Designated for publication U.S. v. Gomez, 17-20526, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Elrod, Oldham), criminal, sentencing On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, remanding to the district court to reform the judgment to impose sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) (applicable to predicate non-aggravated felonies) rather than under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) (applicable … More January 17-18, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Goldring v. U.S., 20-30723, appeal from E.D. La. Engelhardt, J. (Jones, Southwick, Engelhardt), tax Affirming in part and reversing in part district court’s summary judgment in favor of government dismissing taxpayers’ refund claims in their entirety. In separate litigation, one of the taxpayers had prevailed in a suit to have her stock … More October 1-4, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Johnson v. BOKF National Association, 18-11375, appeal from N.D. Tex. Dennis, J. (Higginbotham, Dennis, Ho), Ho, J., concurring in judgment only; banking law Affirming district court’s dismissal of putative class action against bank alleging that extended overdraft charges were usurious interest under the National Bank Act, for failure to state a claim. … More September 29, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Norbert, 20-60106, appeal from S.D. Miss. per curiam (Owen, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson), en banc, criminal, search and seizure Vacating March 16 panel opinion (Davis, J., joined by Stewart, J.; Oldham, J., dissenting), which had affirmed the district … More June 28, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Butler v. Porter, 19-30029, appeal from W.D. La. Haynes, J. (Owen, Dennis, Haynes), Bivens claim Affirming in part, affirming the district court’s dismissal of Bivens claim for First Amendment retaliation claims and for due process claims, and affirming the district court’s denial of motions to file surreply briefs and to file amended … More Take the Fifth: June 2-3, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Canfield v. Lumpkin, 18-10431, appeal from N.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Higginbotham, Willett), Higginbotham, J., dissenting; habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming the district court’s denial of petitioner’s habeas claims based on ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to investigate and challenge a juror who displayed partiality during voir dire. The … More Take the Fifth: May 21 and 24, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Gas Pipe, Inc., 19-11145, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (Haynes, Higginson, Oldham), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, fraud, sentencing Affirming conviction for conspiracy to defraud the United Stated for defrauding the FDA by mislabeling or selling synthetic cannabinoids marked as “not meant for human consumption” as “spice” for smoking; and … More Take the Fifth: May 6 and 7, 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 Williams v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 18-31162, appeal from E.D. La. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Willett, Oldham), federal officer jurisdiction, asbestos, sanctions Denying petition for en banc rehearing, granting petition for panel rehearing, vacating panel opinion, and issuing new decision affirming district court’s denial of motion to remand, summary judgment dismissal of asbestos-exposure claims, … More Take the Fifth: March 9, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Johnson, 19-30921, appeal from W.D. La. Dennis, J. (Dennis, Higginson, Willett), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, due process, sentencing Affirming convictions of co-defendants for the armed robbery of two banks and one credit union and with related firearms offenses and sentences of 498 months for one defendant and 339 months for … More Take the Fifth: March 3, 2021 opinions
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