5th Circuit Case Commentaries

Chenery Applied to Agency Reconsideration Denials: Agencies Cannot Swap “Ineligibility” for Merits-Based Rationales in Litigation

Date: Jan 19, 2026

Chenery Applied to Agency Reconsideration Denials: Agencies Cannot Swap “Ineligibility” for Merits-Based Rationales in Litigation 1. Introduction In Doe v. HHS (5th Cir. Jan. 16, 2026), Dr. John...

Genesis Marine v. Darrow — Written-Notice Trigger for Limitation: Severity Allegations and Developing Records Can Start the Six-Month Clock (Settlement Demand Not Required)

Date: Jan 19, 2026

Genesis Marine v. Darrow — Written-Notice Trigger for Limitation: Severity Allegations and Developing Records Can Start the Six-Month Clock (Settlement Demand Not Required) Court: U.S. Court of...

“Limited Partner” in § 1402(a)(13) Means Limited Liability Status, Not Passive-Investor Function

Date: Jan 18, 2026

“Limited Partner” in § 1402(a)(13) Means Limited Liability Status, Not Passive-Investor Function I. Introduction In Sirius Solutions, L.L.L.P. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (5th Cir. Jan. 16,...

Rule 58’s Separate-Document Requirement Can Preserve Rule 59(e) Timing, While Limitations Defenses May Defeat Pro Se Employment Claims on Rule 12(b)(6)

Date: Jan 18, 2026

Rule 58’s Separate-Document Requirement Can Preserve Rule 59(e) Timing, While Limitations Defenses May Defeat Pro Se Employment Claims on Rule 12(b)(6) I. Introduction In Carmon v. Clean Harbors Deer...

Superseded-Pleading Admissions May Establish LLC Citizenship for Diversity Jurisdiction; Conclusory Market Definitions and Competitor Harm Do Not State Sherman Act Claims

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Superseded-Pleading Admissions May Establish LLC Citizenship for Diversity Jurisdiction; Conclusory Market Definitions and Competitor Harm Do Not State Sherman Act Claims I. Introduction In Rx...

USCIS Denial of Affirmative Asylum for TPS Beneficiaries Is Not “Final Agency Action” Under the APA; Review Must Await Removal Proceedings

Date: Jan 17, 2026

USCIS Denial of Affirmative Asylum for TPS Beneficiaries Is Not “Final Agency Action” Under the APA; Review Must Await Removal Proceedings Case: Maribel Sayegh de Kewayfati v. Pamela Bondi, et al....

USCIS Denial of Affirmative Asylum to TPS Holders Is Not “Final Agency Action” Reviewable Under the APA; Finality Is Jurisdictional in the Fifth Circuit

Date: Jan 17, 2026

USCIS Denial of Affirmative Asylum to TPS Holders Is Not “Final Agency Action” Reviewable Under the APA; Finality Is Jurisdictional in the Fifth Circuit Case: Sayegh de Kewayfati v. Bondi Court:...

Valuing Litigation Claims at $0 in Chapter 11 Triggers Judicial Estoppel Against Later Pursuit of Substantial Damages

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Valuing Litigation Claims at $0 in Chapter 11 Triggers Judicial Estoppel Against Later Pursuit of Substantial Damages Introduction In Royal American Construction, Incorporated v. Roofing Designs by...

RICO Mail-Fraud Claims Do Not Require Reliance, and Settlements Do Not Automatically Break Proximate Causation

Date: Jan 17, 2026

RICO Mail-Fraud Claims Do Not Require Reliance, and Settlements Do Not Automatically Break Proximate Causation Introduction In Allstate Indem Co v. Bhagat (5th Cir. Jan. 14, 2026), Allstate sued...

CAT “Specific Intent” and Speculative Risk: Fifth Circuit Affirms Denial of Deferral Based on Salvadoran Prison Conditions and Past Police Abuse

Date: Jan 17, 2026

CAT “Specific Intent” and Speculative Risk: Fifth Circuit Affirms Denial of Deferral Based on Salvadoran Prison Conditions and Past Police Abuse Case: Fuentes-Pineda v. Bondi (5th Cir. Jan. 14, 2026)...

