JURIST - Paper Chase: Judge dismisses reparations suit without prejudice

Leading Monday's round-up of news from the federal courts, Judge Charles R. Norgle of the US District Court for the District of Northern Illinois today dismissed a lawsuit by descendents of slaves seeking reparations, but left the door open for the plaintiffs to file an amended complaint. AP reports that the suit was dismissed because the plaintiffs did not establish a clear link to the defendant companies they sued. The suit was dismissed without prejudice. Read the opinion here.... AP reports that the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals refused to grant an executive's request for a new trial. Michael Monus was convicted in 1995 for embezzling millions of dollars from Phar-Mor Inc., a company he helped found. Read the opinion here.... Also reported by AP, the US Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court decision ruling that a doctor did not violate federal law when he had a woman restrained during an abortion procedure. The woman claimed that she was restrained despite demanding for the procedure to stop and requesting to leave the facility. The doctor countered that she was restrained to save her life after complications had arisen during the abortion.... Lastly, as reported earlier on JURIST's Paper Chase, a federal judge has ruled part of the Patriot Act unconstitutional.