5th Circuit Case Commentaries

Illiteracy Does Not Render Arbitration Agreements Unenforceable: Fifth Circuit Reaffirms Mississippi Contract Law

Date: Mar 20, 2004

Illiteracy Does Not Render Arbitration Agreements Unenforceable: Fifth Circuit Reaffirms Mississippi Contract Law Introduction In the case of Washington Mutual Finance Group, LLC, et al. v. Bailey et...

Establishing the "But For" Causation Standard in Retaliation Claims under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act

Date: Mar 16, 2004

Establishing the "But For" Causation Standard in Retaliation Claims under the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act Introduction The case of Lorenzo Pineda III v. United Parcel Service, Inc. (360 F.3d...

Fifth Circuit Upholds Procedural Exhaustion and Limits Jury Instruction Requirements in Habeas Corpus Petition

Date: Mar 9, 2004

Fifth Circuit Upholds Procedural Exhaustion and Limits Jury Instruction Requirements in Habeas Corpus Petition Introduction The case of Jaime Elizalde, Jr. v. Doug Dretke, Director Texas Department...

Adverse Employment Actions and Continuing Violations in Racial Discrimination Claims: Insights from PEGRAM v. HONEYWELL

Date: Mar 6, 2004

Adverse Employment Actions and Continuing Violations in Racial Discrimination Claims: Insights from Pegram v. Honeywell Introduction The case of Ron L. Pegram v. Honeywell, Inc. (361 F.3d 272),...

Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements for FLSA Claims Affirmed under FAA in the Fifth Circuit

Date: Mar 6, 2004

Enforceability of Arbitration Agreements for FLSA Claims Affirmed under FAA in the Fifth Circuit Introduction The appellate decision in Loy Carter, Etc.; et al. v. Countrywide Credit Industries,...

Causation Standards and Expert Testimony in Uninsured Motorist Claims: A Comprehensive Analysis of Hamburger v. State Farm, 361 F.3d 875 (5th Cir. 2004)

Date: Mar 3, 2004

Causation Standards and Expert Testimony in Uninsured Motorist Claims: A Comprehensive Analysis of Hamburger v. State Farm, 361 F.3d 875 (5th Cir. 2004) Introduction The case of Perry Hamburger v....

Dresser-Rand v. Virtual Automation: Establishing New Precedents in Trade Secret Misappropriation and Contract Breach

Date: Feb 24, 2004

Dresser-Rand v. Virtual Automation: Establishing New Precedents in Trade Secret Misappropriation and Contract Breach Introduction The case of DRESSER-RAND COMPANY vs. VIRTUAL AUTOMATION INC....

Establishing Intent: Key Distinctions in Money Laundering and Medicare Kickback Convictions

Date: Feb 14, 2004

Establishing Intent: Key Distinctions in Money Laundering and Medicare Kickback Convictions Introduction The case of United States of America v. Alice Miles, Richard Miles, and Carrie Hamilton (360...

Affirming AEDPA's Strict Standards on Ineffective Assistance and Procedural Defaults in Capital Habeas Appeals: Busby v. Dretke

Date: Feb 5, 2004

Affirming AEDPA's Strict Standards on Ineffective Assistance and Procedural Defaults in Capital Habeas Appeals: Busby v. Dretke Introduction Jasen Shane Busby faced a capital murder conviction in...

Expansion of FCPA Scope to Include Illicit Tax Benefits: United States v. Kay and Murphy

Date: Feb 5, 2004

Expansion of FCPA Scope to Include Illicit Tax Benefits: United States v. Kay and Murphy Introduction The case of United States of America v. David Kay and Douglas Murphy (359 F.3d 738) adjudicated...

Allocution Rights and Plain Error Review: Insights from United States v. Reyna

Date: Jan 27, 2004

Allocution Rights and Plain Error Review: Insights from United States v. Reyna Introduction United States v. Miguel Enrique Reyna, 358 F.3d 344 (5th Cir. 2004), serves as a pivotal case in the...

Clarifying Standards for Fraudulent Joinder in Federal Diversity Jurisdiction: McKee v. Kansas City Southern Railway Co.

Date: Jan 24, 2004

Clarifying Standards for Fraudulent Joinder in Federal Diversity Jurisdiction: McKee v. Kansas City Southern Railway Co. Introduction The case of Phyllis Body McKee v. Kansas City Southern Railway...

Affirmation of Federal Arbitration Act Supremacy in Absence of Explicit Contractual Modification

Date: Jan 24, 2004

Affirmation of Federal Arbitration Act Supremacy in Absence of Explicit Contractual Modification Introduction The case of Action Industries, Inc. v. Engineered Handling Systems, Inc., adjudicated by...

Discretionary Upward Departures Post-Remand Not Precluded by Appellate Mandate: United States v. Lee

Date: Jan 21, 2004

Discretionary Upward Departures Post-Remand Not Precluded by Appellate Mandate: United States v. Lee Introduction In the landmark case of United States v. Timothy S. Lee, decided by the United States...

Establishing Standards for False Claims Act Allegations: Riley v. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital

Date: Jan 10, 2004

Establishing Standards for False Claims Act Allegations: Riley v. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Introduction Riley v. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital is a significant case adjudicated by the United...

Establishing Prejudice in Ineffective Assistance Claims: Young v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Date: Jan 10, 2004

Establishing Prejudice in Ineffective Assistance Claims: Young v. Texas Department of Criminal Justice Introduction Case: Edward Michael Young, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Doug Dretke, Director, Texas...

Establishing Standing in Federal Civil Rights Claims: Insights from Fredrick Pluet v. Frasier et al.

Date: Jan 10, 2004

Establishing Standing in Federal Civil Rights Claims: Insights from Fredrick Pluet v. Frasier et al. Introduction The case of Fredrick Pluet v. Margo Frasier et al. (355 F.3d 381) adjudicated by the...

Clarifying Sentencing Enhancements: Intentional Use of Force Under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2

Date: Jan 9, 2004

Clarifying Sentencing Enhancements: Intentional Use of Force Under U.S.S.G. § 2L1.2 1. Introduction The appellate case United States of America v. Enrique Vargas-Duran (356 F.3d 598) serves as a...

Salinas v. Dretke (2004): AEDPA's Statute of Limitations and Collateral Review in Texas

Date: Jan 8, 2004

Salinas v. Dretke (2004): AEDPA's Statute of Limitations and Collateral Review in Texas Introduction Gary J. Salinas v. Doug Dretke, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment: Lack of State Action in School-Sponsored Assault - E v. Priester

Date: Jan 8, 2004

Affirmation of Summary Judgment: Lack of State Action in School-Sponsored Assault - E v. Priester Introduction The case Eve Priester v. Lowndes County School District et al. presents a significant...