On June 28, 2024, SCOTUS overturned the long-standing Chevron doctrine in its decision Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless v. Department of Commerce. The Court’s ruling will have a significant impact on industries regulated by federal agencies, which historically have issued “guidance” interpreting the statutes, rules, and regulations they administer. As one of
Supreme Court
Supreme Court Rejects Due Process Challenge to Civil Forfeiture
Civil forfeiture allows the government — typically police or other law enforcement — to seize and keep or sell property that is allegedly involved in a crime or illegal activity. While civil forfeiture law varies between jurisdictions, the law generally allows for the seizure of property, even without a warrant, upon the government’s (minimal) showing…
A Thank You to Our Readers—and the Top Five Posts of 2023
As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to take a moment to thank you — our readers. Eye on Enforcement has been a fun project for the Bradley’s Government Enforcement and Investigations team. But the ultimate goal of any blog is to be read, and we’re grateful to have so many devoted readers. And…
SCOTUS to Decide Constitutional Fate of SEC’s In-House Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) in-house enforcement proceedings violate the Constitution, teeing up a decision that could curtail securities law enforcement and broadly undermine the power of the entire administrative state.
The Supreme Court agreed last month to review a Fifth Circuit ruling that struck down the…
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: The Latest on Federal Court Treatment of Criminal Defendants
Last week, the Sixth Circuit and Supreme Court issued opinions on criminal law that could affect trial and sentencing strategy for white collar defendants in regulated industries.
District court discretion does not override the need for “the perception of fair sentencing” in the Sixth Circuit.
On June 22, 2023, the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion…
Supreme Court Affirms Government Dismissal Power — Subject to Minor Limits — in FCA Qui Tam Cases
On June 16, 2023, the Supreme Court in United States ex rel. Polanksy v. Executive Health Resources, affirmed the Third Circuit’s deferential standard regarding the government’s ability to dismiss False Claims Act (FCA) whistleblower cases being litigated by qui tam relators. Notwithstanding this deferential standard, the Court rejected the government’s position that it has…
SuperValu: Supreme Court Clarifies FCA’s State-of-Mind Requirement
On June 1, 2023, in U.S. ex rel. Schutte v. SuperValu Inc., the Supreme Court clarified the state-of-mind (or “scienter”) standard under the False Claims Act (FCA), holding that a defendant’s subjective belief that a claim was false was sufficient to establish the FCA’s scienter element. In doing so, the Court rejected the Seventh…
Supreme Court Unanimously Reins in the Government’s Use of the Aggravated Identify Theft Statute
In an extremely consequential decision issued last week, the United States Supreme Court reined in what the Court termed the government’s “boundless interpretation” of the aggravated identity theft statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. Section 1028A provides for a mandatory two-year prison sentence for “any person who, during and in relation to any predicate offense knowingly…
Supreme Court Tosses NY Corruption Convictions, Signaling Skepticism with Government’s Theories of Liability – Part 2
Recently, the Supreme Court of the United States tossed the convictions of two defendants found guilty of public corruption charges during former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s term. The opinions, Ciminelli v. United States and Percoco v. United States, continue the Court’s recent trend of narrowing the government’s ability to prosecute defendants under outlier…
Supreme Court Tosses NY Corruption Convictions, Signaling Skepticism with Government’s Theories of Liability – Part 1
Recently, the Supreme Court of the United States tossed the convictions of two defendants found guilty of public corruption charges during former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s term. The opinions, Ciminelli v. United States and Percoco v. United States, continue the Court’s recent trend of narrowing the government’s ability to prosecute defendants under outlier…