Unpublished Heidari v. Barr, 18-60543, petition for review of BIA order per curiam (Owen, Barksdale, Duncan), immigration Dismissing Iranian citizen’s petition to review BIA order affirming an Immigration Judge’s (IJ) denying a motion to reopen removal proceedings for deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture. U.S. v. Geske, 19-11334, appeal from N.D. Tex. per … More Take the Fifth: April 29, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Sanchez v. Oliver, 20-50282, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Jones, Clement, Graves), qualified immunity, deliberate indifference Reversing district court’s summary judgment dismissal of deliberate indifference claim against clinical social worker who had taken pretrial detainee off suicide watch prior to his committing suicide, and remanding for further proceedings. The victim’s mother … More Take the Fifth: April 26, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Aguirre v. City of San Antonio, 17-51031, appeal from W.D. Tex. Dennis, J. (Jolly, Dennis, Higginson), Jolly, J., concurring; Higginson, J., concurring; excessive force, qualified immunity, municipal liability Vacating summary judgment on qualified immunity grounds as to claims against officer defendants for holding arrestee in hog-tied, “maximum restraint” position for five and … More Take the Fifth: April 22, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Thibodeaux v. Sanofi U.S. Services, Inc., 20-30104, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Jolly, Southwick, Costa), timeliness, contra non valentem Affirming district court’s summary judgment dismissal of products liability claims regarding permanent hair loss from chemotherapy drug Taxotere, on the basis that the claims were facially prescribed under Louisiana law and that … More Take the Fifth: April 21, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Hutcheson v. Dallas County, Texas, 20-10383, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), excessive force, qualified immunity Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs’ excessive force and failure to train claims on qualified immunity grounds, in claims arising from officers’ restraint of victim at county jail as victim was actively resisting … More Take the Fifth: April 12, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Knowlton, 19-41042, appeal from E.D. Tex. Elrod, J. (Elrod, Willett, Engelhardt), criminal Affirming conviction for receiving material containing child pornography. The Court held that the flash drives, external hard drives, and computer hard drives were “materials containing” child pornography and not merely child pornography itself, rejecting defendant’s argument that he … More Take the Fifth: April 1-2, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Brune, 19-11360, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Jones, Smith, Elrod), criminal, double jeopardy Affirming conviction of defendant for possess with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. In the charging instrument, the government had misstated the statutory citation for the charged crime, … More Take the Fifth: March 22 and 23, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Williams v. Lockheed Martin Corp., 18-31162, appeal from E.D. La. Owen, C.J. (Owen, Willett, Oldham), federal officer jurisdiction, asbestos, sanctions Denying petition for en banc rehearing, granting petition for panel rehearing, vacating panel opinion, and issuing new decision affirming district court’s denial of motion to remand, summary judgment dismissal of asbestos-exposure claims, … More Take the Fifth: March 9, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Playa Vista Conroe, a Condominium Association v. Insurance Co. of the West, 20-20307, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Higginbotham, Costa, Oldham), insurance Affirming summary judgment holding insurer liable for coverage of Hurricane Harvey damage to boat slips suffered by condo association when the Lake Conroe Dam was opened by the San … More Take the Fifth: March 5, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Johnson, 19-30921, appeal from W.D. La. Dennis, J. (Dennis, Higginson, Willett), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, due process, sentencing Affirming convictions of co-defendants for the armed robbery of two banks and one credit union and with related firearms offenses and sentences of 498 months for one defendant and 339 months for … More Take the Fifth: March 3, 2021 opinions
