Wiggins v. Poyner Spruill ( 2022 )

Case: 21-20619 Document: 00516541690 Page: 1 Date Filed: 11/10/2022
United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
No. 21-20619 FILED
Summary Calendar November 10, 2022
Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
Curtis Wiggins,
Plaintiff—Appellant,
versus
Poyner Spruill L.L.P.,
Defendant—Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Texas
USDC No. 4:20-cv-4048
Before Clement, Southwick, and Engelhardt, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam:*
Plaintiff Curtis Wiggins appeals the district court’s grant of summary
judgment in favor of Defendant Poyner Spruill L.L.P. In its 35-word order,
the district court provided no justification as to why it granted Defendant’s
motion. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(a) requires district courts to
*
Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this
opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4.
Case: 21-20619 Document: 00516541690 Page: 2 Date Filed: 11/10/2022
No. 21-20619
“state on the record the reasons for granting or denying [a] motion [for
summary judgment].” Thus, we “require[] that a district court explain its
reasons for granting a motion for summary judgment in sufficient detail for
us to determine whether the court correctly applied the appropriate legal
test.” Wildbur v. ARCO Chem. Co., 974 F.2d 631, 644 (5th Cir. 1992). This
is because we have “little opportunity for effective review” when the district
court opinion leaves some reasoning “vague” or “unsaid.” Myers v. Gulf Oil
Corp., 731 F.2d 281, 284 (5th Cir. 1984). “In such cases, we have not
hesitated to remand [a] case . . . .” Id. Consequently, we remand the district
court order to consider the cross-motions for summary judgment anew.1
* * *
We VACATE and REMAND for further consideration consistent
with this opinion.
1
Judge Gilmore retired from judicial service after issuing her order granting
summary judgment. The case has been reassigned to Judge Bennett.
2