Designated for publication Richman, C.J. (Richman, Smith, Graves), excessive force, false arrest Affirming dismissal of § 1983 claims arising from arrest of plaintiff for driving while intoxicated. The Court held that there was probable cause for the plaintiff’s arrest, based on the admitted facts, such that the district court did not err in finding that … More May 23, 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
Unpublished per curiam (Richman, Dennis, Ho), immigration Denying Honduran citizen’s petition for review of BIA order dismissing appeal of IJ’s denial of motion to reopen and to rescind absentia order of removal. per curiam (King, Stewart, Haynes), criminal, sentencing Affirming 120-month sentence and conviction for illegal reentry. per curiam (Higginbotham, Duncan, Engelhardt), products liability Affirming … More December 6, 2022, opinions
(Playing a bit of catch-up after some traveling and oral arguing, so the “Designated for Publication” summaries will be a bit briefer than usual) Designated for publication Graves, J. (Wiener, Graves, Oldham), Wiener, J., dissenting; products liability Affirming dismissal of products-liability claims against firearms manufacturer for an allegedly faulty trigger mechanism. The Court held that … More November 2-9, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Wilson, J. (Dennis, Southwick, Wilson), Dennis, J., dissenting in part; criminal, sufficiency of evidence, restitution, competence, severance, search and seizure, Brady violation Affirming in part, vacating in part, and remanding for further proceedings on convictions and sentences arising from RICO conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms, and murder charges related to violent gang activity. … More October 11-17, 2022, opinions
(Still in catch-up mode here, so the opinions designated for publication will get the same brief treatment as the unpublished opinions …) Designated for publication Davis v. Lumpkin, 19-20873, appeal from S.D. Tex. Southwick, J. (Smith, Wiener, Southwick), prisoner suit Affirming in part dismissal of prisoner’s § 1983 action, vacating in part, and remanding. Bertrand … More June 1-3, 2022, opinions
Catching up on the blog after some non-stop over-drive briefing weeks, so both published and unpublished opinions will only contain summary disposition information and not the usual fuller descriptions. Designated for publication U.S. v. Tucker, 21-30194, appeal from M.D. La. Willett, J. (Willett, Engelhardt, Wilson), criminal Reversing conviction of three counts of making false statements … More May 9, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication Seguin v. Remington Arms Co., 17-30499, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Owen, Dennis, Southwick), Dennis, J., dissenting; product liability After Louisiana Supreme Court declined certified question on the issue, reversing summary judgment in favor of plaintiff in design-defect claim under the Louisiana Product Liability Act (“LPLA”) against firearm manufacturer after accidental … More April 6-7, 2022, 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
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
