Associated Builders v. City of Jersey City — civil — reversal — Krause

Jersey City, NJ, offers tax exemptions to developers, but only if they meet certain labor conditions including using union labor, rejecting strikes and lock-outs, and a set percentage of local hiring. Today, the Third Circuit held that, in enacting the labor conditions, the city was acting as a regulator not a market participant. The ruling reversed the district court and meant that the conditions were reviewable for pre-emption and dormant-Commerce-Clause violation.

Joining Krause were Chagares and Scirica. Arguing counsel were Russell McEwan of Littler Mendelson for the appellants, Zahire Estrella for the city, and Raymond Heineman of Kroll Heineman for an intervenor.

Goodwin v. Detective Conway — civil rights — reversal — Fuentes

Rashied Goodwin sued police officers for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution after he was arrested; he alleged that the officers should have known he was innocent because they had a booking sheet indicating he was in jail at the time of the crime. The defendants moved for summary judgment based on qualified immunity, the district court denied the motion, and today the Third Circuit reversed. The court reasoned that the booking sheet did not show that Goodwin was in custody at the relevant time. (I was confused when I read the opinion because the key dates are replaced with empty brackets; I missed fn.6 explaining these are redactions requested by the parties.)

Joining Fuentes were Chagares and Restrepo. Arguing counsel were Eric Pasternack for the officers and Catherine Aiello of Lowenstein Sandler for Goodwin.

US v. Adeolu — criminal — affirmance — Vanaskie

The Third Circuit affirmed a criminal sentence, holding that the USSG 3A1.1(b)(1) vulnerable-victim sentencing enhancement does not require actual harm to the victim, only a nexus between the victim’s vulnerabilty and the crime’s success.

Joining Vanaskie were Greenaway and Shwartz. Arguing counsel were Karina Fuentes of the FPD for the defendant and AUSA Jose Arteaga for the government.