Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Graves, Engelhardt, Oldham), Graves, J., dissenting; Americans with Disabilities Act Affirming dismissal of former employee’s ADA claims on the pleadings. The Court held that Turner cannot establish a prima facie case of disability discrimination under the ADA because he failed to demonstrate that he was “qualified” for the job, having … More May 14, 2025, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, C.J. (Elrod, Higginbotham, Southwick), toxic torts, expert witness Affirming exclusion of plaintiff’s expert testimony in Deepwater Horizon-cleanup-related toxic tort action, and affirming summary judgment for defendant, but clarifying Circuit’s requirements for causation proof in an expert report. Under Daubert and Rule 702, expert testimony is admissible if it is both relevant … More May 12, 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
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Dennis, Southwick, Engelhardt), breach of contract, employment, personal jurisdiction Affirming dismissal of Louisiana-resident employee’s breach-of-contract wage payment claim against Virginia-resident employer for lack of personal jurisdiction. “[Defendant] Pritchard contends the fiduciary shield doctrine precludes jurisdiction based on his purely corporate contacts with Louisiana. [Plaintiff] Savoie counters that the fiduciary shield … More November 21-25, 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
Unpublished per curiam (King, Stewart, Higginson), criminal Affirming conviction of wire fraud. per curiam (Jolly, Graves, Oldham), criminal, sentencing Affirming denial of motion for sentence reduction. per curiam (Jones, Willett, Engelhardt), foreclosure Affirming summary judgment dismissal of claims arising from mortgage servicing. per curiam (Jolly, Graves, Oldham), criminal, sufficiency of evidence Affirming conviction of possession … More September 5, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Southwick), securities fraud Denying second petition for en banc rehearing, no active-duty judge having requested a poll, and re-issuing mandate. The Court held that the district court judge’s finding of unclean hands, such that no setoff was awarded, rather than the unclean-hands issue going to the jury, was … More August 26-27, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (King, Ho, Engelhardt), Ho, J., dissenting in part; First Amendment, antitrust, standing, mootness, amendment In First Amendment and antitrust claims by physicians’ professional association against governing boards and against the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security arising from labeling as misinformation or disinformation of some physicians’ views on Covid … More June 3, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Elrod), unfair trade practices, improper argument Reversing judgment on jury verdict in favor of defendant in unfair trade practices claim, and remanding for further proceedings, on the basis that “the Defendants’ counsels’ closing argument irreparably prejudiced the fairness of the trial.” The Court held that “legitimate ‘oratory’ and … More March 8, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Smith, Southwick, Higginson), removal, jurisdiction, personal jurisdiction Affirming dismissal of two non-diverse defendants as improperly joined and denial of remand, and affirming dismissal of out-of-state defendants for lack of personal jurisdiction, in action arising from injuries suffered during crash of single-engine airplane piloted by the plaintiff. The crash occurred in … More February 23, 2024, opinions
