August 4, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (King, Jones, Dennis), Jones, J., dissenting, voting rights, Eighth Amendment, Equal Protection, standing, sovereign immunity, Ex parte Young Reversing district court’s dismissal of plaintiff class’s Eighth Amendment challenge to Mississippi constitution’s permanent disenfranchisement of certain felons; affirming dismissal of plaintiff class’s Equal Protection claim against the Mississippi Secretary of State … More August 4, 2023, opinions

August 3, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Barksdale, Southwick, Higginson), bankruptcy Affirming bankruptcy and district court judgments that the creditor had released its claims against the debtor and that, as a matter of contract interpretation, the claims were not within certain defined “permitted claims” allowed under the parties’ governing agreements. Unpublished per curiam (King, Haynes, Higginson), criminal … More August 3, 2023, opinions

August 2, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Southwick, Ho), Southwick, J., dissenting; Federal Power Act, administrative law Reversing FERC orders implementing cost allocation scheme for electrical grid improvements in much of the American West, in the WestConnect region, holding that the orders violate the Federal Power Act as a matter of law and that FERC inadequately … More August 2, 2023, opinions

July 28-31, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Higginson), insurance Affirming in part and reversing in part summary judgment in favor of insurers on claim for defense and indemnification under CGL and umbrella policies for an underlying suit against the insured alleging contamination from the plaintiff’s auto salvage and vehicle wash properties. The Court held that … More July 28-31, 2023, opinions

July 27, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Ho, Engelhardt), Ho, J., concurring in judgment only; § 1983 Affirming dismissal of § 1983 and other claims by plaintiffs–survivors of man who committed suicide after his arrest for involvement in a scheme to take a picture of Senator’s nursing-home-bound wife for use in a campaign video. The Court … More July 27, 2023, opinions

July 26, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Haynes, Engelhardt, Saldaña, by designation), Engelhardt, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing Affirming upward departure from 15-21-month guidelines range to impose 72-month sentence for convictions of identity theft and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court held that the district court did not abuse its discretion, as the district … More July 26, 2023, opinions

July 25, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), Higginbotham, J., dissenting in part; criminal, sufficiency of evidence, jury instructions, Sixth Amendment, hearsay Affirming convictions of doctor and pharmacists in “pill mill” operation of controlled substance distribution and conspiracy counts, rejecting argument that there was not sufficient evidence to overcome the Controlled Substances Act’s exemption for … More July 25, 2023, opinions

July 24, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Elrod, Ho, Oldham), Oldham, J., dissenting in part; qualified immunity Reversing summary judgment in favor of defendant jail officials on qualified immunity grounds, and remanding for further proceedings. The plaintiff’s claims arise from being tasered while a pretrial detainee, when he alleges he was being fully compliant with the jail … More July 24, 2023, opinions

July 21, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (en banc), labor law Ordering rehearing en banc; vacating March 31, 2023, panel opinion that had denied petitions for review of NLRB order finding that Tesla CEO Elon Musk posted an unlawful threat on Twitter, that employee was unlawfully terminated, that Tesla did not unlawfully solicit and promise to remedy … More July 21, 2023, opinions

July 19-20, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Wiener, Southwick, Duncan), breach of contract, COVID-19 Reversing dismissal of students’ putative class claims for breach of contract when defendant university failed to refund tuition and fees after switching to remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that the plaintiffs had adequately pled a breach of contract claim; but certifying … More July 19-20, 2023, opinions