Newsroom
Corpus Christi Court of Appeals Reverses $27 Million Default Judgment in Construction Contract Case
The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has reversed a $27 million default judgment against a general contractor whose attorney withdrew from representation less than a week before trial. All Valley Innovations Group, LLC and Enrique J. Castellanos v. Carrell (No....
Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Reverses TC Denial of Chapter 74 Motion to Dismiss in Sexual Abuse Case
The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed a Harris County district court’s denial of a hospital’s Chapter 74 motion to dismiss on the basis of a deficient expert report. Memorial Hermann Health System v. John Doe (No. 14-25-00038-CV; February 19, 2026) arose...
TCJL Files Amicus Brief in Lawfare Case Against Manufacturers [Standing]
by George Christian TCJL today filed an amicus brief in a case in which an out-of-state environmental advocacy organization has intervened in a state enforcement action against chemical manufacturers permitted by the TCEQ. In re Dow Hydrocarbons and Resources LLC...
El Paso Court of Appeals Applies Mailbox Rule in Tort Claims Act’s Notice of Claim Requirement
In spite of what appears to be clear statutory language to the contrary, the El Paso Court of Appeals has applied the common-law mailbox rule to affirm a trial court order denying a university health sciences center plea to the jurisdiction in medical negligence...
SCOTX Holds That Chapter 21, Property Code, Waives Sovereign Immunity for Condemned Property Repurchase Claims [Eminent Domain]
In a decision with potentially far-reaching effects on the power of the state and local governmental entities to acquire property by eminent domain, a divided Texas Supreme Court has ruled that Chapter 21, Property Code, waives sovereign immunity for a property...
Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Affirms TC Grant of Summary Judgment, Sanctions, and Attorney’s Fees for Insurer in Dispute with Homeowner
The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has affirmed a Galveston County district court’s summary judgment and sanctions order in favor of an insurer in a policy dispute with homeowners. Steven Burns, Jacqueline Burns, Eric B. Dick, and the Dick Law Firm, PLLC v....
Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Rules That Insured, Absent Independent Injury, May Not Recover on Extracontractual Claims if Insurer Paid Appraisal Award
The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has held that an insurer that pays an appraisal award under a homeowner’s policy cannot also be liable for damages for extracontractual claims, absent an independent injury. Mary Brimer v. State Farm Lloyds (No. 14-24-00239-CV;...
Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Reverses TC Denial of TCPA Motion to Dismiss Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claim
The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order denying a restaurant’s TCPA motion to dismiss a lawsuit alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress by restaurant employees. Rolling Dough, Ltd. d/b/a Panera Bread v. Uju Anyadike (No....
Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Affirms TC Denial of Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Case Involving Contact with a High-Voltage Power Line
The Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has, in a permissive appeal, affirmed a Harris County district court’s denial of a transmission utility’s summary judgment motion in a wrongful death case in which an employee of another entity’s contractor was electrocuted by...
Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals Mandamuses Hidalgo County Trial Court for Ignoring Appraisal Clause in Homeowner’s Insurance Policy
In the latest gem from Hidalgo County trial courts, the Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals has mandamused a count court-at-law for bypassing the appraisal clause in a homeowner’s policy and appointing an appraisal umpire from the Plaintiff’s hand-picked list....
Dallas Court of Appeals Rules for Tenant in Lease Dispute Arising from Failed Shopping Mall
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...
Houston Court of Appeals [14th] Reverses TC Dismissal of Slip-and-Fall Case Under Rule 91a
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....