Man’s Best Captive

SHERRY F. COLB

Cornell law professor Sherry F. Colb considers whether an explanation for the affection dogs express for their humans might be explained by the Stockholm Syndrome, the condition that afflicts many kidnapped people and other abuse victims in which they form an attachment, sometimes called a trauma bond, that manifests as seeking the abuser’s approval and craving closeness rather than trying to escape. Colb argues that even though pet owners might not intend abuse, the unpredictable repetition of house arrest and silent treatment, followed by intermittent returns, might amount to abuse in the minds of these animals we hold as pets.

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Inclusive Communities Project v. Department of Treasury

Docket: 19-10377

Opinion Date: December 30, 2019

Judge: Jerry E. Smith

Areas of Law: Civil Procedure, Government & Administrative Law

ICP filed suit against Treasury and OCC, alleging claims under Section 3608 of the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Fifth Amendment. ICP alleged that defendants failed to regulate the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program so as to promote fair housing. The district court granted summary judgment for defendants on three grounds. The court held that ICP lacked standing to sue either OCC or Treasury, because ICP could not establish causation or redressability. In this case, neither defendant regulates ICP. Accordingly, the court affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment as to ICP's claims against OCC and Section 3608 claims against Treasury. Because the district court reached the merits of ICP's Fifth Amendment claim against Treasury, the court vacated the summary judgment and rendered a judgment of dismissal for want of jurisdiction.

Bolton v. United States

Docket: 18-60700

Opinion Date: December 30, 2019

Judge: Jerry E. Smith

Areas of Law: Personal Injury

After plaintiffs filed suit against two federal agents for making allegedly defamatory comments to a local news station, the district court denied scope-of-employment discovery, substituted the United States as the proper defendant, and dismissed for failure to file an administrative claim. The Fifth Circuit held that the offending statements were made in the scope of the agents' employment; plaintiffs have no right to even limited discovery, because they failed to allege any facts that, taken as true suggested that the agents acted outside of the scope of their employment; and reconsideration was not warranted by any supposed additional evidence.