August 11, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Spikes v. McVea, 19-30019, appeal from E.D. La. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), Smith, J., dissenting; prisoner suit, qualified immunity Affirming district court’s denial of qualified-immunity-based summary judgment in favor of defendant prison medical staff members, on prisoner plaintiff’s claim of an Eighth Amendment violation arising from deliberate indifference for six weeks … More August 11, 2021 opinions

August 3, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Quadvest, L.P. v. San Jacinto River Authority, 20-20447, appeal from S.D. Tex. Higginson, J. (Wiener, Elrod, Higginson), antitrust law Affirming denial of state-action immunity on behalf of water authority, against which plaintiff investor-owned utilities had brought claims under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Defendant water authority, the SJRA, is a political … More August 3, 2021 opinions

July 20, 2021 opinions

Unpublished U.S. v. Clark, 20-10094, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), criminal, First Step Act Vacating district court’s denial of a motion for sentence reduction under the First Step Act, and remanding for further proceedings in light of United States v. Shkambi, 993 F.3d 388, 393 (5th Cir. 2021). U.S. v. Castillo, … More July 20, 2021 opinions

June 24, 2021 opinions

Unpublished Creuzot v. Green, 19-10864, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Clement, Higginson, Engelhardt), appellate jurisdiction Dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction, where appellant timely appealed from a merits judgment under the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, which was separate from a later-issued fee award judgment, but appellant only briefed the fee-award issue that was not … More June 24, 2021 opinions

June 22, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Dean v. Akal Security, Inc., 20-30306, appeal from W.D. La. Southwick, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Engelhardt), Fair Labor Standards Act Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant on FLSA claims arising from meal-period policy that automatically deducted one hour of pay from employees of security company whose employees accompanied deportees being flown to … More June 22, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 28, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Onyeri, 18-50869, appeal from W.D. Tex. Clement, J. (Owen, Clement, Higginson), criminal, RICO, search and seizure Affirming RICO conviction for pattern of criminal activity culminating in attempted assassination attempt on state judge. The Court held that the district court did not err in denying a motion to suppress evidence from … More Take the Fifth: April 28, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 21, 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

Take the Fifth: April 19, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication Phillips v. Sanofi US Services, Inc., 20-30405, appeal from E.D. La. per curiam (King, Smith, Haynes), product liability Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiff’s failure-to-warn claim regarding permanent hair-loss from chemotherapy drug Taxotere, on finding that, under Louisiana law, there was a lack of causation because there was no genuine dispute that … More Take the Fifth: April 19, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: April 14, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Williams, 20-40157, appeal from S.D. Tex. Oldham, J. (Higginbotham, Costa, Oldham), criminal, restitution Affirming restitution award of more than $2 million for defendant on guilty plea conviction of four counts of wire fraud involving purported sales of cattle in which defendant absconded with the money without producing the cattle. “The … More Take the Fifth: April 14, 2021 opinions

Take the Fifth: March 29-31, 2021 opinions

Designated for publication U.S. v. Burney, 20-10529, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (King, Smith, Haynes), criminal, sentencing Affirming 60-month sentence on guilty plea to wire fraud. The presentence report recommended a guideline range of 12-18 months, “[b]ased on the severity of the offense, Burney’s acceptance of responsibility, and his criminal history,” but the district … More Take the Fifth: March 29-31, 2021 opinions