5th Circuit Case Commentaries

Affirmation of Procedural and Evidentiary Standards in Capital Sentencing: United States v. Jackson

Date: Nov 18, 2008

Affirmation of Procedural and Evidentiary Standards in Capital Sentencing: United States v. Jackson Introduction In United States of America v. David Lee Jackson, the United States Court of Appeals...

Affirmation of Emotional-Distress Damages under the Privacy Act in Jacobs v. NDIC

Date: Nov 11, 2008

Affirmation of Emotional-Distress Damages under the Privacy Act in JACOBS v. NATIONAL DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER Introduction The case of Gary G. JACOBS v. NATIONAL DRUG INTELLIGENCE CENTER (NDIC)...

Enforcement of Arbitration Clauses with Nonsignatory Servicers: Sherer v. Green Tree Servicing LLC

Date: Nov 11, 2008

Enforcement of Arbitration Clauses with Nonsignatory Servicers: Sherer v. Green Tree Servicing LLC Introduction Sherer v. Green Tree Servicing LLC (548 F.3d 379, 5th Cir. 2008) is a pivotal case in...

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in Employment Discrimination Claims: Alta Garrett v. Judson Independent School District

Date: Nov 11, 2008

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies in Employment Discrimination Claims: Alta Garrett v. Judson Independent School District Introduction The case of Alta Garrett v. Judson Independent School...

Affirming the Balancing of Barker Factors in Speedy Trial Claims: Goodrum v. Quarterman

Date: Oct 23, 2008

Affirming the Balancing of Barker Factors in Speedy Trial Claims: Goodrum v. Quarterman Introduction In the case of Randy Edward Goodrum v. Nathaniel Quarterman, decided on October 22, 2008, by the...

Enhancing Standards for Rule 4(m) Dismissals: Insights from Millan v. USAA GIC

Date: Oct 17, 2008

Enhancing Standards for Rule 4(m) Dismissals: Insights from Millan v. USAA GIC Introduction Stanley A. Millan, a practicing attorney, filed a pro se lawsuit against USAA General Indemnity Company...

Pre-Petition Escrow Payments Recognized as Bankruptcy Claims Without Violating Automatic Stay

Date: Oct 14, 2008

Pre-Petition Escrow Payments Recognized as Bankruptcy Claims Without Violating Automatic Stay Introduction The case of Caesar R. Campbell; Pamela A. Campbell v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (545 F.3d...

5th Circuit Upholds Employee Classification of Management-Level Sales Leaders Under FLSA’s Economic Realities Test

Date: Oct 14, 2008

5th Circuit Upholds Employee Classification of Management-Level Sales Leaders Under FLSA’s Economic Realities Test Introduction In the landmark case of Joseph Hopkins; Collective Action Members v....

Mandamus as a Remedy for Venue Transfer Abuse: IN RE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, Inc.

Date: Oct 11, 2008

Mandamus as a Remedy for Venue Transfer Abuse: IN RE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, Inc. Introduction In the landmark case of In re: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC., the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Fifth Circuit Establishes Non-Applicability of § 924(e) Enhancement to Specific Burglary Convictions

Date: Oct 7, 2008

Non-Applicability of § 924(e) Enhancement to Specific Burglary Convictions: An In-Depth Analysis of United States v. Guadalupe Constante, III Introduction The United States Court of Appeals for the...

Understanding the Application of McCorpen Defense and Collateral Source Rule in Jones Act Claims: A Comprehensive Analysis of Leroy Johnson v. Cenac Towing, Inc.

Date: Sep 25, 2008

Understanding the Application of McCorpen Defense and Collateral Source Rule in Jones Act Claims: A Comprehensive Analysis of Leroy Johnson v. Cenac Towing, Inc. Introduction Leroy Johnson v. Cenac...

Application of Statute of Limitations and Qualified Immunity in Employment Discrimination Claims: King v. State of Louisiana

Date: Sep 24, 2008

Application of Statute of Limitations and Qualified Immunity in Employment Discrimination Claims: King v. State of Louisiana Introduction In Carol Stewart King v. State of Louisiana, the United...

Fifth Circuit Refines Qualified Immunity Standards in Illegal Arrest and Excessive Force Claims

Date: Sep 24, 2008

Fifth Circuit Refines Qualified Immunity Standards in Illegal Arrest and Excessive Force Claims Introduction In the case of Rubens MESA; Julieta Tarazona v. Dwayne PREJEAN, the United States Court of...

Complete Preemption under the Civil Service Reform Act: Gutierrez v. Flores et al.

Date: Sep 23, 2008

Complete Preemption under the Civil Service Reform Act: Gutierrez v. Flores et al. Introduction In the case of Rodolfo Gutierrez v. Ramiro Flores, Aurelino Garcia, Hector Gallardo, and Deborah...

Enhancing FMLA Protections: McArdle v. Dell Products Establishes Critical Precedents on Entitlement and Retaliation Claims

Date: Sep 23, 2008

Enhancing FMLA Protections: McArdle v. Dell Products Establishes Critical Precedents on Entitlement and Retaliation Claims Introduction Brian McArdle v. Dell Products, L.P.; Dell Marketing USA, L.P.,...

Effective Assistance of Counsel in Mitigation and Batson Challenges: Insights from BLANTON v. QUARTERMAN

Date: Sep 20, 2008

Effective Assistance of Counsel in Mitigation and Batson Challenges: Insights from BLANTON v. QUARTERMAN Introduction Reginald W. Blanton appealed his conviction for capital murder and the imposition...

Section 1983 Liability and Qualified Immunity in Bail Bond Regulation: An Analysis of The Hampton Co. Nat'l Surety, LLC v. Tunica County Decision

Date: Sep 19, 2008

Section 1983 Liability and Qualified Immunity in Bail Bond Regulation: An Analysis of The Hampton Co. Nat'l Surety, LLC v. Tunica County Decision Introduction The case of The HAMPTON COMPANY NATIONAL...

Clarifying LLC Citizenship for Federal Diversity Jurisdiction: Fifth Circuit in Harvey v. Grey Wolf

Date: Sep 16, 2008

Clarifying LLC Citizenship for Federal Diversity Jurisdiction: Fifth Circuit in Harvey v. Grey Wolf Introduction The case of Alice Glinda Harvey, Individually on behalf of her deceased husband,...

Expanded Interpretation of Fraud in Annuity Exemptions: IN RE SOZA v. Hill

Date: Sep 13, 2008

Expanded Interpretation of Fraud in Annuity Exemptions: IN RE SOZA v. Hill Introduction IN RE SOZA v. Hill, 542 F.3d 1060 (5th Cir. 2008), represents a pivotal case in the realm of bankruptcy law,...

Strict Adherence to Proof-of-Loss Requirements Under NFIP SFIP Reaffirmed

Date: Sep 11, 2008

Strict Adherence to Proof-of-Loss Requirements Under NFIP SFIP Reaffirmed Introduction The case of Marseilles Homeowners Condominium Association, Inc. v. Fidelity National Insurance Company (542 F.3d...