Designated for publication U.S. v. Onyeri, 18-50869, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Owen, Clement, Higginson), criminal, RICO, search and seizure Affirming RICO conviction for pattern of criminal activity culminating in attempted assassination attempt on state judge. The Court held that the district court did not err in denying a motion to suppress evidence from … More Take the Fifth: April 28, 2021 opinions
Unpublished Garcia v. Harlingen County, 19-40860, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Jolly, Elrod, Graves), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of prisoner suit as frivolous. U.S. v. Clark, 20-10364, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Jones, Costa, Duncan), habeas corpus, firearms violation Reversing district court’s denial of successive § 2255 petition, and vacating conviction under 18 … More Take the Fifth: April 27, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Sanchez v. Oliver, 20-50282, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Jones, Clement, Graves), qualified immunity, deliberate indifference Reversing district court’s summary judgment dismissal of deliberate indifference claim against clinical social worker who had taken pretrial detainee off suicide watch prior to his committing suicide, and remanding for further proceedings. The victim’s mother … More Take the Fifth: April 26, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Thomas v. Lumpkin, 17-70002, appeal from E.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Jones, Southwick, Higginson), Higginson, J., dissenting in part; habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of federal habeas petition for death-row inmate, in ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”) issues. The Court first held that it has jurisdiction, that the petitioner’s notice … More Take the Fifth: April 23, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Aguirre v. City of San Antonio, 17-51031, appeal from W.D. Tex. Dennis, J. (Jolly, Dennis, Higginson), Jolly, J., concurring; Higginson, J., concurring; excessive force, qualified immunity, municipal liability Vacating summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds as to claims against officer defendants for holding arrestee in hog-tied, “maximum restraint” position for five and … More Take the Fifth: April 22, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Thibodeaux v. Sanofi U.S. Services, Inc., 20-30104, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Jolly, Southwick, Costa), timeliness, contra non valentem Affirming district court’s summary judgment dismissal of products liability claims regarding permanent hair loss from chemotherapy drug Taxotere, on the basis that the claims were facially prescribed under Louisiana law and that … More Take the Fifth: April 21, 2021 opinions
Unpublished English v. Aramark Corp., 19-20412, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Haynes, Graves, Willett), prisoner suit, removal Remanding to district court for the limited purpose of determining if defendant met its burden to show removal jurisdiction existed over state prisoner’s suit against prison food service provider. U.S. v. Vasquez-Garcia, 19-20880, appeal from S.D. Tex. … More Take the Fifth: April 20, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Phillips v. Sanofi US Services, Inc., 20-30405, appeal from E.D. La. per curiam (King, Smith, Haynes), product liability Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s failure-to-warn claim regarding permanent hair-loss from chemotherapy drug Taxotere, on finding that, under Louisiana law, there was a lack of causation because there was no genuine dispute that … More Take the Fifth: April 19, 2021 opinions
Unpublished U.S. v. Medina, 18-10266, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Jones, Costa), criminal, sentencing Affirming 360-month sentence and supervised release on guilty plea conviction to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Leal v. Magic Touch Up, Inc., 19-10467, appeal from N.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Southwick, Oldham), Fair Labor … More Take the Fifth: April 16, 2021 opinions
Unpublished Marediya v. Garland, 19-60741, petition for review of BIA order per curiam (Higginbotham, Jones, Costa), immigration Denying in part and dismissing in part Indian citizens’ petition for review of BIA order dismissing appeal of IJ’s denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture, and adverse credibility finding. De Bastos … More Take the Fifth: April 15, 2021 opinions
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