Newsroom
Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Hands Down Twin Opinions Dismissing Personal Injury Lawsuits Against the City of Houston
The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed and rendered judgment for the City of Houston in two similar Tort Claims Act cases. The first case, City of Houston v. Sam J. Roy, (No. 14-24-00954-CV; February 5, 2026) arose from a 2023 between Plaintiff’s vehicle...
SCOTX Remands Royalty Dispute to Eastland Court of Appeals for Consideration of Presumed-Grant Doctrine
The Texas Supreme Court has remanded an Eastland Court of Appeals decision holding that it didn’t have jurisdiction to consider Defendants’ assertion of the presumed-grant doctrine because the trial court order designating issues for a permissive appeal didn’t...
San Antonio Court of Appeals Rules That Defaulting Defendants Satisfied Craddock Standard, Remands for New Trial
Stricker Construction, LLC v. H&E Equipment Services, LLC (No. 04-24-00751-CV; January 21, 2026) arose from a dispute between a construction company and an equipment dealer. Stricker entered into an agreement with H&E to rent equipment under which H&E...
SCOTX Grants Mandamus Relief, Orders Galveston County Court-at-Law Judge to Render Take-Nothing Judgment for Bell Helicopter in Statute of Repose Case
The Texas Supreme Court has granted Bell Helicopter’s petition for writ of mandamus to compel a Galveston County trial court to render summary judgment in its favor under the federal statute of repose for general aviation aircraft. In re Bell Helicopter Services,...
15th Court of Appeals Holds State Immune from Breach of Lease Claim by Private Landlord
The 15th Court of Appeals, apply a recent ruling in an almost identical case, has held that the State has immunity against a breach of lease claim because the statutory waiver of immunity for “state agencies” does not apply to it. State of Texas, Acting By and...
Business Court Dismisses Former LLC Mermber’s Derivative Claims for Lack of Standing
The Business Court has ruled that a member of an LLC previously compelled to assign his membership interest by court order lacks standing to bring derivative claims on behalf of the LLC. Michael D. Crain, individually and derivatively on behalf of Northern Crain...
14th Court of Appeals Enforces Joint Venture Agreement in Dispute Between Midstream Entities Over Ownership of Fractionator
The 14th [Houston] Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court summary judgment in a dispute between midstream companies over whether a new fractionator was a joint venture asset. Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC; Enterprise Products of Texas Operating LLC; and Enterprise...
Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Upholds TC Sanctions in Bad Faith Merger Tax Lawsuit
The Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has upheld a trial court’s sanctions against a New York lawyer for filing a bad faith suit to enjoin the merger of two energy companies in order to extort a settlement. Dr. Robert Corwin, Richard B. Brualdi, and the Brualdi Law...
SCOTX Reverses Dallas Court of Appeals’ Remand for New Trial
The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Dallas Court of Appeals ruling that remanded for new trial a case based on a spoliation instruction that Plaintiff asked for and relied on to avoid having to adequately prove its damages. Ron Valk d/b/a Platinum Construction...
Business Court Rules That Company Agreement Required Minority Owner to Transfer Its Member Units Following Sale of 100% of Company
The Business Court has rejected the attempt by a minority equity holder in a limited partnership to block a sale of the entity to a third-party. Energy Founders Fund, LP v. Phillip Daskevich and Cris Curnutt Daskevich (2026 Tex. Bus. 18; April 10, 2026) arose from...
Business Court Rejects Former Director/Member’s Motion to Compel Advancement of Defense Costs
The Business Court has denied a former company director’s motion to compel the advancement of defense costs in a lawsuit brought by entity to whom the director was obliged to transfer his membership units. Energy Founders Fund, LP v. Phillip Daskevich and Cris...
Justices Young, Sullivan, and Hawkins Call for SCOTX to Bolster Bostic’s Proof-of-Dose Requirement in Asbestos Cases
In an opinion concurring with SCOTX’s denial of review of an asbestos case from the Houston [14th] Court of Appeals, Justice Young, joined by Justices Sullivan and Hawkins, called for the Court to clarify that the proof-of-dose requirement for establishing...