Eastland Court of Appeals Affirms Defense Summary Judgment in Case of Wal-Mart Customer’s Murder in Parking Lot

by George Christian | Jun 19, 2026

The Eastland Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order granting summary judgment to Wal-Mart and Greyhound in a case in which a Wal-Mart customer was murdered by a mentally ill Greyhound passenger who had gotten off a Midland-bound bus in Eastland. Bulah Marie...

Tyler Court of Appeals Affirms TC Denial of Chapter 74 Motion to Dismiss Health Care Liability Claim for Inadequate Expert Report

by George Christian | Jun 18, 2026

The Tyler Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order denying a physician’s motion to dismiss a health care liability claim based on an inadequate expert report. Antoine Phasha Washington, M.D., Sonic Healthcare USA, Inc., and Aurora Diagnostics, LLC v. Glenna...

Corpus Christi Court of Appeals Reverses $27 Million Default Judgment in Construction Contract Case

by George Christian | Jun 17, 2026

The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has reversed a $27 million default judgment against a general contractor whose attorney withdrew from representation less than a week before trial. All Valley Innovations Group, LLC and Enrique J. Castellanos v. Carrell (No....

Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Reverses TC Denial of Chapter 74 Motion to Dismiss in Sexual Abuse Case

by George Christian | Jun 16, 2026

The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed a Harris County district court’s denial of a hospital’s Chapter 74 motion to dismiss on the basis of a deficient expert report. Memorial Hermann Health System v. John Doe (No. 14-25-00038-CV; February 19, 2026) arose...

El Paso Court of Appeals Applies Mailbox Rule in Tort Claims Act’s Notice of Claim Requirement

by George Christian | Jun 15, 2026

In spite of what appears to be clear statutory language to the contrary, the El Paso Court of Appeals has applied the common-law mailbox rule to affirm a trial court order denying a university health sciences center plea to the jurisdiction in medical negligence...

Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Affirms TC Grant of Summary Judgment, Sanctions, and Attorney’s Fees for Insurer in Dispute with Homeowner

by George Christian | Jun 12, 2026

The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has affirmed a Galveston County district court’s summary judgment and sanctions order in favor of an insurer in a policy dispute with homeowners. Steven Burns, Jacqueline Burns, Eric B. Dick, and the Dick Law Firm, PLLC v. Standard...

Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Rules That Insured, Absent Independent Injury, May Not Recover on Extracontractual Claims if Insurer Paid Appraisal Award

by George Christian | Jun 11, 2026

The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has held that an insurer that pays an appraisal award under a homeowner’s policy cannot also be liable for damages for extracontractual claims, absent an independent injury. Mary Brimer v. State Farm Lloyds (No. 14-24-00239-CV;...

Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Reverses TC Denial of TCPA Motion to Dismiss Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claim

by George Christian | Jun 10, 2026

The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order denying a restaurant’s TCPA motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress by restaurant employees. Rolling Dough, Ltd. d/b/a Panera Bread v. Uju Anyadike (No....

Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Affirms TC Denial of Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Case Involving Contact with a High-Voltage Power Line

by George Christian | Jun 9, 2026

The Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has, in a permissive appeal, affirmed a Harris County district court’s denial of a transmission utility’s summary judgment motion in a wrongful death case in which an employee of another entity’s contractor was electrocuted by...

Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals Mandamuses Hidalgo County Trial Court for Ignoring Appraisal Clause in Homeowner’s Insurance Policy

by George Christian | Jun 8, 2026

In the latest gem from Hidalgo County trial courts, the Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals has mandamused a count court-at-law for bypassing the appraisal clause in a homeowner’s policy and appointing an appraisal umpire from the Plaintiff’s hand-picked list. In...