Newsroom
Dallas Court of Appeals Grants Mandamus, Reversing TC Order Granting New Trial for Improper Jury Argument
The Dallas Court of Appeals has granted mandamus relief in a fraud case in which the trial court set aside a substantial jury award and ordered a new trial based on an improper jury argument by two attorneys who had previously been chastised by the 5th Circuit for...
Waco Court of Appeals Upholds $2 Million Default Judgment on Texas Securities Act Claim
The Waco Court of Appeals has upheld a default judgment awarding $1 million in actual and another $1 million in punitive damages to investors in a failed real estate development. Nicholas Lind v. M3 Fort Worth Developer, LLC and The YoungESTone, LLC (No....
Corpus Christi Court of Appeals Upholds $250,000 Damages Award Against TxDOT in Ferry Accident Case
The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has affirmed a judgment in favor of a plaintiff claiming injuries caused by a ferry accident. The court, however, reversed an award of pain and suffering damages to the plaintiff’s uninjured children. Texas Department of...
Robert Howden Appointed as Secretary of State
Governor Greg Abbott today appointed Robert S. Howden as the 116th Secretary of State of Texas, effective July 18, 2026. “Robert Howden has served Texas with distinction in four Republican governors’ administrations,” said Governor Abbott. “I have full confidence...
Corpus Christi Court of Appeals Partially Mandamuses Trial Court Award of $750,000 Against Non-Party Chase Bank in Family Trust Dispute
The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has thrown out a $750,000 sanctions award against non-party Chase Bank for its failure to comply with a trial court order appointing a successor trustee and to respond fully to requests for discovery. The court, however, upheld...
Corpus Christi Court of Appeals Mandamuses Trial Court Order Allowing Defendant to File Third-Party Petitions Three Months Before Trial
The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has granted a petition for writ of mandamus, finding that the trial court abused its discretion in allowing a defendant to file several third-party petitions and vacating an imminent trial date in a case that had already been...
Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Reverses Dismissal of Workers’ Compensation Claim, Remands to Give Plaintifff Opportunity to Cure Jurisdictional Defects in Petition
The Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court order dismissing a pro se plaintiff’s attempt to appeal the administrative determination of his workers’ compensation claim and remanded to allow him an opportunity to amend his petition. Esdras Nehemias...
Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Reverses Rule 91a Dismissal, Remands Contractor’s Breach of Policy and Extracontractual Claims Against Insurer
In a case that demarcates the boundary between Rule 91a (dismissal for failure to state a claim) and Rule 166a (summary judgment), the Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court dismissing a contractor’s breach of contract and extracontractual claims...
Fort Worth Court of Appeals Affirms Dismissal of Lawsuit Against City of Arlington, Texas Rangers Over Baby Picture Included in Tribute to Plaintiff’s Great-Grandfather at Public Golf Course
The Fort Worth Court of Appeals has affirmed a Rule 91a dismissal of a Plaintiff’s suit against the City of Arlington and the Texas Rangers. The suit alleged that the City and the team profited from the use of an old newspaper article in which Plaintiff’s...
A Word from Chief Justice Scott Brister
Excerpt from Texas Civil Justice League Journal Summer 2026 Article by Chief Justice Scott Brister of the 15th Court of Appeals
New Statewide Court of Appeals Is a Boon to Texas Business and Industry
In 2023 the Texas Legislature created a new intermediate appellate court with statewide jurisdiction, the Fifteenth Court of Appeals. The court’s initial term began on September 1, 2024. The court has exclusive intermediate appellate jurisdiction over the...
Believe in the Rule of Law? Then Prove It.
Believe in the Rule of Law? Then Prove It by Supporting Texas Supreme Court, 15th Court of Appeals, and Intermediate Appellate Justices in Their Campaigns If you don’t read anything else in this newsletter, please read this. The matter is too serious to overlook or...