Title
The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: A Review of Selected 2009-2010 Insurance Decisions
Journal Title
Texas Tech Law Review
Volume
43
Issue
3
First Page
971
Document Type
Article
Publication Information
2011
Abstract
In light of the Erie doctrine, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit should certify insurance-conflict questions to the Texas Supreme Court when the opportunity presents itself. Twelve insurance-related cases decided by the Fifth Circuit illustrate issues that the Fifth Circuit struggle with when dealing with Erie problems. These insurance decisions concern jurisdictional, procedural, and substantive questions. How the Fifth Circuit applies the Erie doctrine is investigated at length. In the overwhelming majority of the cases, the panels faithfully adhered to the doctrine. The decisions were generally fair and based upon careful reviews of relevant facts and on intelligent applications of settled rules. However, the analyses of a few of the cases revealed inconsistent decisions. In light of these analyses, the Texas Supreme Court is superiorly qualified and better suited to determine what Texas’s law is and should be. Federal district courts may be in Texas, but they are not of Texas.
Recommended Citation
Willy E. Rice, The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit: A Review of Selected 2009-2010 Insurance Decisions, 43 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 971 (2011).