Newsroom
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...
SCOTX Remands Royalty Dispute to Eastland Court of Appeals for Consideration of Presumed-Grant Doctrine
The Texas Supreme Court has remanded an Eastland Court of Appeals decision holding that it didn’t have jurisdiction to consider Defendants’ assertion of the presumed-grant doctrine because the trial court order designating issues for a permissive appeal didn’t...
San Antonio Court of Appeals Rules That Defaulting Defendants Satisfied Craddock Standard, Remands for New Trial
Stricker Construction, LLC v. H&E Equipment Services, LLC (No. 04-24-00751-CV; January 21, 2026) arose from a dispute between a construction company and an equipment dealer. Stricker entered into an agreement with H&E to rent equipment under which H&E...
SCOTX Grants Mandamus Relief, Orders Galveston County Court-at-Law Judge to Render Take-Nothing Judgment for Bell Helicopter in Statute of Repose Case
The Texas Supreme Court has granted Bell Helicopter’s petition for writ of mandamus to compel a Galveston County trial court to render summary judgment in its favor under the federal statute of repose for general aviation aircraft. In re Bell Helicopter Services,...
15th Court of Appeals Holds State Immune from Breach of Lease Claim by Private Landlord
The 15th Court of Appeals, apply a recent ruling in an almost identical case, has held that the State has immunity against a breach of lease claim because the statutory waiver of immunity for “state agencies” does not apply to it. State of Texas, Acting By and...
Business Court Dismisses Former LLC Member’s Derivative Claims for Lack of Standing
The Business Court has ruled that a member of an LLC previously compelled to assign his membership interest by court order lacks standing to bring derivative claims on behalf of the LLC. Michael D. Crain, individually and derivatively on behalf of Northern Crain...
14th Court of Appeals Enforces Joint Venture Agreement in Dispute Between Midstream Entities Over Ownership of Fractionator
The 14th [Houston] Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court summary judgment in a dispute between midstream companies over whether a new fractionator was a joint venture asset. Mont Belvieu Caverns, LLC; Enterprise Products of Texas Operating LLC; and Enterprise...
Houston [1st] Court of Appeals Upholds TC Sanctions in Bad Faith Merger Tax Lawsuit
The Houston [1st] Court of Appeals has upheld a trial court’s sanctions against a New York lawyer for filing a bad faith suit to enjoin the merger of two energy companies in order to extort a settlement. Dr. Robert Corwin, Richard B. Brualdi, and the Brualdi Law...