Newsroom
SCOTX Rules That VELO Pouches Are Taxable as Tobacco Substitutes
In an opinion that significantly affects the growing market for nicotine products that don’t contain tobacco, the Texas Supreme Court has held that VELO pouches, which are made of non-tobacco plant matter soaked with nicotine isolate, are taxable as a “tobacco...
SCOTX Mandamuses Dallas County Trial Court for Denying Insurers’ Motion to Compel Appraisal Under Commercial Property Policy
The Texas Supreme Court has granted a group of insurance companies’ petition for writ of mandamus to compel a Dallas County trial court to grant their motion to compel appraisal in a dispute with three national commercial property owners over damage to a warehouse...
Beaumont Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying Special Appearance of South Carolina Entity in Texas Contract Dispute
The Beaumont Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order denying the special appearance of a South Carolina defendant from a lawsuit arising out of a contract between Texas entities. Vikor Scientific, LLC v. Kachina Air, Inc., GAO Air, LLC f/k/a GSAIC, LLC,...
Austin Court of Appeals Reversed TC Dismissal of Nuisance Claim Against Landowners Who Leased Property for Construction of Battery Storage System
The Austin Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order dismissing a negligent nuisance claim against landowners who leased property to a subsidiary of Samsung for construction of a battery energy storage system. Jim Clements, Guadalupe Gutierrez, Cynthia...
Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals Throws Out Lawsuit Filed by Parent Angry That Daughter Was Selected as Co-Captain of Cheer Team, Not Sole Captain
We know what you’re thinking, but this is not an April Fool’s joke. The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a parent of a high-schooler who was named co-captain of her cheer team, instead of sole captain. La Joya Independent School...
Austin Court of Appeals Reverses TC Order Denying Motion to Transfer Venue in Dispute Over Royalties from Groundwater Leases
The Austin Court of Appeals has reversed a Travis County trial court’s denial of a defendant’s motion to transfer venue in a dispute over allegedly unpaid royalties on groundwater leases in Burleson and Milam Counties. The court held that the mandatory venue...
Business Court Denies Summary Judgment for Plaintiffs in Loan Dispute Between Family Office and Investment Broker
The Business Court has largely denied an investor and her family office’s summary judgment motion against an investment broker who got sideways with the office over allegedly unauthorized investments. Jean Christine Thompson and Thompson Petroleum Corporation v....
Business Court Finds No Joint Venture, Non-Manager Fiduciary Duties in Real Estate Development Suit Involving Several LLCs
In one of those superb features of the Business Court—a Joint Advisory on Early Legal Issues—the court has disposed of two of Plaintiffs’ theories alleging joint venture and breach of fiduciary duties. Enosis Investments, LLC, et al. v. Brett Jensen, et al.; Brett...
SCOTX Upholds DSHS Commissioner’s Decision to Keep Delta-8-THC Off Limits
In a closely watched and highly contentious case with enormous impact on businesses across the state, the Texas Supreme Court has reversed a Travis County trial court’s injunction blocking the Department of Health Services from enforcing its decision to consider...
Waco Court of Appeals Upholds $15 Million Judgment in Trucking Case
The Waco Court of Appeals has affirmed a substantial judgment against an employer and employee driver arising from an accident that left Plaintiffs with serious and permanent injuries. Roger Landry, Kenneth Porter and Q.A. Services, L.L.C. v. Philip Currie and...
Eastland Court of Appeals Affirms Rule 91a Dismissal of Wrongful Death Case Against Employer Involving Off Duty Employee
The Eastland Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order dismissing under Rule 91a a wrongful death case against an employer whose intoxicated employee allegedly caused the death of a passenger in his vehicle. Maria Antonia Castillo Herrera, Individually and...
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...