Business Court Denies Defendants’ Motion to Remand Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Dispute to District Court

by George Christian | May 15, 2026

The Business Court has denied a motion by defendants in a misappropriation of trade secrets dispute to remand the case to the Harris County district court in which it was originally filed. Aspire Commercial, LLC v. Christopher Stephenson and BES.AI, LLC (2026 Tex....

Business Court Grants Summary Judgment for Plaintiff in Dispute Over Acquisition of Weatherford Apartment Complex

by George Christian | May 15, 2026

In another of the real estate disputes that appear to be popular in the Business Court, the court has granted summary judgment to Plaintiff that sold a $76 million apartment complex in Weatherford to a real estate management firm. The Mark at Weatherford Owner, LLC v....

15th Court: Chief Justice Brister Calls Out Private Litigation Fund’s Qui Tam Action for Perpetrating a “Fraud” and “Privateering” at Expense of the Public

by George Christian | May 15, 2026

Dissenting from the majority’s decision to deny mandamus relief to a defendant in a Medicaid fraud qui tam lawsuit brought by a private litigation fund, Chief Justice Scott Brister, following up on Justice Evan Young and James Sullivan’s concurring opinion in an...

SCOTX Reinstates Rule 91a Dismissal of Fraud Claim Against DART Contractor

by George Christian | May 13, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Dallas Court of Appeals decision throwing out a trial court order dismissing a Rule 91a motion to dismiss a subcontractor’s fraud claim against a contractor hired by DART to provide certain transit services. MV Transportation,...

SCOTX Rules That VELO Pouches Are Taxable as Tobacco Substitutes

by George Christian | May 13, 2026

In an opinion that significantly affects the growing market for nicotine products that don’t contain tobacco, the Texas Supreme Court has held that VELO pouches, which are made of non-tobacco plant matter soaked with nicotine isolate, are taxable as a “tobacco...

SCOTX Mandamuses Dallas County Trial Court for Denying Insurers’ Motion to Compel Appraisal Under Commercial Property Policy

by George Christian | May 12, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has granted a group of insurance companies’ petition for writ of mandamus to compel a Dallas County trial court to grant their motion to compel appraisal in a dispute with three national commercial property owners over damage to a warehouse...

Beaumont Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying Special Appearance of South Carolina Entity in Texas Contract Dispute

by George Christian | May 9, 2026

The Beaumont Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order denying the special appearance of a South Carolina defendant from a lawsuit arising out of a contract between Texas entities. Vikor Scientific, LLC v. Kachina Air, Inc., GAO Air, LLC f/k/a GSAIC, LLC,...

Austin Court of Appeals Reversed TC Dismissal of Nuisance Claim Against Landowners Who Leased Property for Construction of Battery Storage System

by George Christian | May 8, 2026

The Austin Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order dismissing a negligent nuisance claim against landowners who leased property to a subsidiary of Samsung for construction of a battery energy storage system. Jim Clements, Guadalupe Gutierrez, Cynthia...

Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals Throws Out Lawsuit Filed by Parent Angry That Daughter Was Selected as Co-Captain of Cheer Team, Not Sole Captain

by George Christian | May 7, 2026

We know what you’re thinking, but this is not an April Fool’s joke. The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a parent of a high-schooler who was named co-captain of her cheer team, instead of sole captain. La Joya Independent School...

Austin Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying Motion to Transfer Venue in Dispute Over Royalties from Groundwater Leases

by George Christian | May 6, 2026

The Austin Court of Appeals has reversed a Travis County trial court’s denial of a defendant’s motion to transfer venue in a dispute over allegedly unpaid royalties on groundwater leases in Burleson and Milam Counties. The court held that the mandatory venue statute,...