Mealey's (December 5, 2018, 9:04 AM EST) -- RICHMOND, Va. — The Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals is free to consider an appeal in a declaratory judgment action even while a consolidated bad faith portion of the case remains pending, the parties tell the court in supplemental briefing on the impact of recent Supreme Court precedent. Oral arguments in the cases are scheduled for Dec. 11 (Founders Insurance Co. v. Richard Ruth’s Bar & Grill LLC, et al., George Giannaras, et al. v. Founders Insurance Co., et al., No. 17-1282(L), 17-1284, 17-1344, 17-1348, 4th Cir.)....