Take the Fifth’s resident opinion-aggregator was out of the country for the first two and a half weeks of July, so the following are just abbreviated accounts of dispositions without any summary. Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), bankruptcy, contempt Affirming contempt order entered by bankruptcy court against defendant in adversary proceeding. Stewart, … More July 1-17, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Elrod), unfair trade practices, improper argument Reversing judgment on jury verdict in favor of defendant in unfair trade practices claim, and remanding for further proceedings, on the basis that “the Defendants’ counsels’ closing argument irreparably prejudiced the fairness of the trial.” The Court held that “legitimate ‘oratory’ and … More March 8, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Haynes, Douglas), criminal, sentencing, restitution Affirming convictions for healthcare fraud and receiving Medicare kickbacks, upholding the admission of recordings of the co-conspirators, the calculation of the amount of improper benefit for sentencing purposes, and the calculation of the restitution award. per curiam (voting against en banc rehearing: Stewart, Elrod, … More February 19-21, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Southwick), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of habeas relief on IAC claims of petitioner convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. per curiam (en banc court), criminal, sufficiency of evidence Ordering en banc rehearing of June 7, 2023, panel opinion that reversed and vacated … More August 30-31, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), personal torts, Batson violation Affirming denial of new trial or remittitur motion brought by plaintiff in trucker-collision case where jury found in favor of plaintiff but only awarded $37,500. The Court held that the defense counsel’s closing argument comments that allegedly alluded to the plaintiff’s counsel’s marketing … More April 13, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Securities and Exchange Commission v. Novinger, 21-10985, appeal from N.D. Tex. Stewart, J. (Jones, Stewart, Duncan); Jones, J., concurring (joined by Duncan, J.); Rule 60(b); First Amendment Affirming denial of Rule 60(b) motion filed five years after consent judgment, where defendant challenged the “no-deny” provision of its settlement of an SEC civil … More July 12, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. v. Avanci, L.L.C., 20-11032, appeal from N.D. Tex. Stewart, J. (Stewart, Ho, Engelhardt); Ho, J., constructively dissenting; antitrust law, standing Vacating 12(b)(6) dismissal of automotive parts supplier’s antitrust claim against patent licensing agent for group of standard-essential patent holders of cellular-connectivity technologies, and remanding to district court with … More February 23-28, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication McFarland v. Lumpkin, 19-70011, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady claim, Sixth Amendment Affirming denial of habeas relief, after having granted COA on denial of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady violation, and Sixth Amendment violation. Reminiscent of the original panel … More February 14, 2022, opinions
Unpublished Planned Parenthood Southeast, Inc. v. Snyder, 16-60773, appeal from S.D. Miss. per curiam (Owen, Dennis, Willett), abortion law Granting joint motion to dismiss appeal as moot, and remanding to district court to dismiss plaintiffs’ complaint for lack of jurisdiction. Blessit v. Texas Office of the Attorney General Galveston County Child Support Enforcement Division, 20-40135, … More October 8, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. McClaren, 17-30524, appeal from E.D. La. Stewart, J. (Stewart, Higginson, Wilson), criminal, severance, Batson challenge, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing, First Step Act Granting government’s petition for panel rehearing of May 18, 2021 opinion; withdrawing previous panel opinion and substituting new one; denying defendants’ petition for panel rehearing and for rehearing … More September 7-9, 2021 opinions
