have a “substantial and injurious effect or influence in determining the jury’s verdict.”
Brecht v. Abrahamson, 507 U.S. 619, 637 (1993). We therefore REVERSE the judgment of the
district court, GRANT Davenport a conditional writ of habeas corpus, and REMAND the case
for further proceedings. |
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TEXT |
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
ROBERT WARE,
Defendant-Appellant. |
No. 19-6180 |
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Middle District of Tennessee at Nashville.
No. 3:96-cr-00008-1—Eli J. Richardson, District Judge.
Argued: June 18, 2020
Decided and Filed: June 30, 2020
Before: COLE, Chief Judge; McKEAGUE and KETHLEDGE, Circuit Judges.
_________________________
OPINION
_________________________
COLE, Chief Judge. Robert Ware was convicted in 1997 of several federal drug offenses
and sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. In 2019, Ware moved for a sentence reduction
under § 404 of the First Step Act. The district court concluded that Ware was eligible for relief
under the Act but denied Ware’s motion as a matter of discretion. Ware now appeals, arguing
that the district court abused its discretion by 1) insufficiently considering the sentencing factors
under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), 2) putting undue weight on the legislative purpose of the First Step
Act, and 3) inadequately considering that Ware’s statutory sentencing range would be lower
under current law. We affirm. |
|