April 18, 2022, opinions

Unpublished Hardison v. Skinner, 20-30643, appeal from W.D. La. per curiam (Dennis, Southwick, Wilson), Dennis, J., specially concurring; employment discrimination, Title VII Affirming summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s employment discrimination, defamation, and Louisiana state law claims against the Natchitoches Parish School Board and Dale Skinner, the school board’s superintendent, brought after she voluntarily retired six months … More April 18, 2022, opinions

April 6-7, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Seguin v. Remington Arms Co., 17-30499, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Owen, Dennis, Southwick), Dennis, J., dissenting; product liability After Louisiana Supreme Court declined certified question on the issue, reversing summary judgment in favor of plaintiff in design-defect claim under the Louisiana Product Liability Act (“LPLA”) against firearm manufacturer after accidental … More April 6-7, 2022, opinions

April 4, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Penn-America Insurance Co. v. Tarango Trucking, L.L.C., 21-10749, appeal from N.D. Tex. Davis, J. (Davis, Willett, Oldham), insurance Reversing in part and vacating in part judgment that insurer did not owe defense or indemnity regarding fatal accident on insured’s property, finding that an exception to a policy automobile exclusion applied. An independent … More April 4, 2022, opinions

March 19-31, 2022, opinions

(Note: While normally Take the Fifth provides more detailed summaries for opinions designated for publication and only basic disposition notes and links for unpublished opinions, because this is a catch-up post after two weeks of being away from the blog, we are just providing the links and basic disposition notes for both published and unpublished … More March 19-31, 2022, opinions

March 10-11, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Fakhuri v. Garland, 19-60275, petition for review of BIA order Smith, J. (Smith, Costa, Wilson), immigration Denying in part and dismissing in part Jordanian citizen’s (and legal permanent resident’s) petition for review of BIA order sustaining IJ’s determination that Tennessee conviction of money laundering was an “aggravated felony” supporting removal, on basis … More March 10-11, 2022, opinions

February 17, 2022, opinions

Unpublished Herndon v. U.S., 20-10688, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), Federal Tort Claims Act Affirming summary judgment dismissal of former prisoner’s medical malpractice claim under the FTCA. Guzman v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 20-11123, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), habeas corpus Affirming dismissal of former immigration … More February 17, 2022, opinions

February 9, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication VSP Labs, Inc. v. Hillair Capital Investments, L.P., 20-10885, appeal from N.D. Tex. Higginbotham, J. (Higginbotham, Willett, Duncan), bankruptcy Affirming district court and bankruptcy court orders prohibiting one non-debtor from asserting claims against two other non-debtors. VSP had entered into a technology-sharing agreement with Pro Fix Optix (“PFO”). VSP brought a breach … More February 9, 2022, opinions

January 11-14, 2022, opinions

Designated for publication Williams v. Boeing Co., 18-31158, appeal from E.D. La. Southwick, J. (Southwick, Graves, Engelhardt), personal tort, multi-district litigation Reversing in part final judgment entered in mesothelioma case by district court in Louisiana after summary judgment by MDL court in Pennsylvania, and remanded for further proceedings. The Court held that the MDL district … More January 11-14, 2022, opinions

December 8, 2021, opinions

Unpublished Wilder v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 20-10314, appeal from N.D. Tex. per curiam (Smith, Stewart, Graves), foreclosure Affirming summary judgment in favor of mortgage issuer in foreclosure claims. U.S. v. Galvez, 20-20449, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Davis, Jones, Elrod), criminal, sentencing Affirming 14-month sentence for illegal reentry. U.S. v. Brule, 20-30571, appeal … More December 8, 2021, opinions

November 22-29, 2021, opinions

Designated for publication Coleman v. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., 20-40811, appeal from S.D. Tex. Willett, J. (Higginbotham, Willett, Duncan), negligence, independent contractor Affirming summary judgment dismissal of claims against project management company (BP) and against day-to-day management company (Grand Isle Shipping), on claims of employee of scaffolding subcontractor arising from plaintiff’s back injury received … More November 22-29, 2021, opinions