Designated for publication Fakhuri v. Garland, 19-60275, petition for review of BIA order Smith, J. (Smith, Costa, Wilson), immigration Denying in part and dismissing in part Jordanian citizen’s (and legal permanent resident’s) petition for review of BIA order sustaining IJ’s determination that Tennessee conviction of money laundering was an “aggravated felony” supporting removal, on basis … More March 10-11, 2022, opinions
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
Unpublished Herndon v. U.S., 20-10688, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), Federal Tort Claims Act Affirming summary judgment dismissal of former prisoner’s medical malpractice claim under the FTCA. Guzman v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 20-11123, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), habeas corpus Affirming dismissal of former immigration … More February 17, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Jones v. Lumpkin, 19-10079, appeal from N.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Higginson, Duncan), habeas corpus, timeliness Affirming district court’s dismissal of federal habeas application that had been filed after AEDPA’s one-year limitations period and that was not entitled to statutory tolling, on finding that petitioner was not entitled to equitable tolling. Petitioner’s … More January 5, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication DeOtte v. Nevada, 19-10754, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Engelhardt), Affordable Care Act, Religious Freedom and Restoration Act, mootness, intervention Vacating district court’s injunction of the 2015 rules implementing the contraception mandate of the ACA, in light of Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home v. … More December 17, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Ticer v. Imperium Insurance Co., 21-10108, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), insurance, diversity jurisdiction Vacating district court’s dismissal of improperly joined non-diverse defendant with prejudice, and remanding to district court to dismiss non-diverse defendant without prejudice. Plaintiff brought suit in Texas state court against two insurance companies arising … More December 16, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Timpa v. Dillard, 20-10876, appeal from N.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Clement, Southwick, Willett), qualified immunity Reversing summary judgment on qualified immunity as to plaintiffs’ claims of excessive force, and affirming in part and reversing in part the qualified immunity summary judgment on claims of bystander liability, arising from Dallas Police Department’s killing … More December 15, 2021, opinions
Unpublished Wilder v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 20-10314, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), foreclosure Affirming summary judgment in favor of mortgage issuer in foreclosure claims. U.S. v. Galvez, 20-20449, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), criminal, sentencing Affirming 14-month sentence for illegal reentry. U.S. v. Brule, 20-30571, appeal … More December 8, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Coleman v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., 20-40811, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Higginbotham, Willett, Duncan), negligence, independent contractor Affirming summary judgment dismissal of claims against project management company (BP) and against day-to-day management company (Grand Isle Shipping), on claims of employee of scaffolding subcontractor arising from plaintiff’s back injury received … More November 22-29, 2021, opinions
Designated for publication Talasek v. National Oilwell Varco, L.P., 21-20069, appeal from S.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Owen, Clement, Duncan), insurance, ERISA Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant employer in its capacity as the ERISA administrator of the plaintiff’s deceased husband, dismissing the plaintiff’s estoppel claim for life insurance proceeds following her husband’s death. The … More October 19, 2021, opinions
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