When Children Stay Home—A COVID-19 Consequence

KATHRYN ROBB

Kathryn Robb, executive director of CHILD USAdvocacy, describes how the COVID-19 pandemic uniquely endangers children who are being sexually abused by people close to them. Robb describes ways in which teachers, coaches, and other adult figures in children’s lives must do to ensure the safety of children in this time when schools and other safe spaces are shut down.

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Thakkar v. Bay Point Capital Partners, LP

Docket: 18-12536

Opinion Date: April 8, 2020

Judge: Charles R. Wilson

Areas of Law: Bankruptcy, Civil Procedure

Plaintiff filed suit against Bay Point in state court and added DCT as a plaintiff in an amended complaint, alleging that Bay Point's foreclosure of two properties caused him to lose the collateral's value exceeding the debt balance, and to suffer mental anguish. After Bay Point removed to bankruptcy court, the district court affirmed the bankruptcy court's order in favor of Bay Point. Plaintiff and DCT appealed, but then the district court granted DCT's motion to dismiss. The Eleventh Circuit held that plaintiff lacked Article III standing, because he failed to allege a particularized, actual injury. Furthermore, plaintiff was not a person aggrieved. Therefore, plaintiff may not appeal the district court's decision affirming the bankruptcy court's order.

United States v. Maher

Docket: 19-10074

Opinion Date: April 8, 2020

Judge: William Holcombe Pryor, Jr.

Areas of Law: Criminal Law

Defendant appealed his convictions for conspiring to defraud the United States by committing mail fraud; wire fraud; and receiving, concealing, and retaining money of the United States, as well as receiving, concealing, and retaining money of the United States. Defendant's charges stemmed from his involvement in a fraudulent scheme to obtain federal grant money. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed defendant's conviction for conspiracy because he does not dispute that he committed two of the three alternative objectives of the conspiracy within the limitation period. The court also affirmed defendant's conviction for receiving, concealing, and retaining government money on the ground it is a continuing offense for which he was timely indicted.

United States v. Oliver

Docket: 17-15565

Opinion Date: April 8, 2020

Judge: Charles R. Wilson

Areas of Law: Criminal Law

The Eleventh Circuit vacated its prior opinion and substituted the following opinion. The court held that a conviction for making terroristic threats under O.C.G.A. 16-11-37(a) is indivisible and overbroad under Mathis v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 2243, 2249 (2016), and therefore a violation of that statute categorically does not constitute a predicate offense under the elements clause of the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA). Therefore, the court held that defendant did not have three qualifying predicate offenses, as required to support the application of an enhancement under the ACCA. The court remanded for resentencing.