Designated for publication Lindsey v. Bio-Medical Applications of Louisiana, L.L.C., 20-30289, appeal from W.D. La. Ho, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), Family and Medical Leave Act Affirming in part and reversing in part summary judgment dismissal of employee’s claims against former employer, reversing dismissal of FMLA retaliation claim and affirming dismissal of other claims for FMLA … More August 16-17, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Hernandez v. Garland, 19-60274, petition for review of BIA order Jones, J. (Jones, Costa, Duncan), Costa, J., dissenting; immigration Denying Salvadoran citizen’s petition for review of BIA order denying motion to reconsider prior order of removal or alternatively to reopen proceedings. BIA deemed the motion as a motion to reconsider, concluded that … More August 13, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Jackson, 19-10627, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Wiener, Elrod, Higginson), criminal, crime of violence Vacating conviction of using a facility in aid of a racketeering enterprise with intent to commit a “crime of violence”; holding that predicate offense of sex trafficking of children is not a “crime of violence,” … More July 27-28, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Hudgens, 19-50628, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Jones, Clement, Graves), Graves, J., dissenting; criminal, sentencing Affirming 240-month sentence on guilty plea to two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine. Defendant had provided heroin to his girlfriend, who immediately began to show signs of … More July 16, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Inc. v. Phillips, 18-30699, appeal from M.D. La. Elrod, J. (Higginbotham, Elrod, Ho), abortion law, § 1983, sovereign immunity Affirming in part and reversing in part district court’s denial of motion to dismiss on sovereign immunity grounds suit by Planned Parenthood against the director of the Louisiana Department … More July 15, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Singh v. Garland, 19-60937, petition for review of BIA order Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), immigration Granting stay pending review of petition for review of BIA order dismissing Indian citizen’s appeal of IJ decision denying his application for asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture and finding petitioner not credible. Petitioner’s … More July 12, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication SED Holdings, LLC v. St. John, 19-20841, appeal from S.D. Tex. Duncan, J. (Haynes, Duncan, Engelhardt), fraud, breach of contract, res judicata, judicial estoppel Affirming judgment of fraud, but finding damages excessive and remanding for remittitur, and vacating judgment of breach of contract, and remanding for further proceedings. This case arose from … More June 17, 2021 opinions
Unpublished U.S. v. Gutierrez-Pineda, 19-40947, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Elrod, Oldham), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. U.S. v. Hines, 20-10671, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Haynes, Graves, Willett), criminal, First Step Act Affirming denial of sentence reduction under the First Step Act. U.S. v. Cardenas, 20-10708, appeal … More June 14, 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 U.S. v. Knowlton, 19-41042, appeal from E.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Elrod, Willett, Engelhardt), criminal Affirming conviction for receiving material containing child pornography. The Court held that the flash drives, external hard drives, and computer hard drives were “materials containing” child pornography and not merely child pornography itself, rejecting defendant’s argument that he … More Take the Fifth: April 1-2, 2021 opinions
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