Unpublished per curiam (Jolly, Higginson, Duncan), criminal, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing Affirming 460-month sentence and conviction of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; conspiracy to transport aliens; conspiracy to … More June 11, 2024, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Richman, Jones, Ho), Bivens claim Affirming in part and vacating in part plaintiff federal inmate’s Bivens claims arising from delayed and denied medical care for injuries, and remanding for further proceedings. Engelhardt, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Engelhardt), qualified immunity Affirming denial of motion to dismiss excessive force claims on the basis of qualified … More June 10, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (Elrod, Ho, Wilson), timeliness After receiving response from Texas Supreme Court on certified question, reversing district court’s dismissal of claims as barred by the statute of limitations, and remanding for further proceedings. Oldham, J. (Jolly, Engelhardt, Oldham), qualified immunity Affirming denial of qualified immunity. To quote from the Court’s introduction: … More May 1-7, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Ramirez, J. (Richman, Oldham, Ramirez), criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence, search and seizure Affirming convictions for money laundering, holding that sufficient evidence in the record supported the convictions, upholding denial of motion to suppress, finding no abuse of discretion in application of sentencing enhancements, and finding no abuse of discretion in denial … More April 23, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (voting against en banc rehearing: Jones, Smith, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Higginson, Willett, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.; voting for en banc rehearing: Richman, Elrod, Graves, Ho, Douglas, JJ.; recused: Ramirez, J.); Graves, J., dissenting from denial of en banc rehearing; ERISA Denying en banc rehearing of panel opinion reversing district … More March 15, 2024, opinions
Unpublished per curiam (Jones, Barksdale, Elrod), Elrod, J., concurring; criminal, sentencing, sufficiency of evidence Affirming convictions and sentences on drug trafficking-related charges related to sales of drugs by defendants in one of the defendants’ nightclubs. Judge Elrod concurred, opining that, while the admission of certain testimony and a redacted statement were harmless error, they “nevertheless … More February 28, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Haynes, Douglas), criminal, sentencing, restitution Affirming convictions for healthcare fraud and receiving Medicare kickbacks, upholding the admission of recordings of the co-conspirators, the calculation of the amount of improper benefit for sentencing purposes, and the calculation of the restitution award. per curiam (voting against en banc rehearing: Stewart, Elrod, … More February 19-21, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Dennis, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Higginson), Higginson, J., dissenting; False Claims Act Affirming dismissal for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction of former employee’s False Claims Act claims against former employer, claiming retaliation for reporting fraudulent misrepresentations made to the Navy, and summary judgment dismissal of remaining claim; holding that “the district court correctly held … More February 14-16, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (King, Elrod, Southwick), Elrod, J., dissenting; Clean Air Act, administrative law Denying petitions for review of EPA order designating two Texas counties (Rusk and Panola) as in non-attainment for the NAAQS for sulfur dioxide, primarily due to emissions from a coal-burning power plant, and from order denying reconsideration of the … More January 11, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Elrod), Smith, J., dissenting; criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act, habeas corpus On defendant’s § 2255 motion, vacating sentence on conviction of possession of a firearm by a felon, and remanding for resentencing without the ACCA enhancement. On a 2011 charge for possession of a firearm by a … More December 5, 2023, opinions
