5th Circuit Case Commentaries

Federal Railroad Safety Act Preempts State Tort Claims: Insights from Hesling v. CSX Transportation

Date: Jan 6, 2005

Federal Railroad Safety Act Preempts State Tort Claims: Insights from Hesling v. CSX Transportation Introduction The case of Monica Bauer Hesling v. CSX Transportation, Inc., adjudicated in the...

Contract Dissolution and Third-Party Beneficiary Rights under the Louisiana Private Works Act

Date: Dec 31, 2004

Contract Dissolution and Third-Party Beneficiary Rights under the Louisiana Private Works Act Introduction The case of Shaw Constructors, Inc. v. PCS Nitrogen Fertilizer, L.P. revolves around the...

Fifth Circuit Upholds Summary Judgment in Title VII Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Case

Date: Dec 23, 2004

Fifth Circuit Upholds Summary Judgment in Title VII Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Case Introduction The case of Ladonna Hockman v. Westward Communications, LLC adjudicated by the United States...

Due Process Protections for Parole Conditions Imposing Sex Offender Status Without Conviction: Coleman v. Dretke

Date: Dec 22, 2004

Due Process Protections for Parole Conditions Imposing Sex Offender Status Without Conviction: Coleman v. Dretke Introduction Tony Ray Coleman v. Doug Dretke, Director, Texas Department of Criminal...

Enhanced Standards for "Similarly Situated" Employees in Disparate Treatment Claims: Insights from Ja v. PEREZ

Date: Dec 22, 2004

Enhanced Standards for "Similarly Situated" Employees in Disparate Treatment Claims: Insights from Ja v. PEREZ Introduction The case of Ja v. PEREZ, decided by the United States Court of Appeals for...

Contingent Fee Contract Interpretation under Texas Law: Analysis of Gonzalez v. Denning

Date: Dec 21, 2004

Contingent Fee Contract Interpretation under Texas Law: Analysis of Gonzalez v. Denning Introduction The case of Oscar C. Gonzalez v. Leon Denning, Sharon Denning, and John J. Muldoon III (394 F.3d...

Standing Requirements in Bankruptcy Litigation and Modification of Legal Fees under 11 U.S.C. §328(a)

Date: Dec 21, 2004

Standing Requirements in Bankruptcy Litigation and Modification of Legal Fees under 11 U.S.C. §328(a) Introduction The case of In the Matter of COHO ENERGY INC., Debtor. Gibbs Bruns LLP vs. Coho...

Collateral Estoppel Inapplicable for §523(a)(4) Non-Dischargeable Debts When State Fiduciary Findings Are Insufficient – Gupta v. Eastern Idaho

Date: Dec 18, 2004

Collateral Estoppel Inapplicable for §523(a)(4) Non-Dischargeable Debts When State Fiduciary Findings Are Insufficient – Gupta v. Eastern Idaho Introduction In the landmark case of Shailesh Gupta v....

Affirmation of Jurisdiction and Independent Creation in Copyright Infringement: Positive Black Talk Inc. v. Cash Money Records Inc.

Date: Dec 18, 2004

Affirmation of Jurisdiction and Independent Creation in Copyright Infringement: Positive Black Talk Inc. v. Cash Money Records Inc. Introduction The case of Positive Black Talk Inc., doing business...

Affirming the Necessity of Reliable Expert Testimony in MPLA Design Defect Claims: Guy v. Crown Equipment Corporation

Date: Dec 16, 2004

Affirming the Necessity of Reliable Expert Testimony in MPLA Design Defect Claims: Guy v. Crown Equipment Corporation Introduction The case of Michelle Guy v. Crown Equipment Corporation, adjudicated...

INS Fails to Provide Specific Legitimate Reasons in ADEA Claims: Clara Patrick v. Tom Ridge

Date: Dec 16, 2004

INS Fails to Provide Specific Legitimate Reasons in ADEA Claims: Clara Patrick v. Tom Ridge 1. Introduction In Clara Patrick v. Tom Ridge, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security, 394 F.3d 311...

Affirming Racial Discrimination in Warranty Service Claims: Causey v. Sewell Cadillac-Chevrolet and General Motors

Date: Dec 15, 2004

Affirming Racial Discrimination in Warranty Service Claims: Causey v. Sewell Cadillac-Chevrolet and General Motors Introduction The case of Tyrone Causey v. Sewell Cadillac-Chevrolet, Inc. and...

Strengthening Standards for Leave to Amend and Enforcement of Choice-of-Law Clauses: An Analysis of Smith v. EMC Corporation

Date: Dec 11, 2004

Strengthening Standards for Leave to Amend and Enforcement of Choice-of-Law Clauses: An Analysis of Smith v. EMC Corporation Introduction The case of George Michael Smith v. EMC Corporation (393 F.3d...

Porter v. Ascension Parish School Board: Defining First Amendment Protections for Off-Campus Student Speech and Qualified Immunity for School Officials

Date: Dec 11, 2004

Porter v. Ascension Parish School Board: Defining First Amendment Protections for Off-Campus Student Speech and Qualified Immunity for School Officials Introduction Porter v. Ascension Parish School...

Affirmation of Daubert Standards in Eighth Amendment Causation Claims: Burleson v. Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice

Date: Dec 10, 2004

Affirmation of Daubert Standards in Eighth Amendment Causation Claims: Burleson v. Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice Introduction Raymond Burleson, an inmate within the Texas Department of Criminal...

Clarifying the Application of the Berry Test in Rule 33 Motions

Date: Dec 10, 2004

Clarifying the Application of the Berry Test in Rule 33 Motions Introduction In the case of United States of America v. Richard E. Wall (389 F.3d 457), the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Affirmation of Prison Religious Accommodation Standards under RLUIPA: Adkins v. Kaspar

Date: Dec 9, 2004

Affirmation of Prison Religious Accommodation Standards under RLUIPA: Adkins v. Kaspar Introduction In Donald M. Adkins v. Don Kaspar, et al., the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit...

Expansion of Maritime Liens: Inclusion of Subfreights in "All Freights" Clause

Date: Dec 9, 2004

Expansion of Maritime Liens: Inclusion of Subfreights in "All Freights" Clause Introduction In the landmark case of CHEMBULK TRADING LLC v. CHEMEX LTD., the United States Court of Appeals for the...

Carrieri v. Jobs.com Inc.: Defining Equity Securities in Bankruptcy Proceedings

Date: Dec 8, 2004

Carrieri v. Jobs.com Inc.: Defining Equity Securities in Bankruptcy Proceedings Introduction Carrieri v. Jobs.com Inc., 393 F.3d 508 (5th Cir. 2004), is a landmark case from the United States Court...

Appellate Review of Discovery Orders Directed at Non-Parties in Ancillary Proceedings: A New Precedent in the Fifth Circuit

Date: Dec 8, 2004

Appellate Review of Discovery Orders Directed at Non-Parties in Ancillary Proceedings: A New Precedent in the Fifth Circuit Introduction The case of Ken WIWA, Indigo v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Company...