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Folks v. Sainato — 5th Cir. (Aug 3, 2026)

No. 25-30456 Argued August 3, 2026 Published August 8, 2026; updated August 22, 2026

The Fifth Circuit reviews a defense verdict in Jared Folks's civil rights suit against Plaquemines Parish deputy Vincenzo Sainato and Sheriff Gerald Turlich. Folks was arrested after a truck owned by his company struck a subdivision gate. Surveillance later confirmed that he was not the driver, and the charges were dismissed. A jury found Sainato not liable. The district court denied Folks's renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law, relief available only when no reasonable jury could reach the verdict, and his request for a new trial. Counsel for Folks will argue that the video left no reasonable basis for the verdict. Laura Rodrigue will argue for Sainato and Turlich that other evidence supported the jury's view. After this argument, the court affirmed, holding that the record supported the verdict and rejecting Folks's challenge to a mitigation of damages instruction.

Folks v. Sainato (No. 25-30456) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued August 3, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-30456_8-3-2026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings?docket=25-30456
Opinion — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/unpub/25/25-30456.0.pdf
Opinion search — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions?docket=25-30456
District court order denying post-trial relief — Justia:https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/louisiana/laedce/2%3A2023cv00643/259631/132/0.pdf
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-30456

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