Dallas Court of Appeals Rules for Tenant in Lease Dispute Arising from Failed Shopping Mall

by George Christian | Jun 5, 2026

The Dallas Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court judgment in favor of a failed mall’s landlord in a lease dispute with one of the mall’s tenants. ATC Indoor DAS LLC v. MM CCM 48M Leasing, LLC and MM CCM 48M, LLC (No. 05-24-00769-CV; January 29, 2026) arose from...

Houston Court of Appeals [14th] Reverses TC Dismissal of Slip-and-Fall Case Under Rule 91a

by George Christian | Jun 4, 2026

Finding that the plaintiff sufficiently pleaded a premises liability claim arising from a slip-and-fall, the Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order dismissing the claim under Rule 91a. Cynthia Handley v. Spec’s Family Partners, Ltd. (No....

Dallas Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying TAMU’s Motion to Dismiss Health Care Liability Brought by Football Player

by George Christian | Jun 3, 2026

The Dallas Court of Appeals has reversed and remanded a health care liability claim brought against Texas A&M-Commerce and the TAMU System stemming from a football injury. Texas A&M University-Commerce and Texas A&M University System v. Chandler Donaway...

SCOTX Reverses Default Judgment Against Landlords That Didn’t Receive Notice of Service of Process

by George Christian | Jun 2, 2026

The Texas Supreme has reversed a Dallas Court of Appeals decision affirming a default judgment against a residential landlord in a suit brought by a tenant. Huffman Asset Management, LLC and Prairie Capital, LLC v. Maurice Colter and Ni-Ida Colter (No. 24-0205; May...

Corpus Christi/Edinburg Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying TxDOT’s Jurisdictional Plea in Wrongful Death Case

by George Christian | Jun 2, 2026

The Corpus Christi/Edinburg Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order denying TxDOT’s plea to the jurisdiction in a case arising from a fatal accident involving a motorcycle on SH 361 in Nueces County. Texas Department of Transportation v. Tanya Simpson,...

19 Justices and Judges (And Counting) Receive Board Certification in Judicial Administration

by George Christian | Jun 1, 2026

Prior to the 2023 legislative session, TCJL proposed the creation of a new board certification for sitting justices and judges and those attorneys with an interest in pursuing careers on the bench. We hoped that the availability of a prestigious credential (attorney...

Beaumont Court of Appeals Sides With Land Owner Over Land Commissioner

by George Christian | Jun 1, 2026

The Beaumont Court of Appeals has affirmed an Orange County district court’s judgment in favor of a property owner whose title to submerged land was challenged by the state. Dawn Buckingham v. Edwin Arnaud, Inc. (No. 09-24-00142-CV; March 12, 2026) arose from a...

Beaumont Court of Appeals Reverses Judgment for Plaintiff in Tort Claims Act Suit Against TXDOT

by George Christian | May 29, 2026

The Beaumont Court of Appeals has reversed a Jefferson County district court’s judgment finding TxDOT liable to an injured plaintiff under the Texas Tort Claims Act. Texas Department of Transportation v. Oscar Camarillo (No. 99-24-00180-CV; March 19, 2026) arose from...

Waco Court of Appeals Finds That Insurer Has Duty to Defend in Dispute over Coverage in Third-Party Liability Suit

by George Christian | May 28, 2026

The Waco Court of Appeals has ruled that an insurer had a duty to defend under a CGL policy in a third-party liability case in which the plaintiff’s worker status arguably fell outside a broad exclusion for employee lawsuits. Admiral Insurance Company v. Lippert...

Divided SCOTX Holds That Scope of Utility Easement by Estoppel Is Limited to Original Investment in Poles and Wires

by George Christian | May 28, 2026

The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a San Antonio Court of Appeals ruling that allowed an electric utility’s to upgrade a power line on an easement acquired in the 1940s. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that although the utility established that it had an easement...