Designated for publication Wilson v. City of Bastrop, 21-30204, appeal from W.D. La. Duncan, J. (Jones, Higginson, Duncan), qualified immunity Affirming summary judgment dismissal on qualified immunity grounds in suit against police officer arising from fatal shooting of an armed suspect, and dismissing for lack of appellate jurisdiction appeal from dismissal of claims against city … More February 21, 2022, opinions
Unpublished Herndon v. U.S., 20-10688, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), Federal Tort Claims Act Affirming summary judgment dismissal of former prisoner’s medical malpractice claim under the FTCA. Guzman v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 20-11123, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), habeas corpus Affirming dismissal of former immigration … More February 17, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication McFarland v. Lumpkin, 19-70011, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady claim, Sixth Amendment Affirming denial of habeas relief, after having granted COA on denial of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady violation, and Sixth Amendment violation. Reminiscent of the original panel … More February 14, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Earnest v. Sanofi U.S. Services, Inc., 20-30184, appeal from E.D. La. Wilson, J. (Ho, Oldham, Wilson), products liability, expert witness Reversing district court’s judgment in favor of manufacturer of chemotherapy drug in products liability case arising from allegations of permanent hair loss, on basis that the district court erroneously allowed defendant to … More February 10, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication VSP Labs, Inc. v. Hillair Capital Investments, L.P., 20-10885, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Willett, Duncan), bankruptcy Affirming district court and bankruptcy court orders prohibiting one non-debtor from asserting claims against two other non-debtors. VSP had entered into a technology-sharing agreement with Pro Fix Optix (“PFO”). VSP brought a breach … More February 9, 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
Unpublished U.S. v. Viator, 20-11235, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Higginson, Duncan), criminal, compassionate release Afirming district court’s denial of motion for compassionate release. Small v. Zarvona Energy, L.L.C., 20-20316, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of former prisoner’s § 1983 suit for lack of subject … More January 26, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Garrett, 17-10516, appeal from N.D. Tex. Jolly, J. (Jolly, Jones, Southwick), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, reinstating prior judgment reversing imposition of a lesser sentence not enhanced under the ACCA and remanding for resentencing. The panel had previously held that a prior … More January 24-25, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Gomez, 17-20526, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Elrod, Oldham), criminal, sentencing On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, remanding to the district court to reform the judgment to impose sentence under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(1) (applicable to predicate non-aggravated felonies) rather than under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2) (applicable … More January 17-18, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Fuentes-Rodriguez, 15-40740, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (King, Costa, Willett), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act On remand from the U.S. Supreme Court, vacating district court’s sentencing of defendant on conviction of illegal reentry under the ACCA, where the district court had found that the defendant’s prior conviction of … More January 7, 2022, opinions
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