Tag: First Step Act

March 7-8, 2022, opinions

March 9, 2022

Designated for publication U.S. v. Sheperd, 19-20073, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Smith, Willett, Duncan), criminal, Sixth Amendment, ineffective assistance of counsel Remanding to district court to hold evidentiary hearing on whether defendant’s pretrial counsel’s conflict of interest adversely affected her right to representation. From Judge Willett’s comprehensive introduction: “‘The Sixth Amendment is the … More March 7-8, 2022, opinions

March 1-4, 2022, opinions

March 8, 2022

Designated for publication Collins v. Yellen, 17-20364, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (joined by Owen, Jones, Smith, Elrod, Southwick, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.); Haynes, J., dissenting, joined by Stewart, Dennis, Graves, Costa, JJ.); separation of powers After partial vacatur and remand by U.S. Supreme Court of en banc decision at … More March 1-4, 2022, opinions

February 18, 2022, opinions

February 21, 2022

Designated for publication Newsom v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., 20-10994, c/w 21-10519, appeal from N.D. Tex. Wilson, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), ERISA Affirming in part and vacating in part–affirming district court’s judgment that plaintiff is eligible for long-term disability benefits and the alleged date of his disability, but vacating judgment as to entitlement to … More February 18, 2022, opinions

February 15, 2022, opinions

February 16, 2022

Designated for publication Craig v. Martin, 19-10013, appeal from N.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Barksdale, Duncan), qualified immunity Reversing denial of qualified immunity summary judgment on excessive force claims and rendering judgment in favor of police officer defendant. The Court held that the video evidence showed that it was not objectively unreasonable for the officer … More February 15, 2022, opinions

February 10, 2022, opinions

February 11, 2022

Designated for publication Earnest v. Sanofi U.S. Services, Inc., 20-30184, appeal from E.D. La. Wilson, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), products liability, expert witness Reversing district court’s judgment in favor of manufacturer of chemotherapy drug in products liability case arising from allegations of permanent hair loss, on basis that the district court erroneously allowed defendant to … More February 10, 2022, opinions

February 4-7, 2022, opinions

February 9, 2022

Designated for publication U.S. v. Bates, 19-10813, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (King, Graves, Willett), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminals Act On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, vacating and remanding for resentencing. The Court held that, under Borden v. United States, 141 S. Ct. 1817 (2021), the Texas crime of assault of a … More February 4-7, 2022, opinions

January 31, 2022, opinions

February 1, 2022

Designated for publication Dotson v. Atlantic Specialty Insurance Co., 21-30314, appeal from E.D. La. Ho, J. (King, Graves, Ho), insurance, res judicata Affirming summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s bad faith claims against insurer arising from insurer’s representations about policy limits in prior litigation arising from an auto accident, on grounds of the res judicata effect of … More January 31, 2022, opinions

January 24-25, 2022, opinions

January 26, 2022

Designated for publication U.S. v. Garrett, 17-10516, appeal from N.D. Tex. Jolly, J. (Jolly, Jones, Southwick), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, reinstating prior judgment reversing imposition of a lesser sentence not enhanced under the ACCA and remanding for resentencing. The panel had previously held that a prior … More January 24-25, 2022, opinions

January 4, 2022, opinions

January 5, 2022

Designated for publication Aviles-Tavera v. Garland, 20-60587, petition for review of BIA order Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), immigration Denying Mexican citizen’s petition for review of BIA determination that he is statutorily ineligible for withholding of removal and not entitled to protection under the Convention Against Torture. In a prior removal proceeding, the IJ determined … More January 4, 2022, opinions

December 20-29, 2021, opinions

December 30, 2021

Designated for publication U.S. v. Greer, 19-11348, appeal from N.D. Tex. Stewart, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act On remand from U.S. Supreme Court, vacating sentence under the ACCA to 120 months on guilty-plea conviction of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and remanding for resentencing. In Borden … More December 20-29, 2021, opinions