Take the Fifth: Jan. 29, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Miller v. Sam Houston State University, 19-20752, appeal from S.D. Tex. Wilson, J. (Jolly, Southwick, Wilson), Title VII, employment discrimination, judicial bias Reversing dismissal of claims, remanding for further proceedings, and ordering that cases be reassigned to a new judge upon remand. “From the outset of these [consolidated] suits, the district judge’s … More Take the Fifth: Jan. 29, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Jan. 22, 2021 opinions

Designated foro publication U.S. v. Warren, 19-10805, appeal from N.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Wiener, Costa, Willett), criminal, fraud, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing Affirming conviction and sentence of 114 months and 102 months for two defendants on eight counts arising from fraudulent telemarketing scam to ostensibly cancel timeshares. The Court held that there was sufficient evidence … More Take the Fifth: Jan. 22, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Jan. 1 – 11, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Ovalles v. Rosen, 17-60438, petition for review of BIA order Jones, J. (Jones, Smith, Elrod), immigration, equitable tolling On remand from the Supreme Court, denying petition for review of BIA order denying motion to reopen and failing to apply equitable tolling. The Court had originally dismissed the petition for review for lack … More Take the Fifth: Jan. 1 – 11, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 26-31, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Daves v. Dallas County, 18-11368, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Southwick, Graves, Engelhardt), cash bail, § 1983, Equal Protection, Due Process, sovereign immunity, Ex Parte Young Affirming preliminary injunction against imposition of cash bail on indigent arrestees as unconstitutional, with modifications to injunction to not apply to criminal district court judges … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 26-31, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 21-24 opinions

Designated for publication Taylor v. Stevens, 17-10253, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, Jones, Smith), qualified immunity, § 1983, Eighth Amendment On remand from the Supreme Court, vacating its earlier decision reversing in part and remanding dismissal of Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claims on qualified immunity grounds, and remanding case in its entirety. Texas v. … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 21-24 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 16, 2020 opinions

Unpublished Union Pacific Railroad Company v. American Railway and Airway Supervisors’ Association, 18-50110, appeal from W.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, King, Stewart), Owen, C.J., dissenting; labor law, employment law Reversing district court’s vacatur of Public Law Board’s order to reinstate employee on finding that positive drug test was a false-positive, and remanding for further proceedings. … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 16, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 11 and 14, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Stelly v. Duriso, 19-20160, appeal from S.D. Tex. Haynes, J. (Jones, Haynes, Ho), Ho. J., concurring in part; intentional infliction of emotional distress, employment discrimination Vacating district court’s default judgment in favor of plaintiff on intentional infliction of emotional distress (“IIED”) claim against individual defendant in lawsuit against unions and maritime association … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 11 and 14, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 7 and 8, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Lipscomb, 18-11168, appeal from N.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Clement, Ho, Duncan), habeas corpus, Armed Career Criminal Act Vacating district court’s grant of § 2255 petition and remanding to reinstate original sentence. Petitioner had been convicted as a felon in possession of a firearm after being apprehended with a sawed-off shotgun … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 7 and 8, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Dec. 4, 2020 opinions

Designated for publication Jones v. New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization, Inc., 19-31027, appeal from E.D. La. Jones, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Higginson), Fair Labor Standards Act Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant employer, dismissing white-collar employees’ claims for violation of the FLSA. The Court rejected plaintiffs’ argument that their job duties did not fall … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 4, 2020 opinions

Take the Fifth: Nov. 18, 2020 opinions

Unpublished Velazquez v. U.S., 19-10138, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Barksdale, Elrod, Ho), Federal Tort Claims Act, prisoner suit, jurisdiction Affirming 12(b)(1) dismissal of federal prisoner’s FTCA claim for injuries received responding to a fellow inmate’s calls for assistance, as the Inmate Accident Compensation Act provided the exclusive remedy. Jones v. Lubbock County Hospital … More Take the Fifth: Nov. 18, 2020 opinions