Designated for publication New Falls Corp. v. LaHaye, 19-30795, appeal from W.D. La. Costa, J. (Elrod, Southwick, Costa), bankruptcy Affirming the district court’s judgment that the terms of a prior bankruptcy proceeding of a grocery store were binding in a subsequent personal bankruptcy by the grocery store’s owners. A lender to a grocery store made … More November 11-12, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Barlow, 18-30994, appeal from M.D. La. Southwick, J. (Clement, Southwick, Willett), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel, Armed Career Criminal Act Affirming district court’s denial of petitioner’s § 2255 petition for post-conviction relief based on ineffective assistance of counsel and the application of the Armed Career Criminal Act. Petitioner pled … More November 8, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Houston v. Texas Department of Agriculture, 20-20591, appeal from S.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (King, Higginson, Wilson), retaliation, Family and Medical Leave Act, Rehabilitation Act Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s claims of retaliation for exercising rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act and for discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act. The Court … More November 5-6, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Mandawala v. Northeast Baptist Hospital, 20-50981, appeal from W.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Jones, Smith, Haynes), Haynes, J., concurring in judgment only; discrimination, recusal Affirming dismissal of pro se plaintiff’s claims against school, arising from failure of classes, for racial discrimination, First Amendment retaliation, loss of procedural due process, defamation, and intentional infliction … More October 26, 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
Air Evac EMS, Inc. v. Sullivan, 18-50722, appeal from W.D. Tex. Ho, J. (Stewart, Clement, Ho), preemption Affirming summary judgment in favor of plaintiff, to enjoin enforcement of provisions of the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act that put caps on the amount insurers must pay providers of emergency air transport services, on the basis that the … More August 4, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Landry’s, Inc. v. The Insurance Co. of the State of Pennsylvania, 19-20430, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Smith, Oldham; Ho, recused, op. by quorum); insurance Reversing district court’s summary judgment that insurer did not have a duty to defend retail chain that was defending itself against a claim by the processing … More July 21, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Health Choice Alliance, L.L.C. v. Eli Lilly & Co., 19-40906, appeal from E.D. Tex. Elrod, J., (Higginbotham, Elrod, Haynes), Higginbotham, J., concurring; False Claims Act, qui tam Affirming dismissal of Health Choice entities’ qui tam actions under the False Claims Act, on the United States’ motion to dismiss the actions. The Health … More July 7, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Huawei Technologies USA, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 19-60896, petition for review of FCC Order Duncan, J. (Elrod, Duncan, Wilson), administrative law, Administrative Procedures Act, ripeness, vagueness, Due Process Denying petition for review of FCC order barring recipients of federal telephone and internet service subsidies from purchasing equipment or services from companies … More June 18 and 21, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Navarro-Jusino, 20-40401, appeal from E.D. Tex. Smith, J. (King, Smith, Haynes), criminal, sentencing Affirming 120-month sentence on one count of wire fraud, an 87-month upward variance from the guidelines. The Court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in the sentencing because (1) the wire fraud of … More Take the Fifth: April 5, 2021 opinions
Take the Fifth 