Case Explained: Non-Argument Calendar AHMED SHAIKH v. FOX NEWS NETWORK, LLC PARAMOUNT GLOBAL WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY, INC NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA, LLC THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Filed: 2026-06-04 Docket: 6:24-cv-01894-WWB-RMN The eleventh-circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Ahmed Shaikh’s complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court held that federal courts lacked jurisdiction because Shaikh’s claims were “wholly insubstantial and frivolous,” meaning they had no plausible foundation. Under the standard established in *Bell v. Hood*, while courts generally must find jurisdiction exists when a factual attack implicates an element of a cause of action, they may dismiss on jurisdictional grounds where a claim under federal statutes is clearly made solely to obtain jurisdiction or is wholly insubstantial. The court determined that Shaikh’s allegations—that media companies used hidden cameras and “clandestine” mind-reading technology to read his thoughts for content creation—were utterly divorced from reality. Consequently, the appellate court found no federal question jurisdiction existed. The practical consequence is that the district court’s order dismissing the case and terminating all pending motions remains in effect, leaving Shaikh without a remedy in federal court for these claims. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.