No. 24-7308

Zachary C. Crouch v. Braden Goddard, et al.

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-05-28
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: constitutional-interpretation copyright-infringement due-process federal-law sovereign-immunity state-law
Key Terms:
DueProcess Copyright Trademark JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2025-09-29
Question Presented (from Petition)

The questions presented for review include whether state sovereign immunity can be and
should be applied to unofficial acts and federal laws of copyright infringement and fraud. This is
a question of law, de novo, because when the Constitution of the United States or laws of the
United States directly contradict a law or statute of the State of Virginia, a decision must be made
to make clear boundaries of what details of the civil proceedings will agree with the Constitution
of the United States and laws or statutes of the State of Virginia. Specifically, in this proceeding
the law or statute of the State of Virginia is sovereign immunity. On the other hand, the
Constitution of the United States has copyright protection laws, federal fraud laws, and
denounces itself as the Supreme Law of the Land. Also, federal copyright infringement laws
contradict state sovereign immunity laws as well because you cannot simply enforce both at the
same time unless new laws are created.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether state sovereign immunity applies to federal copyright infringement and fraud claims under the Constitution

Docket Entries

2025-10-06
Petition DENIED.
2025-06-18
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
2025-06-12
Waiver of right of respondent Braden Goddard, et al. to respond filed.
2025-05-19
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due June 27, 2025)

Attorneys

Braden Goddard, et al.
Erika Lauren MaleyVirginia Office of the Attorney General, Respondent
Kevin Michael GallagherVirginia Office of the Attorney General, Respondent
Zachary C. Crouch
Zachary Crouch — Petitioner