US Courts

Tatum ISD v. Alonza McAllister - Tax Foreclosure Excess Proceeds

The Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District affirmed the trial court's order permitting Darnell McAllister to recover $70,471.18 in excess proceeds remaining after a tax foreclosure sale of his property. The appellate court rejected Tatum ISD's argument that the claim was untimely under Section 34.04(a) of the Texas Tax Code's two-year filing deadline. Docket No. 06-25-00077-CV.

Leon Cauley Jr. v. State of Texas - Injury to Disabled Person

The Texas Court of Appeals, 9th District (Beaumont) affirmed Leon Cauley Jr.'s conviction for injury to a disabled person, a first-degree felony. The court upheld the 30-year sentence despite defendant's four issues challenging trial court evidentiary rulings regarding hearsay, extraneous offense evidence, and criminal trespass warning evidence.

Papillion v. Texas - Criminal Appeal Dismissed

The Texas Court of Appeals, 9th District (Beaumont) dismissed defendant Thaddeus Deshun Papillion's appeal from a guilty plea conviction for possession of a controlled substance. The appeal was dismissed as untimely because Papillion failed to file his notice of appeal by the August 8, 2025 deadline and did not seek an extension within the permissible 15-day window.

Delkei Derrett v. State of Texas - Sexual Assault Appeal

The Texas Court of Appeals, 7th District, affirmed Delkei Derrett's sexual assault conviction and sentence. The appellant was sentenced to ten years imprisonment (suspended to eight years community supervision) plus three days in jail. The court granted defense counsel's motion to withdraw following an Anders brief review, finding no meritorious issues on appeal.

Isaac Mills III v. VR Estancia Holdings - Appeal Dismissed

The Texas Court of Appeals, Sixth District dismissed appeal No. 06-25-00105-CV for want of prosecution after pro se appellant Isaac Mills III failed to file an appellate brief despite court warnings. The appeal arose from a forcible entry and detainer action originating in Denton County. The court applied Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure 38.8 and 42.3 to dismiss.

Galvan v. State of Texas - Murder Conviction Affirmed

The Texas Court of Appeals, 8th District (El Paso) affirmed Moises Galvan's conviction for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The jury had found Galvan guilty of a January 2017 shooting outside the Bar Fly in El Paso that killed Rogelio Franco, Jr. and injured David Ortega. The court rejected Galvan's claims of jury-charge errors, erroneous exclusion of expert opinion, and speedy trial right violation.

Blunt v. Town of Gilbert - Certification of Questions to Arizona Supreme Court

The Ninth Circuit certified three questions to the Arizona Supreme Court regarding the 2022 amendment to Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 38-1102 (Arizona Peace Officers Bill of Rights). The certified questions address whether the presumption against retroactivity bars application of the amendment to at-will employment agreements signed before 2022, and whether such application would violate the Contract Clause of the Arizona State Constitution. The case involves Brian Blunt, a 21-year veteran police officer terminated by the Town of Gilbert.

King v. Villegas - En Banc Rehearing Ordered

The Ninth Circuit granted en banc rehearing in King v. Villegas (No. 23-1713), vacating the prior three-judge panel opinion. The case originated from the Eastern District of California (Case No. 1:17-cv-00676-JLT-EPG). This procedural order remands the matter for full court reconsideration without specifying the underlying claims or panel decision contents.

United States v. Miller - Criminal Fraud Sentence Enhancement Appeal

The Third Circuit affirmed Christopher Miller's sentence for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unlawful monetary transactions related to $2+ million in COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud. Miller appealed the District Court's application of a four-level sentencing enhancement under U.S.S.G. § 3B1.1(a), arguing the court incorrectly classified certain individuals as criminal activity participants. The appellate court found harmless error in the District Court's legal analysis but affirmed the sentence.

In re Moilanen - Lien Avoidance Under Homestead Exemption

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado issued an order partially granting Debtor Michael Moilanen's motion to avoid judgment liens impairing his $250,000 homestead exemption on his Castle Rock, Colorado residence valued at $2,112,800. The court avoided the Douglas County tax lien ($5,166.52) and certain judgment liens while maintaining others, including the first mortgage lien ($1,642,493.73).