Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Wiener, Graves, Douglas), prisoner suit Vacating dismissal of Louisiana state prisoner’s § 1983 suit as frivolous, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court held that the magistrate and district court judges abused their discretion in finding as frivolous the plaintiff’s claim that his procedural due process rights were violated when … More August 10, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Clement, Elrod, Willett), criminal, sentencing Affirming 405-month sentence on conviction of enticement of a minor, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and transfer of obscene material to a minor; affirming $100 special assessment on each of three counts; but vacating $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims … More August 8, 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
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
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
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
Designated for publication Willett, J. (Richman, Wiener, Willett), Wiener, J., concurring; Title IX, sec. 1983 Denying rehearing en banc, and withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion, reversing denial of qualified immunity dismissal of sec. 1983 claim on state-created danger grounds, and remanding for proceedings of Title IX claims arising from sexual assault of … More July 14-18, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Richman, King, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, Speedy Trial Act Affirming convictions and 540-month sentence for armed robberies of cell phone stores. The Court held that there was no Speedy Trial Act violation where the defendant’s counsel sought a continuance on the indictment past the Act’s 30-day deadline, holding that the Government … More May 11-16, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s § 1983 claim for impeding access to medical care after the onset of stroke symptoms, upon holding that plaintiff’s claims were malpractice claims but did not allege a deprivation of constitutionally secured rights. The Court held, “We conclude that … More May 5-8, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), venue, insurance, forum selection clause Affirming dismissal without prejudice of plaintiff’s coverage suit for forum non conveniens, on basis that parties’ insurance policy contained an enforceable forum-selection clause requiring litigation in the courts of England and Wales with no return-jurisdiction clause required. Holding that it should apply … More May 1, 2023, opinions
