Designated for publication U.S. v. Muhammad, 15-60300, appeal from S.D. Miss. Oldham, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), criminal, harmless error Affirming defendant’s conviction of violations of the Controlled Substances Act and the Controlled Analogue Enforcement Act, which resulted in a 120-year sentence, on finding that error in jury instructions that omitted an element of the Analogue … More September 16, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Texas v. U.S., 21-40618, appeal from S.D. Tex. Costa, J. (Southwick, Graves, Costa), immigration, Administrative Procedure Act Granting partial stay, pending appeal, of nationwide injunction entered by district court to enjoin the U.S. from relying on immigration enforcement priorities announced in DHS and ICE memos following President Biden’s inauguration. The DHS and … More September 15, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Spikes v. McVea, 19-30019, appeal from E.D. La. per curiam (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), qualified immunity Treating petition for en banc rehearing as a petition for panel rehearing, granting panel rehearing, vacating the qualified immunity judgment of the district court, and remanding for further proceedings. “In this suit under the Eighth Amendment against … More September 14, 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
Designated for publication Ward v. U.S., 20-10836, appeal from N.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Jones, Southwick, Engelhardt), criminal, compassionate release Affirming district court’s denial of motion for compassionate release. The Court held that the district court may use the sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) to reject compassionate release when the Government fails … More August 26, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Jennings v. Towers Watson, 19-11028, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (King, Higginson, Wilson), Title VII, employment discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming summary judgment in favor of former-employer defendant on plaintiff’s claims for state-law civil conspiracy, hostile work environment under Title VII and the ADA, disability discrimination under the ADA, racial … More August 25, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Sims, 19-20833, appeal from S.D. Tex. Davis, J. (Davis, Haynes, Oldham), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction of defendant on sex trafficking a minor and conspiracy to sex traffic a minor, and imposition of life sentence; holding that there was sufficient evidence to support conviction, that district court did … More August 24, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Moparty, 19-20797, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J. (Jones, Southwick, Costa), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence, harmless error Affirming convictions and sentences of co-defendants for health care fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, and money laundering. One co-defendant (Moparty) was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment; the other (Narang) was … More August 23, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Whole Woman’s Health v. Paxton, 17-51060, appeal from W.D. Tex. En banc (Owen, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Willett, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson) (recused: Southwick, Duncan, Oldham) Elrod and Willett, JJ., plurality (joined by Jones, Smith, Ho, Engelhardt, Wilson in full; concurred in judgment only by Owen and Haynes); … More August 19, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Lindsey v. Bio-Medical Applications of Louisiana, L.L.C., 20-30289, appeal from W.D. La. Ho, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), Family and Medical Leave Act Affirming in part and reversing in part summary judgment dismissal of employee’s claims against former employer, reversing dismissal of FMLA retaliation claim and affirming dismissal of other claims for FMLA … More August 16-17, 2021 opinions
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