Designated for publication U.S. v. Martinez, 20-11016, appeal from N.D. Tex. Costa, J. (Elrod, Southwick, Costa), criminal, sentencing Vacating sentence on conviction for drug conspiracy, and remanding for resentencing under new calculation of amount of money involved. Defendant owned a tobacco shop, and various drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in the back of his … More August 27, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Ward v. U.S., 20-10836, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Jones, Southwick, Engelhardt), criminal, compassionate release Affirming district court’s denial of motion for compassionate release. The Court held that the district court may use the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to reject compassionate release when the Government fails … More August 26, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Jennings v. Towers Watson, 19-11028, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (King, Higginson, Wilson), Title VII, employment discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming summary judgment in favor of former-employer defendant on plaintiff’s claims for state-law civil conspiracy, hostile work environment under Title VII and the ADA, disability discrimination under the ADA, racial … More August 25, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Sims, 19-20833, appeal from S.D. Tex. Davis, J. (Davis, Haynes, Oldham), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction of defendant on sex trafficking a minor and conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, and imposition of life sentence; holding that there was sufficient evidence to support conviction, that district court did … More August 24, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Moparty, 19-20797, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Southwick, Costa), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence, harmless error Affirming convictions and sentences of co-defendants for health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and money laundering. One co-defendant (Moparty) was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment; the other (Narang) was … More August 23, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Maxim Crane Works, L.P. v. Zurich American Insurance Co., 19-20489, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Ho, Oldham), insurance, Texas Anti-Indemnity Act, standing Certifying question of interpretation of the term “employee” in the Texas Anti-Indemnity Act to the Texas Supreme Court; and holding that district court did not err in declining … More August 20, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex. En banc (Owen, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson) (recused: Southwick, Duncan, Oldham) Elrod and Willett, JJ., plurality (joined by Jones, Smith, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson in full; concurred in judgment only by Owen and Haynes); … More August 19, 2021 opinions
Unpublished U.S. v. Mafo, 20-11090, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Southwick, Oldham, Wilson), criminal, restitution Affirming restitution award of $1,999,083 as part of sentence on guilty-plea conviction of wire fraud. U.S. v. Pineda, 20-40664, appeal from E.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), criminal, compassionate release Affirming district court’s denial of motion for compassionate … More August 18, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Lindsey v. Bio-Medical Applications of Louisiana, L.L.C., 20-30289, appeal from W.D. La. Ho, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), Family and Medical Leave Act Affirming in part and reversing in part summary judgment dismissal of employee’s claims against former employer, reversing dismissal of FMLA retaliation claim and affirming dismissal of other claims for FMLA … More August 16-17, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Hernandez v. Garland, 19-60274, petition for review of BIA order Jones, J. (Jones, Costa, Duncan), Costa, J., dissenting; immigration Denying Salvadoran citizen’s petition for review of BIA order denying motion to reconsider prior order of removal or alternatively to reopen proceedings. BIA deemed the motion as a motion to reconsider, concluded that … More August 13, 2021 opinions
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