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Business Court Grants Partial Summary Judgment in Contract Dispute Between Chemical Companies
The Business Court has granted partial summary judgment in a dispute between chemical companies over the terms of a purchase and exchange agreement. Westlake Longview Corp. and Westlake Chemical OPCO, LP v. Eastman Chemical Co. (2026 Tex. Bus. 26; May 13, 2026)...
SCOTX Orders El Paso Court of Appeals to Accept Permissive Appeal Where Trial Court Did Not Apply Binding Precedent
The Texas Supreme Court has instructed the El Paso Court of Appeals to accept a permissive appeal to resolve a trial court’s reluctance to apply the Court’s binding precedent. The Court’s action follows through with legislative changes to the interlocutory appeal...
Business Court Grants Motion to Remand to District Court in Multi-Million Dollar Lease Dispute
The Business Court has rejected an attempt to remove a case to Business Court where defendants in a multi-million lease dispute missed the statutory deadline for filing their notice of removal. DrinkPAK, LLC v. PRIII/Crow Building C, LP and Trammell Crow Company,...
Fort Worth Court of Appeals Affirms TC Summary Judgment for Contractor in Third-Party Liability Case
The Fort Worth Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order granting summary judgment to a contractor in a worksite injury case in which the plaintiff alleged that the contractor retained control of the subcontractor’s work. Jeremy Haggard v. Blattner Energy,...
SCOTX Mandamuses Trial Court for Allowing Direct Liability Claim Against Trucking Company’s Customer in Wrongful Death Case
The Texas Supreme Court has granted a shipper’s petition for writ of mandamus after a trial court denied its Rule 91a motion to dismiss a wrongful death plaintiff’s claim that the shipper negligently hired a federally-regulated carrier to haul its goods. In re Home...
Dallas Court of Appeals Affirms Defense Summary Judgment in Wrongful Death Case
The Dallas Court of Appeals has affirmed a Dallas County district court’s order granting summary judgment to an independent contractor and subcontractor in a wrongful death action. Christina C. Torres, Individually and as Next Friend of L.N.T., a Minor and as...
SCOTX Reverses Fort Worth Court of Appeals Application of “Gist Rule” to a Royalty Dispute Involving Mineral Leases in West Virginia
The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Fort Worth Court of Appeals decision overturning a trial court judgment awarding various equitable remedies to a plaintiff in a dispute over royalty payments owed on mineral leases in West Virginia. The Court’s ruling rejects...
Business Court Denies Defendants’ Motion to Remand Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Dispute to District Court
The Business Court has denied a motion by defendants in a misappropriation of trade secrets dispute to remand the case to the Harris County district court in which it was originally filed. Aspire Commercial, LLC v. Christopher Stephenson and BES.AI, LLC (2026 Tex....
Business Court Grants Summary Judgment for Plaintiff in Dispute Over Acquisition of Weatherford Apartment Complex
In another of the real estate disputes that appear to be popular in the Business Court, the court has granted summary judgment to Plaintiff that sold a $76 million apartment complex in Weatherford to a real estate management firm. The Mark at Weatherford Owner, LLC...
15th Court: Chief Justice Brister Calls Out Private Litigation Fund’s Qui Tam Action for Perpetrating a “Fraud” and “Privateering” at Expense of the Public
Dissenting from the majority’s decision to deny mandamus relief to a defendant in a Medicaid fraud qui tam lawsuit brought by a private litigation fund, Chief Justice Scott Brister, following up on Justice Evan Young and James Sullivan’s concurring opinion in an...
Texas Business Leaders Release Statement Condemning Outside Interference in Corporate Relocations
AUSTIN, TEXAS – A coalition of leading Texas business trade associations today issued a joint statement strongly objecting to the increasing interference of outside influencers and proxy advisory firms attempting to dissuade companies from redomiciling in the Lone...
SCOTX Reinstates Rule 91a Dismissal of Fraud Claim Against DART Contractor
The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Dallas Court of Appeals decision throwing out a trial court order dismissing a Rule 91a motion to dismiss a subcontractor’s fraud claim against a contractor hired by DART to provide certain transit services. MV Transportation,...