Designated for publication Douglas, J. (Higginbotham, Graves, Douglas), insurance Certifying to Texas Supreme Court question of whether attorneys’ fees are still owed under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act after insurer makes payment of appraisal award plus interest. Wilson, J. (Wiener, Higginson, Wilson), Fair Labor Standards Act Reversing dismissal of plaintiffs’ FLSA overtime claims, … More July 12, 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 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
Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Graves, Ho, Duncan), Graves, J., dissenting in part; Ho, J., dissenting; COVID-19, mootness Dismissing appeal of injunction of Navy vaccine mandates, as moot, after Navy complied with Congressional directive, rescinded challenged policies requiring COVID-19 vaccinations even for servicemembers with religious objections, and formally announced that vaccines would not be imposed … More July 6, 2023, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Smith, Southwick, Wilson), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Stewart, Duncan, Wilson), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Davis, Smith, Douglas), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and dismissing appeal. per curiam (Stewart, Duncan, Wilson), criminal Granting Anders motion to withdraw, and … More June 5, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Southwick), immigration Denying Ecuadoran citizen’s petition for review of BIA order denying motion to reopen removal proceedings and rescind in absentia order of removal; holding that it was the petitioner’s duty to correct the address he had provided to immigration officials that misspelled (by one letter) the city … More June 2, 2023, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Richman, Dennis, Haynes), prisoner suit Vacating 41(b) dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s § 1983 suit, concluding that lesser sanctions would prompt diligent prosecution of suit, and remanding for further proceedings. per curiam (Graves, Ho, Duncan), breach of contract Reversing judgment on jury verdict in favor of company’s former CEO on his breach … More May 31, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Graves, Ho, Duncan), Ho, J., concurring; immigration Denying Cambodian citizen’s petition for review of BIA order affirming IJ’s finding that he is removable for having been convicted of an aggravated felony. The Court held “that Khan’s conviction under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3925(a) constitutes receipt of stolen property, and … More May 30, 2023, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Smith, Southwick, Douglas), criminal, First Step Act Vacating 78-month sentence for conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a … More May 24, 2023, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Oldham, Wilson), Oldham, J., concurring; insurance Affirming dismissal of insured’s suit against insurer on pollution liability policy, where insured sought defense from charges that it had intentionally dumped polluted polluted wastewater into city sewer system and policy only covered “accidents.” Judge Oldham concurred in the judgment, but for a … More May 19-22, 2023, opinions
