5th Circuit Case Commentaries

Establishing the Limits of Disparate Impact Claims under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Stout v. Baxter Healthcare Corp.

Date: Feb 20, 2002

Establishing the Limits of Disparate Impact Claims under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Stout v. Baxter Healthcare Corp. Introduction The case of Wilma Nicole Stout v. Baxter Healthcare...

Rivera v. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories: Establishing Strict Standing Requirements in Class Actions

Date: Feb 16, 2002

Rivera v. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories: Establishing Strict Standing Requirements in Class Actions Introduction In the landmark case Rivera v. Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, decided on February 15, 2002, by...

Arbitration Scope Expanded to Inseparable Nonsignatories: Commentary on Ross Hill v. GE Capital Corp.

Date: Feb 12, 2002

Arbitration Scope Expanded to Inseparable Nonsignatories: Commentary on Ross Hill v. GE Capital Corp. Introduction In the landmark case Ross Hill; Paul Grimes; Canatxx Energy Ventures, Inc.,...

Affirmation of Knowledge Requirement for Innocent Spouse Relief under IRC §6015 in Cheshire v. Commissioner

Date: Feb 9, 2002

Affirmation of Knowledge Requirement for Innocent Spouse Relief under IRC §6015 in Cheshire v. Commissioner Introduction Cheshire v. Commissioner, 282 F.3d 326 (5th Cir. 2002), is a pivotal case...

Stirman v. Exxon Corporation: Implications for Multi-State Class Certifications under FRCP 23

Date: Feb 2, 2002

Stirman v. Exxon Corporation: Implications for Multi-State Class Certifications under FRCP 23 1. Introduction The case of Stirman and Hunter v. Exxon Corporation addresses significant issues related...

Reinstatement and Retaliation under FMLA: Insights from Hunt v. Rapides Healthcare System

Date: Jan 31, 2002

Reinstatement and Retaliation under FMLA: Insights from Hunt v. Rapides Healthcare System Introduction The case Kathy Hunt v. Rapides Healthcare System, LLC, adjudicated by the United States Court of...

Affirmation of Disability Under ERISA and Fair Policy Interpretation: Lain v. Unum Life Insurance Co.

Date: Jan 30, 2002

Affirmation of Disability Under ERISA and Fair Policy Interpretation: Lain v. Unum Life Insurance Co. Introduction The case of Ellen Lain v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America (279 F.3d 337)...

Hess v. Cockrell: Restricting Rule 60(b)(6) Relief in Habeas Corpus Petitions

Date: Jan 25, 2002

Hess v. Cockrell: Restricting Rule 60(b)(6) Relief in Habeas Corpus Petitions Introduction In Jeffrey Hess v. Janie Cockrell, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit addressed...

Non-Signatory Minors Not Bound by Parental Arbitration Agreements: Fifth Circuit's Decision in Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. v. Gaskamp

Date: Jan 25, 2002

Non-Signatory Minors Not Bound by Parental Arbitration Agreements: Fifth Circuit's Decision in Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. v. Gaskamp Introduction The case of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., Fleetwood...

Obligation of Excess Insurers to Defend Under Texas Law: Schneider National Transport v. Ford Motor Company

Date: Jan 19, 2002

Obligation of Excess Insurers to Defend Under Texas Law: Schneider National Transport v. Ford Motor Company Introduction Schneider National Transport, Etc., Plaintiff, v. Ford Motor Company; et al.,...

Sanctions under 28 U.S.C. §1927 and 15 U.S.C. §1117(a): Procter & Gamble Co. v. Amway Corp.

Date: Jan 18, 2002

Sanctions under 28 U.S.C. §1927 and 15 U.S.C. §1117(a): Procter & Gamble Co. v. Amway Corp. Commentary Introduction Procter & Gamble Company ("PG") filed a lawsuit against Amway Corporation and...

Implications of Comparative Negligence and Maintenance and Cure in Maritime Law: Boudreaux v. United States

Date: Jan 16, 2002

Implications of Comparative Negligence and Maintenance and Cure in Maritime Law: Boudreaux v. United States Introduction Carroll P. Boudreaux, a seasoned merchant seaman with 25 years of experience,...

Fifth Circuit Clarifies Limits on Rule 41(a)(2) Dismissals: Ensuring Protection Against Legal Prejudice

Date: Jan 15, 2002

Fifth Circuit Clarifies Limits on Rule 41(a)(2) Dismissals: Ensuring Protection Against Legal Prejudice Introduction In the appellate case James E. Elbaor, MD PA, Indi v. Tripath Imaging, Inc., the...

Cozzo v. Tangipahoa Parish: Examining Qualified Immunity and Constraints on Sovereign Immunity for Local Law Enforcement under 42 U.S.C. §1983

Date: Jan 11, 2002

Cozzo v. Tangipahoa Parish: Examining Qualified Immunity and Constraints on Sovereign Immunity for Local Law Enforcement under 42 U.S.C. §1983 Introduction This comprehensive commentary analyzes the...

Cross-Sex Prison Surveillance Upheld: Analysis of Oliver v. Scott et al.

Date: Jan 10, 2002

Cross-Sex Prison Surveillance Upheld: Analysis of Oliver v. Scott et al. Introduction Case: Norman Charles Oliver v. Wayne Scott, et al. Court: United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit Date:...

Non-Alteration of Insurance Policies via Certificates of Insurance Affirmed in TIG Insurance Co. v. Sedgwick James

Date: Jan 10, 2002

Non-Alteration of Insurance Policies via Certificates of Insurance Affirmed in TIG Insurance Co. v. Sedgwick James Introduction The case of TIG Insurance Company and Safety Lights Sales Leasing, Inc....

Establishing the "Medical Improvement" Standard in Closed Period Social Security Disability Cases

Date: Jan 9, 2002

Establishing the "Medical Improvement" Standard in Closed Period Social Security Disability Cases Introduction The case of James R. Waters v. Jo Anne B. Barnhart (276 F.3d 716) addressed a pivotal...

Limitation of Liability in Insurance Contracts: Insights from Merle Manguno v. Prudential

Date: Jan 9, 2002

Limitation of Liability in Insurance Contracts: Insights from Merle Manguno v. Prudential Introduction The case of Merle Manguno, Indi v. Prudential (276 F.3d 720) adjudicated by the United States...

Prescription and Release in Investment Banking Fiduciary Duty Claims: Analysis of Copeland v. Wasserstein

Date: Jan 5, 2002

Prescription and Release in Investment Banking Fiduciary Duty Claims: Analysis of Copeland v. Wasserstein Introduction The case of Alvin C. Copeland v. Wasserstein, Perella Co., Inc., and Charles G....

Enforcement of Lease Maintenance Obligations: ITS v. VASP Brazilian Airlines

Date: Jan 5, 2002

Enforcement of Lease Maintenance Obligations: ITS v. VASP Brazilian Airlines Introduction In the case of International Turbine Services, Inc. (ITS) v. VASP Brazilian Airlines, the United States Court...