No. 25-56

Qinghua Zhang, et al. v. Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-07-15
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: admissibility circuit-split compromise-offers federal-rules-of-evidence settlement-negotiations severance-agreements
Key Terms:
Securities EmploymentDiscrimina LaborRelations
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does inadmissibility of F.R.E. 408 apply to severance agreements when no claims exist?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

is: There is a split among circuits in the admissibility of severance agreements offered to employees at terminations when no claims exist. Does inadmissibility of F.R.E. 408 apply to severance agreements when no claims exist? 2. It's the trial court's responsibility to provide clear, accurate and unprejudiced jury instructions. In this case, two errors and three plain errors are critical, egregiously wrong, and prejudicial. Failing to educate the jury on applicable laws and pretext misled the jury that complaining about fraud and discrimination including abuse of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was insubordination or harassment. The jury instructions and answers to the jury ’s question overly protected the respondent. The question presented is: A pattern of abuse of discretion of the district court is identified. Errors are significant and prejudicial. Plain errors substantially impact the civil rights of petitioners and affect the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings. Considering all errors, shouldn ’t they be corrected?

Docket Entries

2025-10-06
Petition DENIED.
2025-08-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-07-22
Waiver of right of respondent Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka to respond filed.
2025-07-11
2025-04-28
Application (24A1041) granted by Justice Gorsuch extending the time to file until July 14, 2025.
2025-04-18
Application (24A1041) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 15, 2025 to July 13, 2025, submitted to Justice Gorsuch.

Attorneys

Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka
Emma R SchueringPolsinelli PC, Respondent
Emma R SchueringPolsinelli PC, Respondent
Qinghua Zhang
Qinghua Zhang — Petitioner
Qinghua Zhang — Petitioner