Leo E. Linbeck, Jr., a revered Texas business leader and great friend of civil justice reform, passed away on June 8 at the age of 78. Leo was Senior Chairman of Aquinas Companies, LLC and its subsidiary Linbeck Group. He joined the firm in 1956 after receiving a BA degree from the University of ... READ MORE
Legislation Enhancing the State’s Firefighting Capacity Signed Into Law
June 6, 2013
Under legislation authored by Rep. Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches) and Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), Texans who provide labor or assistance to the Texas Forest Service for fighting wildfires will now be protected from tort liability under certain circumstances. SB 1267 and its House companion, ... READ MORE
TCJL Session Report
June 3, 2013
TCJL 2013 Session Report The regular session of the 83rd Legislature ended on May 27. Governor Perry immediately called a special session to address congressional, House, and Senate redistricting in an effort to resolve ongoing legal challenges to the maps adopted by the Legislature in 2011. The ... READ MORE
Second Pipeline Ruling from Beaumont Court
May 29, 2013
The Ninth District Court of Appeals in Beaumont issued a second decision involving a common carrier pipeline on May 23. In this case, In re Texas Rice Land Partners, Ltd., James E. Holland, and David C. Holland (No. 09-12-00484-CV), relators petitioned the court of appeals for a writ of mandamus ... READ MORE
Comptroller Susan Combs Not Seeking Re-election
May 29, 2013
My Future Plans http://susancombs.com/Future-Plans Dear Fellow Texans, It is with a deep sense of gratitude for the past, coupled with excitement for the future, that I announce today I will not be seeking elective office in 2014. I want to make my intentions clear as soon as possible ... READ MORE
Governor To Sign Fracking Waste Recycling Legislation [HB 2767]
May 28, 2013
Later this morning Governor Rick Perry will sign HB 2767 by Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) and Sen. Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls), which clarifies ownership of oil and gas fluid drilling waste for purposes of treating and recycling such waste for subsequent beneficial use. HB 2767 clears the way for ... READ MORE
Governor Signs Inactive Docket Legislation [HB 1325]
May 28, 2013
Governor Rick Perry has signed legislation establishing a procedure for dismissing pre-2005 asbestos and silica claims from the inactive docket. HB 1325 by Rep. Doug Miller (R-New Braunfels) and Sen. Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) allows the MDL court to dismiss claims filed under the old law for which ... READ MORE
House Refuses to Concur in Senate Amendments to HB 586
May 24, 2013
Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin) just refused to concur in Senate amendments to HB 586, which waives the state's sovereign immunity in certain construction contracts. The bill was amended on the Senate floor to include SB 522 by Sen. Craig Estes, which makes significant changes to the contested case ... READ MORE
Trey Apffel Elected State Bar President
May 24, 2013
In a closely contested election, Texas lawyers have chosen League City trial attorney Trey Apffel as President-Elect of the State Bar of Texas. Apffel defeated Rockport solo practitioner Steve Fischer, who as a write-in candidate got the most votes in the initial round of balloting last month, with ... READ MORE
Beaumont Court of Appeals Issues Pipeline Ruling
May 23, 2013
Earlier today the Ninth District Court of Appeals in Beaumont issued an opinion with potentially significant implications for common carrier pipelines. In Crosstex NGL Pipeline, L.P. v. Reins Road Farms-1, Ltd. (No. 09-12-00563-CV), the issue before the court of appeals was whether a Jefferson ... READ MORE