Unpublished U.S. v. Gutierrez-Pineda, 19-40947, appeal from S.D. Tex.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Unpublished English v. Aramark Corp., 19-20412, appeal from S.D. Tex.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
Designated for publication Douglas v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 18-11567, appeal from N.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Haynes, Costa), Haynes, J., dissenting in part; foreclosure, breach of contract Affirming dismissal of borrowers’ claims arising from foreclosure on home by mortgagor. The Court first held that the borrowers’ protestation that they never received the notice of … More Take the Fifth: March 26, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication National Parks Conservation Association v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 17-60828, petition for review of EPA Rules per curiam (Davis, Stewart, Dennis), administrative law, environmental law, venue Denying motion to reconsider denial of motion by power company intervenors to confirm venue of review action in the Fifth Circuit rather than transfer venue of … More Take the Fifth: March 24 & 25, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Brune, 19-11360, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Jones, Smith, Elrod), criminal, double jeopardy Affirming conviction of defendant for possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. In the charging instrument, the government had misstated the statutory citation for the charged crime, … More Take the Fifth: March 22 and 23, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Anokwuru v. City of Houston, 20-20295, appeal from S.D. Tex. Wilson, J. (Stewart, Higginson, Wilson), § 1983, false arrest, malicious prosecution Affirming 12(b)(6) dismissal of plaintiff’s § 1983 claims arising from his allegations that Officer M.R. Francis arrested him without probable cause, maliciously prosecuted him, and racially discriminated against him, and that … More Take the Fifth: March 16, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Hall CA-NV, LLC v. One Republic National Title Insurance Co., 20-10268, appeal from N.D. Tex. Ho, J. (Clement, Ho, Duncan), breach of contract, insurance Affirming dismissal of plaintiff’s suit for coverage for prior mechanic’s liens under title insurance policy, on basis that plaintiff had agreed to removal of such coverage. Judge Ho … More Take the Fifth: March 10, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Masha, 19-20673, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Clement, Graves), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing Affirming conviction and sentence on eight counts of false use of a passport under 18 U.S.C. § 1543, and vacating (with government’s acquiescence) conviction and sentence on eight counts of misuse of a passport … More Take the Fifth: March 8, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Tibakweitira v. Wilkinson, 18-60459, petition for review of BIA order Engelhardt, J. (Haynes, Duncan, Engelhardt), immigration Dismissing in part and denying in part Tanzanian citizen’s petitions for review of a BIA order dismissing his appeal from the IJ decision denying his application for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 1 and 2, 2021 opinions
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