Take the Fifth: Nov. 2-6, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Pizza Inn, Inc. v. Clairday, 19-11302, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), breach of contract, equitable intervention doctrine Reversing district court’s upholding of jury verdict in favor of franchisee, applying equitable intervention doctrine and awarding damages and attorneys’ fees to franchisee for pizza franchise’s refusal to renew contract when … More Take the Fifth: Nov. 2-6, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 30, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Graves, Haynes, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson); abortion law After the October 13 release of the panel opinion affirming the district court’s injunction of enforcement of Texas Senate Bill 8 (requiring that “a … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 30, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 29, 2020 opinions

Only unpublished decisions released on October 29, 2020: Youmans v. Torres, 19-30144, appeal from M.D. La. per curiam (Wiener, Southwick, Duncan), qualified immunity, false imprisonment Affirming qualified immunity dismissal of suit against warden for allegedly keeping inmate imprisoned 52 days longer than his term, and affirming summary judgment in favor of sheriff who had been … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 29, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 28, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Mi Familia Vota v. Abbott, 20-50907, appeal from W.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, Davis, Southwick), election law, Covid-19, mask mandate On October 27, 2020, on a remand from the Fifth Circuit, the district court issued a preliminary injunction of one provision of Governor Abbott’s declaration regarding COVID-19-related election procedures in Texas–specifically, a … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 28, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 27, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Ramirez, 19-20098, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), criminal, sentencing Affirming the district court’s sentencing of defendant to 300 months’ imprisonment for health care fraud. Court held that there was no error in district court’s reliance on presentencing report to impose a 26-point adjustment to defendant’s sentencing … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 27, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 26, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Londono-Gonzalez v. Barr, 16-60766, petition for review of BIA order, on remand from U.S. Supreme Ct. Elrod, J. (Higginbotham, Elrod, Duncan), immigration, equitable tolling Denying petition for review of BIA order. Court held that “uncertain legal terrain does not create an obstacle that stands in the way of an individual meeting the … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 26, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Election implications across all U.S. Courts of Appeals

Last week, we took a deep dive into the make-up of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to see what the next President may have the opportunity to do (and also what the make-up of the next Senate will be able to affect). This week, with one week left to election day, we look … More Take the Fifth: Election implications across all U.S. Courts of Appeals

Take the Fifth: Oct. 23, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication In the Matter of: Ward, 18-10469, appeal from N.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Clement, Ho), bankruptcy, timeliness Affirming district court’s judgment that the bankruptcy court did not err in finding creditors’ complaint seeking denial of debtor’s discharge was timely and in entering an order denying discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4)(A) and … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 23, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Oct. 22, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex., designated for publication Dennis, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Willett), Willett, J., dissenting; abortion law; Opinion originally released on October 13, 2020; released in “MODIFIED” form on Oct. 22 in order to append Judge Willett’s dissent; Take the Fifth‘s original summary of the majority … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 22, 2020 opinions