Designated for publication Penn-America Insurance Co. v. Tarango Trucking, L.L.C., 21-10749, appeal from N.D. Tex. Davis, J. (Davis, Willett, Oldham), insurance Reversing in part and vacating in part judgment that insurer did not owe defense or indemnity regarding fatal accident on insured’s property, finding that an exception to a policy automobile exclusion applied. An independent … More April 4, 2022, opinions
(Note: While normally Take the Fifth provides more detailed summaries for opinions designated for publication and only basic disposition notes and links for unpublished opinions, because this is a catch-up post after two weeks of being away from the blog, we are just providing the links and basic disposition notes for both published and unpublished … More March 19-31, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Castro, 18-10137, appeal from N.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), habeas corpus Denying petition for rehearing, but withdrawing prior panel opinion and substituting new opinion that vacates Certificate of Appealability and dismisses appeal from denial of § 2255 petition. The Court held that it had the power to vacate … More March 14-18, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Sheperd, 19-20073, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Smith, Willett, Duncan), criminal, Sixth Amendment, ineffective assistance of counsel Remanding to district court to hold evidentiary hearing on whether defendant’s pretrial counsel’s conflict of interest adversely affected her right to representation. From Judge Willett’s comprehensive introduction: “‘The Sixth Amendment is the … More March 7-8, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Collins v. Yellen, 17-20364, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (joined by Owen, Jones, Smith, Elrod, Southwick, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.); Haynes, J., dissenting, joined by Stewart, Dennis, Graves, Costa, JJ.); separation of powers After partial vacatur and remand by U.S. Supreme Court of en banc decision at … More March 1-4, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. v. Avanci, L.L.C., 20-11032, appeal from N.D. Tex. Stewart, J. (Stewart, Ho, Engelhardt); Ho, J., constructively dissenting; antitrust law, standing Vacating 12(b)(6) dismissal of automotive parts supplier’s antitrust claim against patent licensing agent for group of standard-essential patent holders of cellular-connectivity technologies, and remanding to district court with … More February 23-28, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Dillon Gage, Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyds, 20-10262, appeal from N.D. Tex. Graves, J. (Barksdale, Southwick, Graves), insurance After receiving answer to certified question from Texas Supreme Court, affirming district court’s summary judgment dismissing claim against insurer arising from million-dollar-plus loss of plaintiff who sent gold coins to a thief who … More February 16, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Craig v. Martin, 19-10013, appeal from N.D. Tex. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Barksdale, Duncan), qualified immunity Reversing denial of qualified immunity summary judgment on excessive force claims and rendering judgment in favor of police officer defendant. The Court held that the video evidence showed that it was not objectively unreasonable for the officer … More February 15, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Landmark American Insurance Co. v. SCD Memorial Place II, L.L.C., 20-20389, appeal from S.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Elrod, Willett, Engelhardt), insurance Reversing summary judgment in favor of insured on action regarding coverage of flood-related damage sustained during Hurricane Harvey, and rendering judgment in favor of insurer. The policy at issue here is … More February 3, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Dotson v. Atlantic Specialty Insurance Co., 21-30314, appeal from E.D. La. Ho, J. (King, Graves, Ho), insurance, res judicata Affirming summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s bad faith claims against insurer arising from insurer’s representations about policy limits in prior litigation arising from an auto accident, on grounds of the res judicata effect of … More January 31, 2022, opinions
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