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15th Court of Appeals Rejects Constitutional Challenge to Diseased Deer Management Statute
In a suit challenging the constitutionality of a statute that authorizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to depopulate diseased breeder deer, the 15th Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court’s order denying the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s plea...
Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Barratry Suit Against Louisiana Law Firm for Want of Jurisdiction
The Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order granting a Louisiana law firm’s special appearance in a barratry lawsuit. Wayne J. Adams, Bonnie Brown, Claude Britton, III, Curtis Davis, Carey D. Yazeed, Dwane Borel, James S. Dartez, Lloyd Cox...
El Paso Court of Appeals Affirms Summary Judgment for Uber in Personal Injury Lawsuit
Guillermo Acosta and Jose Molina v. Uber Technologies, Inc. and Raiser, LLC (No. 08-24-00099-CV; February 28, 2025) arose from an auto accident involving an Austin-area Uber driver who collided with another vehicle, allegedly causing injuries to the riders Acosta...
House JCJ to Take Up Public Nuisance Legislation Today
Later today the House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Committee will hear SB 779/HB 3964, the so-called “public nuisance” bill. As you might expect, this bill cuts into the way governmental entities and some plaintiff’s lawyers attempt to leverage corporate...
Beaumont Court of Appeals Reverses $25 Million Summary Judgment for Exxon Mobil in Coverage Dispute with Insurer
The Beaumont Court of Appeals had reversed a $25 million summary judgment in favor of Exxon Mobil in a case in which Exxon’s OCIP provided workers’ compensation coverage for a contractor’s employees, triggering the exclusive remedy defense. Lexington Insurance...
Tyler Court of Appeals Affirms TC Denial of Chapter 74 Motion to Dismiss
The Tyler Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order denying a hospital’s motion to dismiss a health care liability claim for a deficient expert report. Quitman Hospital, LLC d/b/a UT Health Quitman v. W.S., A Minor by Duane Stuart, ANF (No. 12-24-00313;...
Cutting Through the Noise on SB 30 (Medical, Noneconomic Damages)
The load of misinformation about SB 30 currently inundating the Legislature not only falsely represents or distorts the actual language in the bill, but it wrongly accuses legislators who support the legislation of abandoning injured persons by eliminating causes...
Why Bills That Expand Civil Penalties, New Rights of Action, and Attorney General Enforcement Authority Do Serious Damage to the Texas Civil Justice System and Business Climate
We have reported at length this session about the explosion of bills proposing new or expanded civil penalties, private rights of action, and attorney general enforcement power. The number of such bills has increased tenfold since last session and account for...
Hearing Alert FOR HB 3964 Public Nuisance
Public Nuisance Please attend and sign a card FOR HB 3964. If you cannot attend the hearing or send someone to sign a card, you may enter public comments of support here: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c330 House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence 8:00,...
TCJL Tracking Report 4-17-25
TCJL Tracked Bill List 4.17.25 Quick Highlights • Public Nuisance HEARING ALERT: SB 779 passed the Senate and HB 3964 is set for hearing in House JCJ on April 23. Please attend and sign a card FOR HB 3964. If you cannot attend the hearing or send someone to sign...
Tyler Court of Appeals Rejects Taxpayer’s Section 25.25 Challenge to Appraisal of Compressors
In another of a series of cases involving the application of the special appraisal provision for a dealer’s heavy equipment inventory to a lessor of natural gas compressors, the Tyler Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of an appraisal district that included...
15th Court of Appeals Throws Out Challenge to the 2023 Consitutional Amendment Election
In Jane Nelson In Her Official Capacity as Secretary of State for the State of Texas v. Jarret Woodward and Heather Couchman (No. 15-24-00038-CV; April 3, 2025), the Austin Court of Appeals reversed the district court’s denial of the Secretary’s plea, concluding,...