Newsroom
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....
Dallas Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying TAMU’s Motion to Dismiss Health Care Liability Brought by Football Player
The Dallas Court of Appeals has reversed and remanded a health care liability claim brought against Texas A&M-Commerce and the TAMU System stemming from a football injury. Texas A&M University-Commerce and Texas A&M University System v. Chandler Donaway...
SCOTX Reverses Default Judgment Against Landlords That Didn’t Receive Notice of Service of Process
The Texas Supreme has reversed a Dallas Court of Appeals decision affirming a default judgment against a residential landlord in a suit brought by a tenant. Huffman Asset Management, LLC and Prairie Capital, LLC v. Maurice Colter and Ni-Ida Colter (No. 24-0205; May...
Corpus Christi/Edinburg Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying TxDOT’s Jurisdictional Plea in Wrongful Death Case
The Corpus Christi/Edinburg Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order denying TxDOT’s plea to the jurisdiction in a case arising from a fatal accident involving a motorcycle on SH 361 in Nueces County. Texas Department of Transportation v. Tanya Simpson,...
19 Justices and Judges (And Counting) Receive Board Certification in Judicial Administration
Prior to the 2023 legislative session, TCJL proposed the creation of a new board certification for sitting justices and judges and those attorneys with an interest in pursuing careers on the bench. We hoped that the availability of a prestigious credential...