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...

Governor Abbott Appoints Laura Pratt To Seventh Court of Appeals

by Justin Gailey | Mar 13, 2026

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Laura Pratt to the Seventh Court of Appeals, Place 2 for a term set to expire December 31, 2026, or until her successor shall be duly elected and qualified. Laura Pratt of Lubbock is a member attorney at Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC. She...

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...

15th Court of Appeals Affirms TC Reversal of TCEQ Decision to Issue Water-Rights Permit to Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority

by George Christian | Mar 12, 2026

The 15th Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court ruling reversing TCEQ’s decision to grant a water-rights permit to a river authority for a substantial diversion of water from the Guadalupe River. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Guadalupe-Blanco...