Opinion ID: 64505
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: standard of review

Text: We review the grant of summary judgment de novo, applying the same legal standards as the district court applied to determine whether summary judgment was appropriate. See Am. Intern. Specialty Lines Ins. Co. v. Canal Indem. Co., 352 F.3d 254, 259-60 (5th Cir.2003). A district court's determination of state law is also reviewed de novo. Id. at 260. A summary-judgment motion is properly granted only when, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the record indicates that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). This court also reviews de novo a district court's application of the relitigation exception of the Anti-Injunction Act. Harvey Specialty & Supply, Inc. v. Anson Flowline Equip., Inc., 434 F.3d 320, 323 (5th Cir.2005). The court reviews the district court's decision to render an injunction for abuse of discretion. See Newby v. Enron Corp., 302 F.3d 295, 301 (5th Cir. 2002). In a diversity case such as this one, we apply state substantive law, here Louisiana law. See Erie R.R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 78, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938). To determine Louisiana law, we look to the final decisions of the Louisiana Supreme Court. See In re Katrina Canal Breaches Lit., 495 F.3d 191, 206 (5th Cir. 2007); Transcon. Gas Pipe Line Corp. v. Transp. Ins. Co., 953 F.2d 985, 988 (5th Cir.1992). In the absence of a final decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court, we must make an Erie guess and determine, in our best judgment, how that court would resolve the issue if presented with the same case. See Stanley v. Trinchard, 500 F.3d 411, 423 (5th Cir.2007). [7] When faced with unsettled questions of Louisiana law, we adhere to Louisiana's civilian decision-making process, by first examining primary sources of law: the constitution, codes, and statutes. Katrina Canal Breaches, 495 F.3d at 206; Lake Charles Diesel, Inc. v. General Motors Corp., 328 F.3d 192, 197 (5th Cir.2003). [T]he primary basis of law for a civilian is legislation, and not (as in the common law) a great body of tradition in the form of prior decisions of the courts. Transcon., 953 F.2d at 988 (internal quotation marks omitted). Stare decisis is foreign to Louisiana civil law. Id. Therefore, although this Court will not disregard Louisiana intermediate-appellate-court decisions unless we are convinced that the Louisiana Supreme Court would decide otherwise, we are not strictly bound by them. Katrina Canal Breaches, 495 F.3d at 206.