Take the Fifth: May 6 and 7, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Gas Pipe, Inc., 19-11145, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (Haynes, Higginson, Oldham), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, fraud, sentencing Affirming conviction for conspiracy to defraud the United Stated for defrauding the FDA by mislabeling or selling synthetic cannabinoids marked as “not meant for human consumption” as “spice” for smoking; and … More Take the Fifth: May 6 and 7, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: May 3, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication White v. U.S. Corrections, LLC, 19-51074, appeal from W.D. Tex. Wilson, J. (Elrod, Duncan, Wilson), Fair Labor Standards Act Reversing district court’s 12(b)(6) dismissal of plaintiff’s overtime claim under the FLSA, holding that, while the Motor Carrier Act (“MCA”) exemption from the FLSA governed the plaintiff’s job transporting prisoners for the defendant, … More Take the Fifth: May 3, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 28, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Onyeri, 18-50869, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Owen, Clement, Higginson), criminal, RICO, search and seizure Affirming RICO conviction for pattern of criminal activity culminating in attempted assassination attempt on state judge. The Court held that the district court did not err in denying a motion to suppress evidence from … More Take the Fifth: April 28, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 27, 2021 opinions

Unpublished Garcia v. Harlingen County, 19-40860, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Jolly, Elrod, Graves), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of prisoner suit as frivolous. U.S. v. Clark, 20-10364, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Jones, Costa, Duncan), habeas corpus, firearms violation Reversing district court’s denial of successive § 2255 petition, and vacating conviction under 18 … More Take the Fifth: April 27, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 23, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Thomas v. Lumpkin, 17-70002, appeal from E.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Jones, Southwick, Higginson), Higginson, J., dissenting in part; habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of federal habeas petition for death-row inmate, in ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”) issues. The Court first held that it has jurisdiction, that the petitioner’s notice … More Take the Fifth: April 23, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 21, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Thibodeaux v. Sanofi U.S. Services, Inc., 20-30104, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Jolly, Southwick, Costa), timeliness, contra non valentem Affirming district court’s summary judgment dismissal of products liability claims regarding permanent hair loss from chemotherapy drug Taxotere, on the basis that the claims were facially prescribed under Louisiana law and that … More Take the Fifth: April 21, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 20, 2021 opinions

Unpublished English v. Aramark Corp., 19-20412, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Haynes, Graves, Willett), prisoner suit, removal Remanding to district court for the limited purpose of determining if defendant met its burden to show removal jurisdiction existed over state prisoner’s suit against prison food service provider. U.S. v. Vasquez-Garcia, 19-20880, appeal from S.D. Tex. … More Take the Fifth: April 20, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 14, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Williams, 20-40157, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Higginbotham, Costa, Oldham), criminal, restitution Affirming restitution award of more than $2 million for defendant on guilty plea conviction of four counts of wire fraud involving purported sales of cattle in which defendant absconded with the money without producing the cattle. “The … More Take the Fifth: April 14, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 8-9, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Texas v. Rettig, 18-10545, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Barksdale, Haynes, Willett), Ho, J., dissenting (joined by Jones, Smith, Elrod, Duncan, JJ.); nondelegation doctrine Denying petition for rehearing en banc (Chief Judge Owen and Judges Stewart, Dennis, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Engelhardt, and Wilson voting against rehearing). Judge Ho … More Take the Fifth: April 8-9, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 6 and 7, 2021 opinions

Brackeen v. Haaland, 18-11479, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, Jones, Smith, Wiener, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham), Indian Child Welfare Act, standing, Administrative Procedures Act No one principal opinion commanded a majority of the en banc Court as to the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare … More Take the Fifth: April 6 and 7, 2021 opinions