Securing Affirmance in the Fifth Circuit
October 15, 2026 — Opinion issued
Ricardo Pumarejo (far left) with his clients' trial counsel—Marissa Hernandez, Preston Henrichson, and Michael A. McGurk—at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
On October 15, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed a judgment in favor of Ricardo Pumarejo’s clients, Hidalgo County and Deputies Brian Ayala and Juan Flores, in Martinez v. Hidalgo County, No. 25-40464.
The decision upheld summary judgment on all federal civil-rights and Texas Tort Claims Act claims, as well as the denial of the plaintiffs’ motion to alter or amend the judgment. The appeal involved Fourth Amendment protections, qualified immunity, governmental liability, and postjudgment relief.
Ricardo handled appellate briefing and oral argument in defense of the judgment, presenting oral argument before the Fifth Circuit on August 3, 2026.