August 17-18, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Richman, Higginson, Douglas) (oral argument), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, witness testimony, evidence, sentencing, Second Amendment, Commerce Clause Affirming conviction and sentence on drug and firearms charges. Travis Enclade and Terence Wilson, relatives suspected of narcotics trafficking in New Orleans, were the subjects of a two-month DEA surveillance operation using pole … More August 17-18, 2026, opinions

July 31, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (King, Higginson, Duncan) (no oral argument), tax law Granting motion to modify original panel opinion rendered June 8, 2026, and substituting new opinion that likewise affirmed tax court’s judgment upholding imposition of estate-tax liability and assessment of 20% negligence penalty. Anne Milner Fields, a businesswoman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, … More July 31, 2026, opinions

July 24, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas), Ho, J., dissenting in part (oral argument); standing, preemption, First Amendment Affirming preliminary injunction of Texas social media regulation statute as to monitoring and filtering requirements as preempted by federal law; vacating injunction as sought by certain plaintiffs for lack of standing; and remanding for further proceedings. … More July 24, 2026, opinions

July 8-9, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Richman, Higginson, Douglas) (no oral argument), qualified immunity Affirming qualified immunity summary judgment dismissal of claim against officer on excessive force claim. On April 27, 2022, Houston police pursued Jalen Randle to execute three felony warrants (aggravated assault, felon in possession of a firearm, and evading arrest). After an immobilization … More July 8-9, 2026, opinions

April 15, 2026, opinions

Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Elrod, Smith, Wilson) (oral argument), liens, breach of contract, construction law, certification Certifying question to Mississippi Supreme Court regarding statutory requirement for lien enforceability. Cuevas Machine Company subcontracted with O’Neal Constructors to perform fabrication and machining services at a filtration plant owned by Calgon Carbon Corporation in Hancock County, Mississippi. … More April 15, 2026, opinions

December 15, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (King, Jones, Wilson) (oral argument), insurance, certification Affirming dismissal of claims against Uber’s insurer by Uber passenger for hit-and-run accident, on basis of Louisiana law allowing transportation network companies to reject uninsured motorist coverage; and denying motion to certify question to the Louisiana Supreme Court. The plaintiff, Santo Guerrera, sued … More December 15, 2025, opinions

November 18-20, 2025, opinions

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Ho, Douglas) (no oral argument), Federal Tort Claims Act Affirming dismissal of FTCA claims. The Fifth Circuit reviewed pro se claims brought by Howard and Theresa Ellsworth under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), arising from alleged negligent diabetes treatment Mr. Ellsworth received at VA facilities between 2016 and … More November 18-20, 2025, opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 18, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication McMillan v. Amazon.com, Inc., 20-20108, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Wiener, Costa, Willett), products liability, certification Certifying question to the Texas Supreme Court whether an e-tailer such as Amazon is a “seller” liable under Texas’s products liability statute for products sold on its website by third-party vendors. The district court had … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 18, 2020 opinions