August 16, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Willett, Douglas), Douglas, J., dissenting; habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of petitioner’s § 2255 petition on IAC claim arising from trial counsel’s inadequate argument and appellate counsel’s lack of argument for “back time” credit on sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon to account … More August 16, 2023, opinions

July 7, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication King, J. (King, Jones, Duncan), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel Affirming denial of habeas relief on ineffective assistance of counsel claim. Under AEDPA’s “doubly deferential review,” the Court held that the petitioner’s trial counsel’s failure to object to lay and expert testimony about the credibility of a child’s testimony was “arguably … More July 7, 2023, opinions

May 17-18, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Graves, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), qualified immunity Affirming qualified immunity summary judgment in favor of officer defendant based on shots he fired into sedan as he stood directly in front of car and driver ignored multiple commands from the officers; but reversing qualified immunity summary judgment in favor of officer defendants for … More May 17-18, 2023, opinions

April 27, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (Higginbotham, Jones, Oldham), preemption, personal torts Affirming summary judgment dismissal of intentional infliction of emotional distress claims, but reversing 12(b)(6) dismissal of negligent supervision and invasion of privacy claims, and remanding for further proceedings, on plaintiff’s claims against employer that supervisor denied him a bathroom break in his warehouse job … More April 27, 2023, opinions

March 13-14, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Willett, J. (Graves, Willett, Engelhardt), insurance, preemption, sovereign immunity, standing Affirming dismissal of former federal employee’s claim against health insurer and federal Office of Personnel Management arising from the denial of coverage for proton therapy for cancer; district court had dismissed claims against OPM under sovereign immunity, and against Blue Cross on … More March 13-14, 2023, opinions

December 15, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Ho, J. (Richman, Ho, Engelhardt), Richman, C.J., concurring; immigration Denying Salvadoran citizen’s petition for review of BIA order affirming IJ’s denial of motion to reopen proceedings for removal in absentia. The Court held that the IJ did not err in finding that the failure to provide the petitioner with a Notice to … More December 15, 2022, opinions

October 20, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Jolly, J. (Jolly, Willett, Oldham), Natural Gas Act Granting in part and denying in part BP’s petitions for review of FERC enforcement orders against BP that, in the wake of Hurricane Ike in 2008, BP exploited resulting chaos in the commodities markets to manipulate the natural gas market, which orders levied a … More October 20, 2022, opinions

July 1-5, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Guijarro v. Enterprise Holdings, Inc., 21-40512, appeal from S.D. Tex. Costa, J. (Richman, Costa, Ho), personal tort Affirming denial of remand to state court, and dismissal of claims against car rental company arising from car accident involving Jeep rented to plaintiffs by defendant. As to removal jurisdiction, the Court held first that … More July 1-5, 2022, opinions

May 13, 2022, opinions

Catching up on the blog after some non-stop over-drive briefing weeks, so both published and unpublished opinions will only contain summary disposition information and not the usual fuller descriptions. Designated for publication Owens v. Circassia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 21-10760, appeal from N.D. Tex. Engelhardt, J. (Willett, Engelhardt, Wilson), employment discrimination Affirming summary judgment for employer in … More May 13, 2022, opinions

May 11, 2022, opinions

Catching up on the blog after some non-stop over-drive briefing weeks, so both published and unpublished opinions will only contain summary disposition information and not the usual fuller descriptions. Designated for publication Badgerow v. Walters, 19-30766, appeal from E.D. La. per curiam (Jolly, Graves, Duncan), arbitration On remand from U.S. Supreme Court, reversing district court’s … More May 11, 2022, opinions