Texas SIP Construction-Deadline Extensions: 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 116.120(c) Requires Only Prior Litigation-Based Extension + 10% Expenditure; Chapter 50 Procedures Do Not Apply

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Texas SIP Construction-Deadline Extensions: 30 Tex. Admin. Code § 116.120(c) Requires Only Prior Litigation-Based Extension + 10% Expenditure; Chapter 50 Procedures Do Not Apply Case: South Texas...

United States v. Dubois — Article III Prohibits Delegating the Inpatient/Outpatient Treatment Choice to Probation After a Short Revocation Sentence

Date: Jan 17, 2026

United States v. Dubois — Article III Prohibits Delegating the Inpatient/Outpatient Treatment Choice to Probation After a Short Revocation Sentence Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth...

Channel-Restricted Antitrust Markets Fail Without Evidence of Non-Substitutability; Rebate “Lock-In” Alone Cannot Create a Single-Brand Market

Date: Jan 17, 2026

Channel-Restricted Antitrust Markets Fail Without Evidence of Non-Substitutability; Rebate “Lock-In” Alone Cannot Create a Single-Brand Market Case: Endure Industries v. Vizient (5th Cir. Jan. 13,...

ADE A Retaliation Requires Age-Related Complaints; Title VII Pretext Assessed Under the “Clearly Better Qualified” Standard (Not “Jump Off the Page”)

Date: Jan 15, 2026

ADEA Retaliation Requires Age-Related Complaints; Title VII Pretext Assessed Under the “Clearly Better Qualified” Standard (Not “Jump Off the Page”) I. Introduction In Awe v. Harris Health System...

Worldwide Reversion on U.S. Termination and 1909 Renewal: “Arise Under This Title” Has No Geographic Limit

Date: Jan 14, 2026

Worldwide Reversion on U.S. Termination and 1909 Renewal: “Arise Under This Title” Has No Geographic Limit Case: Vetter v. Resnik (5th Cir. Jan. 12, 2026) — Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit New...

Revocation Sentencing and “Bare” Arrest Records: Error Exists, but Relief Requires Dominance and Plain-Error Prejudice

Date: Jan 14, 2026

Revocation Sentencing and “Bare” Arrest Records: Error Exists, but Relief Requires Dominance and Plain-Error Prejudice Introduction In United States v. Smith (5th Cir. Jan. 12, 2026) (unpublished),...

Coercive Control Over a Minor’s Production and Sending of Child Sexual Abuse Material Constitutes “Distribution” Under U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(b)(3)

Date: Jan 14, 2026

Coercive Control Over a Minor’s Production and Sending of Child Sexual Abuse Material Constitutes “Distribution” Under U.S.S.G. § 2G2.1(b)(3) Case: United States v. Lowe (5th Cir. Jan. 12, 2026)...

Bruen Does Not Abrogate Hollis: Fifth Circuit Reaffirms § 922(o)’s Machinegun Ban and Upholds Second-Degree-Murder Cross-Reference Under Plain-Error Review

Date: Jan 14, 2026

Bruen Does Not Abrogate Hollis: Fifth Circuit Reaffirms § 922(o)’s Machinegun Ban and Upholds Second-Degree-Murder Cross-Reference Under Plain-Error Review Case: United States v. Wilson (5th Cir....

Younger Abstention Applies to Pennsylvania Usury Enforcement OSCs; Appellate Courts May Affirm Despite Omitted Sprint Threshold Finding When Record Satisfies It

Date: Jan 12, 2026

Younger Abstention Applies to Pennsylvania Usury Enforcement OSCs; Appellate Courts May Affirm Despite Omitted Sprint Threshold Finding When Record Satisfies It 1. Introduction In TMX Finance...

Phillips v. Enterprise Products: “Fishing-Expedition” Evidence and Disputed Discipline Can Create a Jury Question on Retaliatory Pretext (Cat’s Paw) at Summary Judgment

Date: Jan 12, 2026

“Fishing-Expedition” Evidence and Disputed Discipline Can Create a Jury Question on Retaliatory Pretext (Cat’s Paw) at Summary Judgment I. Introduction In Phillips v. Enterprise Products Company (5th...