Designated for publication Jolly, J. (Jolly, Smith, Haynes), Federal Tort Claims Act Reversing district court’s dismissal of former federal inmate’s FTCA claim arising from alleged assault by prison officials; rejecting premise that there may be a de minimis injury exception from tort liability; remanding for further proceedings. Dennis, J. (Dennis, Engelhardt, Oldham), Oldham, J., dubitante; … More April 24, 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: Richman, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Willett, Douglas, Ramirez; voting for en banc rehearing: Jones, Smith, Elrod, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson); Willett, J., concurring in denial of en banc rehearing; Ho, J., dissenting from denial of en banc rehearing; Oldham, J., dissenting from denial … More April 16-22, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Ramirez, J. (Richman, Oldham, Ramirez), immigration Vacating judgment denying preliminary injunctive relief to nonimmigrants challenging the delay in processing their I-485 applications for adjustment of status from employment-based visas to lawful permanent residents, and remanding with instructions to dismiss for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. The Court held, under the Immigration and Naturalization … More April 9, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (King, Ho, Engelhardt), criminal, search and seizure, Miranda rights Affirming conviction of possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, upholding denial of motion to suppress. The Court held that the record contained sufficient evidence of probable cause to conduct a warrantless search of the defendant’s vehicle, obviating the … More April 5-8, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Davis, Southwick, Ho), breach of contract Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant on statute of frauds grounds, in claims arising from alleged breach of agreement to form limited liability company with defendant and plaintiff as co-owners rather than with defendant as sole owner. The Court held that the oral … More March 5, 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 per curiam (Richman, Jones, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Graves, Higginson, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ., voting against en banc rehearing; Smith, Elrod, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Oldham, JJ., voting for en banc rehearing); Clement, J., concurring in denial of rehearing en banc (joined by Jones, Stewart, Graves, Higginson, Engelhardt, Wilson, Douglas, Ramirez); Ho, J., … More February 5-7, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Stewart, Dennis, Southwick), Dennis, J., dissenting; qualified immunity Reversing denial of qualified immunity summary judgment on behalf of officers who attempted to execute a search warrant through a SWAT team, but on the wrong address (though the warrant itself showed the correct address), and remanding with instructions to dismiss. The … More February 1, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Graves, J. (Graves, Higginson, Ho), Ho, J., would affirm (but no dissenting opinion filed); prisoner suit Reversing summary judgment in favor of prisoner officials on basis of failure to exhaust administrative remedies with regard to Texas state prisoner’s § 1983 suit alleging that prison officials failed to prevent his assault by another … More January 31, 2024, opinions
