o. v. Thermo Power Corp., 272 F.3d 654, 657 (4th Cir. 2001). And we have applied the doctrine despite its potentially significant impact. See, e.g., Carter v. Lee, 283 F.3d 240, 252 n.11 (4th Cir. 2002) (applying the doctrine in a death penalty case). Given that Plaintiffs failed to challenge the district cou