Designated for publication U.S. v. West, 22-11001, appeal from N.D. Tex. (denying panel reh’g but substituting new op.) per curiam (Elrod, Willett, Duncan), Willett, J., concurring; Duncan, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing, restitution, appeal waiver Vacating $6,000 restitution order as part of sentence for production of child pornography, and remanding for further proceedings; also, on Court’s … More May 21, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Engelhardt, Wilson), Title VII, employment discrimination, labor law, jury instructions, pleadings amendment Reversing the denial of Southwest’s motion for judgment as a matter of law on employee’s belief-based Title VII claim and RLA retaliation claim and remanding with instructions for the district court to enter judgment for Southwest; affirming … More May 8-9, 2025, opinions
Opinions designated for publication Richman, J. (King, Richman, Higginson), prisoner suit, Eighth Amendment, appointment of counsel Vacating dismissal of plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claims arising from denial of effective care for chronic hepatitis C virus, vacating denial of motion for appointment of counsel, and remanding for appointment of counsel and leave to amend complaint. The Court … More April 25, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Clerk Order (Voting AGAINST en banc hearing in the first instance: Elrod, Smith, Stewart, Richman, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ.; voting FOR en banc hearing in the first instance: Jones, Ho, Oldham, JJ.); First Amendment, en banc Order denying motion for the en banc Court to … More December 30-31, 2024, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Graves, Willett, Wilson), criminal, sentence reduction Affirming denial of motion for sentence reduction. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Duncan), Americans with Disabilities Act, § 1983 Affirming dismissal of former nursing student’s ADA and § 1983 claims arising from student’s dismissal from academic program. per curiam (Haynes, Higginson, Douglas), criminal Affirming conviction for possessing … More December 4, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Stewart, Higginson), copyright, jury instructions Affirming judgment on jury verdict (and denial of JMOL) that defendant internet service provider was liable for contributory copyright infringement on plaintiff independent record labels’ copyright claims; vacating damages award predicated on statutory damages for each of the 1,403 songs at issue in the … More October 9, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Willett, J. (Dennis, Willett, Duncan), Dennis, J., dissenting in part; criminal, Sixth Amendment, jury instruction Affirming conviction for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court found no error in the district court’s acceptance of the defendant’s waiver of potential conflict of interest by his counsel, a … More September 24, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Smith, Ho), copyright, trademark infringement Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant, a children’s art teaching company, and against plaintiff artist, holding that fair use doctrine protected defendant’s use of plaintiff’s art works; and holding that district court’s summary judgment on trademark infringement claim where motion for summary judgment … More September 18-19, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Elrod, Ho, Oldham), COVID-19, American Rescue Plan Act, Spending Clause Affirming permanent injunction against enforcement of provision in the American Rescue Plan Act, which allocated $200 billion to the states to assist in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, holding that provision that states must agree to not use funds … More June 25, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Smith, Graves, Wilson), tax law, jury instructions Finding jury instructions “irredeemably flawed,” vacating verdict in favor of taxpayer for refund of IRS-imposed penalty for failure to timely file information returns, vacating attorney fees award as the plaintiff was no longer the prevailing party, and remanding for a new trial. The … More June 13-14, 2024, opinions
