Designated for publication U.S. v. Nora, 18-31078, appeal from E.D. La. Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sufficiency of evidence Reversing convictions and vacating sentence on counts of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to pay or receive illegal health care kickbacks, and aiding and abetting health care fraud, on holding that there was … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 24, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Dejean, 19-30865, appeal from E.D. La. Duncan, J. (Clement, Ho, Duncan), criminal, juror bias Affirming jury-trial conviction of defendant for mail fraud and making false statements to a bank; rejecting defendant’s argument that district court erred in seating a juror who allegedly was biased against gamblers, where defendant used the … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 23, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Adams v. All Coast, LLC, 19-30907, appeal from W.D. La. Clement, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), Fair Labor Standards Act, maritime law Reversing summary judgment in favor of employer on employees’ FLSA overtime claims, on holding that district court erred in classifying the employees, who operated cranes on employer’s liftboats, a seamen who … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 10 and 11, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Lucio v. Lumpkin, 16-70027, appeal from S.D. Tex. 115 pages of opinions: Oldham, J., plurality op. of Court (joined by Owen, Jones, Smith, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, JJ.); Southwick, J., concurring (joined by Costa, Willett, JJ.); Higginbotham, J., dissenting; Elrod, J., dissenting (joined by Higginson, J.); Haynes, J., dissenting (joined by Higginbotham, Stewart, … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 9, 2021 opinions
Unpublished U.S. v. Taylor, 19-10261, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (Stewart, Higginson, Wilson), criminal, sentencing Affirming above-guidelines sentence following guilty plea to one count of attempted bank robbery and one count of using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. v. Valdez, 19-11158, appeal from … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 5, 2021 opinions
Unpublished U.S. v. Higgins, 19-10885, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Jones, Costa), criminal, sentencing, supervised release Affirming special conditions as part of supervised release sentence the district court’s order to participate in treatment for substance dependency, to contribute to the cost of that treatment, and to abstain from the use of alcohol and … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 4, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Tibakweitira v. Wilkinson, 18-60459, petition for review of BIA order Engelhardt, J. (Haynes, Duncan, Engelhardt), immigration Dismissing in part and denying in part Tanzanian citizen’s petitions for review of a BIA order dismissing his appeal from the IJ decision denying his application for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against … More Take the Fifth: Feb. 1 and 2, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Miller v. Sam Houston State University, 19-20752, appeal from S.D. Tex. Wilson, J. (Jolly, Southwick, Wilson), Title VII, employment discrimination, judicial bias Reversing dismissal of claims, remanding for further proceedings, and ordering that cases be reassigned to a new judge upon remand. “From the outset of these [consolidated] suits, the district judge’s … More Take the Fifth: Jan. 29, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Whitehead, 19-11275, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (Clement, Higginson, Engelhardt), criminal, First Step Act Affirming district court’s denial of resentencing of defendant under the First Step Act, who had been sentenced originally in 2007 to a mandatory life sentence for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams … More Take the Fifth: Jan. 21, 2021 opinions
Unpublished U.S. v. Lott, 19-20726, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Clement, Higginson, Engelhardt), criminal, sentencing Affirming conviction and 60-month sentence for bank fraud. Hoffman v. Furr, 19-40913, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Barksdale, Graves, Oldham), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of prisoner suit arising from administration of insulin to plaintiff, and issuing strike for … More Take the Fifth: Jan. 15, 2021 opinions
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