December 6, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (King, Haynes, Graves), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Jones, Smith, Dennis), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (King, Haynes, Graves), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (King, Haynes, Graves), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of Texas state … More December 6, 2023, opinions

December 4, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (King, Jones, Duncan), maritime law Affirming the judgment on jury verdict that owner of one vessel involved in a river collision was not negligent; but vacating judgment that other vessel owner was negligent and captain was grossly negligent and remanding for new trial, based on holding that district court instructed … More December 4, 2023, opinions

November 29, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (King, Smith, Elrod), qualified immunity, municipal liability, Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming qualified immunity dismissal of plaintiff’s excessive force claims against K9 officer arising from dog-bite injuries when officers responded to call that plaintiff was suicidal, and bystander liability claims against second officer; and 12(b)(6) dismissal of municipal liability claim … More November 29, 2023, opinions

November 14, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), labor law Granting petition for review of NLRB order ruling that Tesla infringed on employees’ rights to unionize when it required employees to wear specific Tesla uniforms and prohibited employees from wearing union-insignia t-shirts instead (though the policy allowed employees to wear as many union stickers on … More November 14, 2023, opinions

November 2, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Stewart, Elrod, Graves), qualified immunity, expert testimony, First Amendment Affirming in part and reversing in part qualified immunity dismissal of plaintiff’s claims arising from arrest for making a false report of a hostage situation. The Court first held that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding the … More November 2, 2023, opinions

November 1, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Jones, Southwick, Ho), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Smith, Higginson, Engelhardt), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Willett, Duncan, Wilson), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Willett, Duncan, Wilson), criminal, compassionate release Affirming denial of motion … More November 1, 2023, opinions

October 30-31, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Smith, Higginson, Willett), habeas corpus Affirming denial of § 2254 petition challenging the sufficiency of evidence on his Louisiana conviction of juvenile molestation. Elrod, J. (Clement, Elrod, Willett), breach of fiduciary duty, offset Affirming damages award on breach of fiduciary duty claim by company against its former operations supervisor, but … More October 30-31, 2023, opinions

October 24, 2023, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), criminal, sentencing, compassionate release Affirming 240-month sentence on conviction of conspiracy to possess 280 grams or more of cocaine base with intent to distribute, and affirming denial of motion for compassionate release. per curiam (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), criminal, sentencing Affirming conviction and sentence arising from a string of armed … More October 24, 2023, opinions

October 18, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Elrod, Willett), criminal, Confrontation Clause, hearsay Affirming conviction for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, but vacating conviction for transporting illegal aliens, and remanding for resentencing. The Court held that the form admitted into evidence to show the nationality of the people being transported was hearsay and admitted in violation … More October 18, 2023, opinions

October 16-17, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication deGravelles, J. (Haynes, Engelhardt, deGravelles, by designation), maritime law, punitive damages Affirming the judgment after a bench trial that defendant had wrongfully arrested and detained the plaintiff’s vessel after ramming it and preventing its departure from the defendant’s shipyard for five days, that punitive damages were justified, and that prejudgment interest was … More October 16-17, 2023, opinions