Designated for publication Harness v. Watson, 19-60632, appeal from S.D. Miss. [ed.: Note that the following en banc decision was announced by the Court as “per curiam,” i.e., “for the court,” and at the beginning of that decision then listed all 17 active-status judges, intimating at the outset that the decision was for the entire … More August 24, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Morton, 19-10842, appeal from N.D. Tex. Costa, J. (joined by Richman, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Southwick, Haynes, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Wilson, JJ.); Higginson, J., concurring (joined in whole by Elrod, Willett, JJ., and in part by Ho, Wilson, JJ.); Graves, J., dissenting (joined by Dennis, J.); Jolly, J., not joining … More August 23, 2022, opinions
Catching up on the blog after some non-stop over-drive briefing weeks, so both published and unpublished opinions will only contain summary disposition information and not the usual fuller descriptions. Designated for publication Springboards to Education, Inc. v. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District, 21-40336, appeal from S.D. Tex. Engelhardt, J. (Willett, Engelhardt, Wilson), trademark infringement Affirming … More May 10, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication McFarland v. Lumpkin, 19-70011, appeal from S.D. Tex. per curiam (Higginbotham, Southwick, Willett), habeas corpus, ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady claim, Sixth Amendment Affirming denial of habeas relief, after having granted COA on denial of claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, Brady violation, and Sixth Amendment violation. Reminiscent of the original panel … More February 14, 2022, opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Butler, 19-40095, appeal from E.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Owen, Smith, Graves), criminal, sentencing Affirming imposition of special conditions of release and temporary denial of federal benefits as part of sentence on guilty plea to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine. Defendant entered into a guilty plea agreement that indicated a sentence of … More August 10. 2021 opinions
Designated for publication U.S. v. Gaspar-Felipe, 19-50997, appeal from W.D. Tex. Duncan, J. (Jones, Costa, Duncan), criminal, sentencing, Confrontation Clause, sufficiency of evidence Affirming convictions and 78-month sentence for defendant’s role in an alien smuggling operations in which the person being smuggled died. The Court held that there was no Confrontation Clause violation in the … More July 13, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Hutcheson v. Dallas County, Texas, 20-10383, appeal from N.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), excessive force, qualified immunity Affirming summary judgment dismissal of plaintiffs’ excessive force and failure to train claims on qualified immunity grounds, in claims arising from officers’ restraint of victim at county jail as victim was actively resisting … More Take the Fifth: April 12, 2021 opinions
Designated for publication Stelly v. Duriso, 19-20160, appeal from S.D. Tex. Haynes, J. (Jones, Haynes, Ho), Ho. J., concurring in part; intentional infliction of emotional distress, employment discrimination Vacating district court’s default judgment in favor of plaintiff on intentional infliction of emotional distress (“IIED”) claim against individual defendant in lawsuit against unions and maritime association … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 11 and 14, 2020 opinions
Designated for pulication Future Proof Brands, LLC v. Molson Coors Beverage Co., 20-50323, appeal from W.D. Tex. Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Dennis), trademark infringement, intellectual property, preliminary injunction Affirming district court’s denial of preliminary injunction sought by plaintiff, who sued defendant for trademark infringement of plaintiff’s “brizzy” brand of hard seltzer product by defendant’s “vizzy” … More Take the Fifth: Dec. 3, 2020 opinions
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