January 30, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Jones, Smith, Graves), insurance, COVID-19 Affirming dismissal of helicopter services company in dispute arising from claim against its all-risk insurer to recover economic losses from the partial interruption of business during the pandemic. The Court held that the requirement for “direct physical loss of or damage” to property as an … More January 30, 2023, opinions

January 27, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Richman, Higginbotham, Elrod), First Amendment, mootness Vacating injunction ordering display submitted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation be displayed at the Texas State Capitol, because state had repealed altogether its Capitol Exhibit Rule that had allowed the display of submitted exhibits that met certain non-onerous requirements, such that there was … More January 27, 2023, opinions

January 26, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Dennis, Elrod, Duncan), employment discrimination, Title VII Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s sex discrimination claims for failure to hire based on positions for which she did not apply and positions for which she did apply but for which she was not selected; reversing summary judgment dismissal of failure-to-hire claims based on … More January 26, 2023, opinions

January 25, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Higginbotham, Graves, Ho), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Higginbotham, Graves, Ho) criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Jones, Haynes, Oldham), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Higginbotham, Graves, Ho), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and … More January 25, 2023, opinions

January 24, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (King, Dennis, Ho), Ho, J., concurring in judgment only; administrative law, Administrative Procedures Act Granting petition brought by flight school to challenge FAA rule that prohibited flight school from offering a course using type-rated aircraft that would culminate in an airline transport pilot (“ATP”) certificate without a type rating, holding … More January 24, 2023, opinions

January 20-23, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Higginbotham, Graves, Ho), criminal, First Step Act Affirming denial of motion for sentence reduction under the First Step Act. per curiam (Higginbotham, Duncan, Engelhardt), class action Vacating certification of class in suit against Louisiana Department of Health and related officials regarding alleged violation of required services under Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, … More January 20-23, 2023, opinions

January 18-19, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Southwick, Haynes, Higginson), securities law Reversing dismissal of securities claims (specifically, violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) by pension plan investor against amusement park corporation based on alleged material misrepresentations and omissions regarding development of amusement parks in China, and remanding for further … More January 18-19, 2023, opinions

January 17, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Oldham), Higginbotham, J., concurring; criminal, compassionate release Affirming denial of motion for compassionate release, holding that the defendant’s arguments instead should have been made on direct appeal or in habeas through a § 2255 petition. Defendant had been convicted of three cocaine distribution counts and one count of … More January 17, 2023, opinions

January 16, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Jones, Southwick, Ho), foreclosure, mootness Dismissing as moot appeal from suit arising from a mortgage foreclosure suit. per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Engelhardt), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Engelhardt), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Stewart, Dennis, Willett), criminal Granting … More January 16, 2023, opinions

January 13, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Barksdale, Elrod, Haynes), prisoner suit, qualified immunity Affirming qualified immunity-based dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s sec. 1983 claim. per curiam (Barksdale, Elrod, Haynes), habeas corpus Affirming dismissal of sec. 2241 petition on jurisdictional grounds. per curiam (Stewart, Willett, Oldham), legal malpractice Reversing and remanding from dismissal of legal malpractice claims under Texas … More January 13, 2023, opinions