March 13, 2024, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Stewart, Dennis, Wilson), securities fraud, receivership, mootness Dismissing as moot appeal from order ratifying a settlement agreement executed by court-appointed receiver, due to subsequent events in the litigation. per curiam (Wiener, Stewart, Douglas), criminal Affirming conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. per curiam (Jolly, Engelhardt, Douglas), criminal, sentencing … More March 13, 2024, opinions

February 14-16, 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

November 16, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Duncan, J. (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), personal tort Affirming dismissal of claims by plaintiffs who suffer from chronic Lyme disease against peer-reviewed medical journal arising from article published regarding new proposed treatment of Lyme disease; plaintiffs alleged that the article cast doubt on how to treat chronic Lyme disease and even whether the … More November 16, 2023, opinions

October 10-11, 2023, decisions

Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Elrod, Willett), spoliation, trade secrets Affirming spoliation sanction of default judgment and damages award against spoliating defendant in suit alleging misappropriation of proprietary software code. Higginson, J. (Smith, Higginson, Willett), takings Reversing judgment that city violated Takings Clause when it refused to compensate a homeowner for damage to her … More October 10-11, 2023, decisions

August 21, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Wiener, Higginson, Wilson), qualified immunity Reversing denial of qualified immunity motion to dismiss, and rendering judgment in favor of wildlife officer defendants on § 1983 claims arising from arrests related to hunting activities and to alleged forgeries in transfers of a jet ski and a pickup truck. The Court held … More August 21, 2023, opinions

July 28-31, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginson, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Higginson), insurance Affirming in part and reversing in part summary judgment in favor of insurers on claim for defense and indemnification under CGL and umbrella policies for an underlying suit against the insured alleging contamination from the plaintiff’s auto salvage and vehicle wash properties. The Court held that … More July 28-31, 2023, opinions

May 5-8, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), prisoner suit Affirming dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s § 1983 claim for impeding access to medical care after the onset of stroke symptoms, upon holding that plaintiff’s claims were malpractice claims but did not allege a deprivation of constitutionally secured rights. The Court held, “We conclude that … More May 5-8, 2023, opinions

March 23, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication per curiam (denial of en banc rehearing; voting against rehearing were Richman, Jones, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Douglas, JJ.; voting for rehearing were Smith, Elrod, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.); Higginbotham, J., concurring in denial of rehearing; Higginson, J., concurring in denial of rehearing; Oldham, J., dissenting from denial … More March 23, 2023, opinions

March 22, 2023, opinions

Designated for publication Dennis, J. (Wiener, Dennis, Duncan), criminal, Confrontation Clause, Sixth Amendment, sufficiency of evidence, sentencing, crime of violence Upon granting petition for panel rehearing, vacating defendants’ conviction for aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, but affirming conviction on other counts arising from two armored car armed … More March 22, 2023, opinions

December 16, 2022, opinions

Unpublished per curiam (Smith, Barksdale, Haynes), criminal, sentencing, Armed Career Criminal Act Affirming 180-month sentence on conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm, applying ACCA enhancement based on four prior Texas convictions for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. per curiam (Smith, Barksdale, Haynes), criminal, restitution Affirming restitution award for losses stemming … More December 16, 2022, opinions