Business Court Grants Partial Summary Judgment in Contract Dispute Between Chemical Companies

by George Christian | May 21, 2026

The Business Court has granted partial summary judgment in a dispute between chemical companies over the terms of a purchase and exchange agreement. Westlake Longview Corp. and Westlake Chemical OPCO, LP v. Eastman Chemical Co. (2026 Tex. Bus. 26; May 13, 2026) arose...

SCOTX Orders El Paso Court of Appeals to Accept Permissive Appeal Where Trial Court Did Not Apply Binding Precedent

by George Christian | May 20, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has instructed the El Paso Court of Appeals to accept a permissive appeal to resolve a trial court’s reluctance to apply the Court’s binding precedent. The Court’s action follows through with legislative changes to the interlocutory appeal...

Business Court Grants Motion to Remand to District Court in Multi-Million Dollar Lease Dispute

by George Christian | May 20, 2026

The Business Court has rejected an attempt to remove a case to Business Court where defendants in a multi-million lease dispute missed the statutory deadline for filing their notice of removal. DrinkPAK, LLC v. PRIII/Crow Building C, LP and Trammell Crow Company, LLC...

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...