Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys Kevin Darken and Melissa Kwitko secured a significant appellate victory before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on behalf of a former Bureau of Prisons physician.

After assuming the representation late in the litigation, the team successfully obtained judgment on the pleadings in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. The plaintiff appealed, and following oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit, the Court issued a published opinion affirming the dismissal of all claims.

Kevin led the appellate strategy and presented oral argument before the Court. Melissa played a key role in the district court proceedings, drafting much of the successful motion for judgment on the pleadings that laid the foundation for the appeal.



The decision reflects Johnson Pope’s strength in complex appellate advocacy and strategic motion practice, demonstrating the firm’s ability to identify dispositive legal issues and achieve favorable outcomes in high-stakes federal litigation.

This successful result reflects the depth of Johnson Pope’s White Collar Criminal Defense & Government Investigations practice. From government investigations and enforcement actions to complex federal litigation and appeals, our attorneys help clients navigate high-risk matters with strategic, practical counsel.