Fort Worth Court of Appeals Affirms TC Summary Judgment for Contractor in Third-Party Liability Case

by George Christian | May 19, 2026

The Fort Worth Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order granting summary judgment to a contractor in a worksite injury case in which the plaintiff alleged that the contractor retained control of the subcontractor’s work. Jeremy Haggard v. Blattner Energy,...

SCOTX Mandamuses Trial Court for Allowing Direct Liability Claim Against Trucking Company’s Customer in Wrongful Death Case

by George Christian | May 19, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has granted a shipper’s petition for writ of mandamus after a trial court denied its Rule 91a motion to dismiss a wrongful death plaintiff’s claim that the shipper negligently hired a federally-regulated carrier to haul its goods. In re Home...

Dallas Court of Appeals Affirms Defense Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Case

by George Christian | May 18, 2026

The Dallas Court of Appeals has affirmed a Dallas County district court’s order granting summary judgment to an independent contractor and subcontractor in a wrongful death action. Christina C. Torres, Individually and as Next Friend of L.N.T., a Minor and as...

SCOTX Reverses Fort Worth Court of Appeals Application of “Gist Rule” to a Royalty Dispute Involving Mineral Leases in West Virginia

by George Christian | May 18, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Fort Worth Court of Appeals decision overturning a trial court judgment awarding various equitable remedies to a plaintiff in a dispute over royalty payments owed on mineral leases in West Virginia. The Court’s ruling rejects the...

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...