Reversing San Antonio Court of Appeals, SCOTX Holds That A Turkey Trot is “Recreational”

by George Christian | Mar 24, 2026

In a decision reminiscent of the Dallas Court of Appeals’ pronouncement that a tornado is not a windstorm, the Texas Supreme Court reversed a San Antonio Court of Appeals decision that (mind-bogglingly) held that a jogger in a 5K run in downtown San Antonio was not...

SCOTX Upholds “Location of Buyer” Sourcing Rule for Apportioning Texas Receipts Under Franchise Tax

by George Christian | Mar 23, 2026

In an important tax decision for the state, the Texas Supreme Court has affirmed an Austin Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a Comptroller rule that governs sourcing of a taxpayer’s gross receipts for purposes of apportioning them to Texas under the franchise tax....

Eastland Court of Appeals Holds That Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act Does Not Bar Contractor From Enforcing, as Third-Party Beneficiary, Mutual Defense and Indemnification Agreement Between Operator and Oilfield Services Provider

by George Christian | Mar 20, 2026

In a case that thoroughly reviews the question of whether the Texas Oilfield Anti-Indemnity Act (Chapter 127) excludes claims by third-party beneficiaries to enforce “knock-for-knock” agreements between operators and oilfield services contractors, the Eastland Court...

SCOTX Reverses Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Affirmation of $26 Million Award to Fracking Water Supplier in Breach of Contract Case

by George Christian | Mar 19, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Houston [1st] Court of Appeals decision affirming a sizable judgment in favor of a fracking water supplier in a breach of contract case. Equinor Energy LP v. Lindale Pipeline (No. 24-0425; March 13, 2026) arose a contract dispute...

SCOTX Reverses El Paso Court of Appeals Decision Holding That 1/128 Fixed Royalty Really Meant 1/16 Floating Nonparticpating Interest

by George Christian | Mar 18, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has reversed an El Paso Court of Appeals decision that misapplied the Court’s ruling in Van Dyke v. Navigator Group to find that a deed conveying a 1/128 fixed interest actually conveyed a 1/16 floating interest. Cale Andrews Clifton, et al. v....

Divided SCOTX Reverses Beaumont Court of Appeals in Important Contractual Indemnity Case

by George Christian | Mar 17, 2026

A closely divided Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Beaumont Court of Appeals decision that erroneously applied the express negligence rule to an indemnity provision in a contract between a general and subcontractor. S&B Engineers & Constructors, Ltd. and...

SCOTX Reverses El Paso Court of Appeals Decision Blocking Landowner from Appealing Groundwater District’s Denial of Party Status

by George Christian | Mar 16, 2026

A unanimous Texas Supreme Court has reversed two El Paso Court of Appeals’ decisions holding that it lacked jurisdiction to consider a landowner’s appeal of the district’s denial of its request for party status to contest a permit application. Cockrell Investment...

Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Affirms TC Order Granting Summary Judgment for Employer in Dispute Over Arbitration Agreement

by George Christian | Mar 16, 2026

The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has affirmed a TC order granting an employer’s motion for summary judgment in case in which an arbitrator determined that Plaintiff-employee had failed to adhere to the arbitration agreement’s requirement that she submit her...

Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Reverses TC Award of Prejudgment Interest in Excess of UIM Policy Limits

by George Christian | Mar 13, 2026

The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court judgment in favor of the insured in a UIM case but reversed the trial court’s award of prejudgment interest in excess of policy limits. State Farm Automobile Insurance Company v. Lance Bellis (No....

15th Court of Appeals Reverses TC Mandamus to Force DPS to Disclose Materials Related to Uvalde Shooting to News Organizations

by George Christian | Mar 12, 2026

The 15th Court of Appeals has reversed a summary judgment for news organizations that made Public Information Requests for all materials, current and future, obtained by DPS in its investigation of the Uvalde school shooting. This doesn’t mean that some or all...