Newsroom
Recent Judicial Appointments
Benjamin Robertson, 226th Judicial District Court Tracy Sorenson, 278th Judicial District Court Emily Fisher, 306th Judicial District Court Terence Davis, 480th Judicial District Court (reappointment) Lori Ann DeAngelo, 495th Judicial District Court Robert "Bryan"...
Austin Court of Appeals Reverses Judgment Against Electric Co-op for Breach of Easement
The Austin Court of Appeals has reversed a Hays County Court at Law judgment in favor of plaintiff landowners and rendered judgment for an electric co-op in a breach of easement case. Pedernales Electric Cooperative, Inc. v. Samuel S. White, Janette Barlow, Gregory...
Sweeping AI Regulatory Bill Filed
As promised, legislation aimed at regulating the development and use of artificial intelligence systems has been added to the hopper for the 2025 session. HB 1709 closely tracks draft legislation that was circulated to stakeholders last month. As you may recall,...
Appeal to 15th Court of Appeals Argues That the Court Has Same General Jurisdiction as Other Intermediate Appellate Courts
A party to a lawsuit in a Harris County district court has appealed the judgment in the case to the statewide 15th Court of Appeals, which was created by the Legislature in 2023 to hear, among other things, appeals involving the State of Texas, constitutional...
SCOTX Stays Yet Another UIM Case from Dallas Court of Appeals, this Time on a Sanctions Order
For the twelfth time in the last year, the Texas Supreme Court has granted an emergency stay while it considers an insurer’s petition for writ of mandamus in an underinsured motorist case. This is the second mandamus petition in this case. The first (No. 24-0172;...
SCOTX Grants Review in Case in which Trial Court Struck Non-Subscriber’s Designation of RPTs in Employee’s Negligence Suit
In a case we reported on early last spring, the Texas Supreme Court has granted review in a case in which the trial court struck a non-subscriber’s designation of responsible third parties in a negligence lawsuit brought by the non-subscriber’s employee. The Court...
SCOTX Grants Review in $10 Billion Nuisance Case Against Electric Utilities
The Texas Supreme Court will review a Houston [14th] Court of Appeals decision allowing a mass $10 billion nuisance suit against electric transmission and distribution utilities to proceed in a Harris County multidistrict litigation court. In November TCJL filed...
Ralph Wayne 1932-2024
OBITUARY Ralph E. Wayne December 14, 1932 – December 19, 2024 To the great sadness of those who knew and loved him, Ralph E. Wayne passed away on December 19, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Ralph achieved remarkable milestones during a life that touched many bases and...
SCOTX Reverses Houston [14th] Court of Appeals in Important Excess Policy Case
In August we reported that the Texas Supreme Court had granted review of a Houston [14th] Court of Appeals case in which the court rejected the insurer’s argument that an excess policy with a “following form” provision incorporating the terms and conditions of the...
Fort Worth Court of Appeals Mandamuses Trial Court That Failed to Hear Net-Worth Discovery Motion
Section 41.0115(a), CPRC, requires before a trial court may grant a net-worth discovery order upon motion of a party, it must notify the defendant and hold a hearing on the motion. This is precisely what the trial court in In re Madera Residential, LLC and Madera...