Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca5-15-60034/USCOURTS-ca5-15-60034-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Leaf River Cellulose, L.L.C.
Appellee
Joseph Edward Parker
Appellant

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

No. 15-60034

Summary Calendar

JOSEPH EDWARD PARKER, 

 Plaintiff - Appellant

v.

LEAF RIVER CELLULOSE, L.L.C., 

 Defendant - Appellee

Appeal from the United States District Court

for the Southern District of Mississippi

USDC No. 2:14-CV-9

Before REAVLEY, DENNIS, and SOUTHWICK, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:*

Joseph Edward Parker appealed the district court’s dismissal of his 

wrongful discharge claim against his employer, Leaf River Cellulose, L.L.C. 

We affirmed. Parker v. Leaf River Cellulose, L.L.C., 621 F. App’x 271 (5th Cir. 

2015). A month after our affirmance, another panel certified a question to the 

Mississippi Supreme Court that addressed the same legal issues we faced in 

 

* Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 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 

CIR. R. 47.5.4.

United States Court of Appeals

Fifth Circuit

FILED

August 10, 2016

Lyle W. Cayce

Clerk

 Case: 15-60034 Document: 00513632446 Page: 1 Date Filed: 08/10/2016
No. 15-60034

2

this appeal. Swindol v. Aurora Flight Scis. Corp., 805 F.3d 516, 523 (5th Cir. 

2015). We therefore held the mandate in the current case. 

The question the Swindol panel asked, equally applicable in the present

appeal, was the following:

Whether in Mississippi an employer may be liable for a wrongful 

discharge of an employee for storing a firearm in a locked vehicle 

on company property in a manner that is consistent with 

[Mississippi Code] Section 45–9–55.

Id. Succinctly put, the Mississippi Supreme Court answered “yes.” Swindol v. 

Aurora Flight Scis. Corp., -- So. 3d -- , 2016 WL 1165448 (Miss. Mar. 24, 2016), 

reh’g denied (July 28, 2016). 

Upon receiving the Mississippi Supreme Court’s answer, the Swindol 

panel summarized the effect of the state court’s response, then vacated and 

remanded to the district court. Swindol v. Aurora Flight Scis Corp., -- F.3d -- ,

No 14-60779 (5th Cir. Aug. 8, 2016). We similarly conclude that we must 

withdraw our previous opinion, REVERSE the district court’s order dismissing 

Parker’s claim, and REMAND this case for further proceedings.1 

 

1 Leaf River’s motion for leave to file supplemental authorities is DENIED. Further 

judicial consideration of the Mississippi Supreme Court’s explanation of this statute should 

begin in the district court. 

 Case: 15-60034 Document: 00513632446 Page: 2 Date Filed: 08/10/2016