5th Circuit Case Commentaries

Affirmation of Conviction Based on Sufficiency of Evidence in Drug Distribution: United States v. Villarreal

Date: Mar 7, 2003

Affirmation of Conviction Based on Sufficiency of Evidence in Drug Distribution: United States v. Villarreal Introduction United States v. Rodolfo Ricardo Villarreal, decided by the United States...

Establishing Personal Jurisdiction Through Purposeful Availment: Central Freight Lines Inc. v. APA Transport Corp.

Date: Mar 6, 2003

Establishing Personal Jurisdiction Through Purposeful Availment: Central Freight Lines Inc. v. APA Transport Corp. Introduction The case of Central Freight Lines Inc. (CFL) v. APA Transport Corp.,...

Reaffirmation of Brecht's Harmless Error Standard Under AEDPA: Robertson v. Cain

Date: Mar 6, 2003

Reaffirmation of Brecht's Harmless Error Standard Under AEDPA: Robertson v. Cain Introduction Donald Ray Robertson, a prisoner at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, appealed his conviction for two...

Kane Enterprises v. MacGregor (USA) Inc.: Establishing Jurisdictional Boundaries for Sub-Subcontractor Claims

Date: Feb 28, 2003

Kane Enterprises v. MacGregor (USA) Inc.: Establishing Jurisdictional Boundaries for Sub-Subcontractor Claims Introduction Kane Enterprises v. MacGregor (USA) Inc., 322 F.3d 371 (5th Cir. 2003), is a...

Remanding Arbitration Fraud Claims: American Heritage v. Lang

Date: Feb 27, 2003

Remanding Arbitration Fraud Claims: American Heritage v. Lang Introduction The case of American Heritage Life Insurance Company; First Colonial Insurance Company; and Fidelity National Corporation,...

Defining "Ultimate Employment Decision" in Title VII Retaliation Claims: Insights from Hernandez v. Crawford Building Material Co.

Date: Feb 22, 2003

Defining "Ultimate Employment Decision" in Title VII Retaliation Claims: Insights from Hernandez v. Crawford Building Material Co. Introduction Hernandez v. Crawford Building Material Company, 321...

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Under §1997e: Implications from Frank Days v. Gary Johnson

Date: Feb 22, 2003

Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Under §1997e: Implications from Frank Days v. Gary Johnson Introduction Frank Days v. Gary L. Johnson, 322 F.3d 863 (5th Cir. 2003), is a pivotal appellate...

Adverse Employment Action under Title VII and §1983: Analysis of Banks v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board

Date: Feb 20, 2003

Adverse Employment Action under Title VII and §1983: Analysis of Banks v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Introduction The case of Dolores Banks et al. v. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board...

Admissibility of Expert Testimony on Marijuana-Induced Impairment in Wrongful Death Cases: Fifth Circuit Sets New Precedent

Date: Feb 20, 2003

Admissibility of Expert Testimony on Marijuana-Induced Impairment in Wrongful Death Cases: Fifth Circuit Sets New Precedent Introduction The case of Sonia Bocanegra v. Vicmar Services, Inc. et al. is...

Differentiating Class Certification Standards: Fifth Circuit Clarifies Rule 23(b)(2) vs. 23(b)(3) in Misrepresentation Claims

Date: Feb 15, 2003

Differentiating Class Certification Standards: Fifth Circuit Clarifies Rule 23(b)(2) vs. 23(b)(3) in Misrepresentation Claims Introduction The case of Donnie McManus and June McManus v. Fleetwood...

Class Action Certification Standards under RESPA and Texas UPL: Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. v. O'Sullivan et al.

Date: Feb 8, 2003

Class Action Certification Standards under RESPA and Texas UPL: Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. v. O'Sullivan et al. Introduction The case Theresa O'SULLIVAN et al. v. COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC. et...

Reaffirming ADA Standards: Analysis of Gowesky v. Singing River Hospital Systems

Date: Feb 7, 2003

Reaffirming ADA Standards: Analysis of Gowesky v. Singing River Hospital Systems Introduction The case of Brenda A. Gowesky, M.D., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Singing River Hospital Systems, d/b/a Ocean...

Federal Courts and Abstention Doctrine: Insights from Kelly Investment, Inc. v. Continental Common Corp.

Date: Feb 5, 2003

Federal Courts and Abstention Doctrine: Insights from Kelly Investment, Inc. v. Continental Common Corp. Introduction Kelly Investment, Inc. v. Continental Common Corp. (315 F.3d 494) is a pivotal...

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Whelan v. Winchester Production Company: Clarifying RICO’s Enterprise Requirement

Date: Jan 31, 2003

Affirmation of Summary Judgment in Whelan v. Winchester Production Company: Clarifying RICO’s Enterprise Requirement Introduction The case of Whelan et al. v. Winchester Production Company et al....

Attribution of Drug Quantities in Conspiracy Cases Post-Apprendi: Insights from United States v. Turner

Date: Jan 28, 2003

Attribution of Drug Quantities in Conspiracy Cases Post-Apprendi: Insights from United States v. Turner Introduction The case of United States v. John Turner (319 F.3d 716, 5th Cir. 2003) presents a...

Affirmation of Controlled Substance Possession Standards Post-Apprendi: United States v. Gamez-Gonzalez

Date: Jan 28, 2003

Affirmation of Controlled Substance Possession Standards Post-Apprendi: United States v. Gamez-Gonzalez Introduction The case of United States of America v. Jose Alberto Gamez-Gonzalez (319 F.3d 695)...

Finality of Convictions for Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. §2244(d)(1): Comprehensive Analysis of Floyd Cal v. Roberts

Date: Jan 25, 2003

Finality of Convictions for Habeas Corpus Under 28 U.S.C. §2244(d)(1): Comprehensive Analysis of Floyd Cal v. Roberts Introduction Floyd Calvin Roberts, an inmate from Rosharon, Texas, challenged the...

Establishing Substantial Justification for Government Positions under the EAJA and Clarifying Interest Entitlement under the Prompt Payment Act

Date: Jan 23, 2003

Establishing Substantial Justification for Government Positions under the EAJA and Clarifying Interest Entitlement under the Prompt Payment Act Introduction In Charles Davidson, doing business as...

Willful Infringement as a Prerequisite for Accounting of Profits in Trademark Cases

Date: Jan 21, 2003

Willful Infringement as a Prerequisite for Accounting of Profits in Trademark Cases Introduction The case Quick Technologies, Inc. v. The Sage Group PLC and Sage US Holdings, Inc. (313 F.3d 338)...

Ambiguity in 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1): Limiting Multiple Firearm Convictions in the Fifth Circuit

Date: Jan 16, 2003

Ambiguity in 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1): Limiting Multiple Firearm Convictions in the Fifth Circuit Introduction In the case of UNITED STATES of America v. Michael Shane Phipps and Dean Rayburn Gilley,...