Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), labor law Denying in part and granting in part petition for review of NLRB decision that the petitioner’s RN Case Managers are not NLRA-exempt supervisors and that the petitioner violated the NLRA by creating an impermissible oral workplace rule, threatening employees who exercised protected activity, interrogating staff … More March 7, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Engelhardt, J. (Southwick, Engelhardt, Wilson), abortion, administrative law, standing, preemption Affirming district court’s permanent injunction against Guidance letter issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”), the agency of the Department of Health and Human Services charged with administering the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986, which … More January 2, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Smith, Higginson, Willett), attorney discipline Affirming three-judge district court panel’s decision imposing a 12-month suspension from practice in front of that court after substance-abuse-related inappropriate courtroom behavior and failures to show up for clients’ sentencing hearings. The Court rejected the attorney’s argument that only the presiding judge can impose sanctions … More August 11-14, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Dennis, J. (King, Jones, Dennis), Jones, J., dissenting, voting rights, Eighth Amendment, Equal Protection, standing, sovereign immunity, Ex parte Young Reversing district court’s dismissal of plaintiff class’s Eighth Amendment challenge to Mississippi constitution’s permanent disenfranchisement of certain felons; affirming dismissal of plaintiff class’s Equal Protection claim against the Mississippi Secretary of State … More August 4, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Richman, Stewart, Douglas), prisoner suit Dismissing appeal of dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s suit against medical personnel, upon denying motion to proceed in forma pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(g) and upon failure to pay required filing fees. The Court held that the plaintiff has accumulated more than three strikes … More July 10, 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
Designated for publication per curiam (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), criminal, sentencing, First Step Act Affirming resentencing on remand under the First Step Act, in which district court declined to retroactively apply the decrease in the 25-year mandatory minimum under the First Step Act to defendant’s sentence for discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of … More April 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
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Smith, Duncan, Oldham), Oldham, J., concurring; trademark infringement, sovereign immunity Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s trademark claims arising from reading-incentive program against county school district; and affirming on alternative grounds to the sovereign immunity grounds relied on by the trial court the dismissal of plaintiff’s trademark claims against nonprofit … More March 8, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Fakhuri v. Garland, 19-60275, petition for review of BIA order Smith, J. (Smith, Costa, Wilson), immigration Denying in part and dismissing in part Jordanian citizen’s (and legal permanent resident’s) petition for review of BIA order sustaining IJ’s determination that Tennessee conviction of money laundering was an “aggravated felony” supporting removal, on basis … More March 10-11, 2022, opinions
