December 16, 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

December 15, 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

December 8, 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Unpublished Wilder v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 20-10314, appeal from N.D. Tex.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

November 22-29, 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

October 19, 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

October 6, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Gardner, 20-50481, appeal from W.D. Tex. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Wilson), criminal, guilty plea Vacating conviction for possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and remanding for district court to hold an evidentiary hearing on defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea. … More October 6, 2021 opinions

September 29, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Johnson v. BOKF National Association, 18-11375, appeal from N.D. Tex. Dennis, J. (Higginbotham, Dennis, Ho), Ho, J., concurring in judgment only; banking law Affirming district court’s dismissal of putative class action against bank alleging that extended overdraft charges were usurious interest under the National Bank Act, for failure to state a claim. … More September 29, 2021 opinions

September 13, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. The M/Y Galactica Star, 20-20471, appeal from S.D. Tex. Davis, J. (Davis, Duncan, Oldham), civil forfeiture, Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act Affirming dismissal of claim to forfeited yacht by sole shareholder of corporate owner of yacht and other assets, for lack of standing; and dismissing appeal of judgment creditor of Nigeria … More September 13, 2021 opinions

September 7-9, 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

September 1-6, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Rutila v. U.S. DOTD, 20-10730, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Owen, Smith, Graves), Freedom of Information Act Reversing district court’s jurisdictional dismissal of pro se FOIA suit against the FAA and DOTD, and remanding for further proceedings. “The district court reasoned that, because Rutila ‘broadly challenged Defendants’ adequacy of search without … More September 1-6, 2021 opinions