Unpublished U.S. v. Higgins, 19-10885, appeal from N.D. Tex.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 Taylor v. Stevens, 17-10253, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Owen, Jones, Smith), qualified immunity, § 1983, Eighth Amendment On remand from the Supreme Court, vacating its earlier decision reversing in part and remanding dismissal of Eighth Amendment conditions-of-confinement claims on qualified immunity grounds, and remanding case in its entirety. Texas v. … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 21-24 opinions
Designated for publication Knight v. Kirby Offshore Marine Pacific, LLC, 19-30756, appeal from E.D. La. Barksdale, J. (Barksdale, Elrod, Ho); Ho., J., concurring; Elrod, J., dissenting; Jones Act, contributory negligence Affirming in part and vacating in part district court judgment that defendant employer was negligent for vessel captain ordering seaman plaintiff to replace stern line … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 17, 2020 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Cano, 19-11297, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), criminal, sentencing, supervised release Affirming sentence of consecutive 24-month imprisonment terms for violating terms of supervised release. Defendant had left the jurisdiction during his supervised release without informing his probation officer, to return to Mexico and assist his ex-wife … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 2, 2020 opinions
Designated for publication Thomas v. Lumpkin, 17-20661, appeal from S.D. Tex. Jones, J., order denying en banc rehearing, joined by Owen, Jones, Smith, Southwick, Haynes, Costa, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.; Graves, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing, joines by Elrod, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Elrod, Graves, Higginson, Willett, voting to rehear); habeas corpus, ineffective … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 1, 2020 opinions
Designated for publication McRaney v. The North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, Inc., 19-60293, appeal from N.D. Miss. Denying en banc rehearing (Higginson, J., entering order for the panel, joined by Owen, Stewart, Dennis, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Costa, Engelhardt, JJ.); Ho, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing, joined by Jones, Smith, … More Take the Fifth: Nov. 30, 2020 opinions
Designated for publication Pizza Inn, Inc. v. Clairday, 19-11302, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), breach of contract, equitable intervention doctrine Reversing district court’s upholding of jury verdict in favor of franchisee, applying equitable intervention doctrine and awarding damages and attorneys’ fees to franchisee for pizza franchise’s refusal to renew contract when … More Take the Fifth: Nov. 2-6, 2020 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Ramirez, 19-20098, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Smith, Clement, Oldham), criminal, sentencing Affirming the district court’s sentencing of defendant to 300 months’ imprisonment for health care fraud. Court held that there was no error in district court’s reliance on presentencing report to impose a 26-point adjustment to defendant’s sentencing … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 27, 2020 opinions
U.S. v. Strother, 19-40361, appeal from E.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higgonbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea Affirming conviction and sentence. Defendant had pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Thereafter, his counsel successfully moved to withdraw as counsel, and defendant filed a pro se motion to withdraw his … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 9, 2020 opinions
U.S. v. Omigie, 19-40526, appeal from E.D. Tex., designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Jones, Higginson), criminal, sentencing, guilty plea, forfeiture, supervised release Affirming conviction, remanding for determination of whether supervised release condition is consistent with oral pronouncement of court. Court held there was no plain error in the district court’s informing the defendant of … More Take the Fifth: Oct. 7, 2020 opinions
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