Designated for publication U.S. v. Meals, 20-40752, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Owen, Jones, Wilson), criminal, search and seizure Affirming conviction for production and possession of child pornography, on finding that Facebook did not act as a government agent when it sent a tip about the defendant’s Messenger exchange with a 15-year-old to the … More December 30, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Greer, 19-11348, appeal from N.D. Tex. Stewart, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act On remand from U.S. Supreme Court, vacating sentence under the ACCA to 120 months on guilty-plea conviction of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and remanding for resentencing. In Borden … More December 20-29, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication DeOtte v. Nevada, 19-10754, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Engelhardt), Affordable Care Act, Religious Freedom and Restoration Act, mootness, intervention Vacating district court’s injunction of the 2015 rules implementing the contraception mandate of the ACA, in light of Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. … More December 17, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Ticer v. Imperium Insurance Co., 21-10108, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), insurance, diversity jurisdiction Vacating district court’s dismissal of improperly joined non-diverse defendant with prejudice, and remanding to district court to dismiss non-diverse defendant without prejudice. Plaintiff brought suit in Texas state court against two insurance companies arising … More December 16, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Timpa v. Dillard, 20-10876, appeal from N.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Clement, Southwick, Willett), qualified immunity Reversing summary judgment on qualified immunity as to plaintiffs’ claims of excessive force, and affirming in part and reversing in part the qualified immunity summary judgment on claims of bystander liability, arising from Dallas Police Department’s killing … More December 15, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Cochran v. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 19-10396, appeal from N.D. Tex. Haynes, J. (Owen, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson), joined by Jones, Smith, Elrod, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ. (Willett, J., concurring in judgment only); Oldham, J., concurring, joined by … More December 10-14, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Cleven v. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., No. 18-50846, c/w Brown v. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., No. 18-50851, appeal from W.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Smith, Dennis), Dennis, J., dissenting; class action, breach of contract On a Rule 23(f) appeal, reversing district court’s certification of classes in two actions against apartment company arising … More December 9, 2021, opinions
Unpublished Wilder v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 20-10314, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), foreclosure Affirming summary judgment in favor of mortgage issuer in foreclosure claims. U.S. v. Galvez, 20-20449, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), criminal, sentencing Affirming 14-month sentence for illegal reentry. U.S. v. Brule, 20-30571, appeal … More December 8, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Dean v. Seidel, 21-10468, appeal from N.D. Tex. Wiener, J. (Wiener, Graves, Ho), bankruptcy Dismissing for lack of bankruptcy standing a debtor’s objection to a litigation funding arrangement entered into by a trustee and a creditor. The trustee of the debtor’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy estate did not have sufficient unencumbered funds to … More December 7, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Ibrahim v. Garland, 20-60936, petition for review of BIA order Smith, J. (King, Smith, Haynes), immigration Denying petition by Egyptian citizen (and lawful permanent U.S. resident) for review of BIA order to remove him to Egypt upon his conviction in Louisiana of indecent behavior with juveniles. The Court held that the government … More December 6, 2021, opinions
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