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Corpus Christi Court of Appeals Reverses $27 Million Default Judgment in Construction Contract Case
The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals has reversed a $27 million default judgment against a general contractor whose attorney withdrew from representation less than a...
Houston [14th] Court of Appeals Reverses TC Denial of Chapter 74 Motion to Dismiss in Sexual Abuse Case
The Houston [14th] Court of Appeals has reversed a Harris County district court’s denial of a hospital’s Chapter 74 motion to dismiss on the basis of a deficient...
TCJL Files Amicus Brief in Lawfare Case Against Manufacturers [Standing]
by George Christian TCJL today filed an amicus brief in a case in which an out-of-state environmental advocacy organization has intervened in a state enforcement...
El Paso Court of Appeals Applies Mailbox Rule in Tort Claims Act’s Notice of Claim Requirement
In spite of what appears to be clear statutory language to the contrary, the El Paso Court of Appeals has applied the common-law mailbox rule to affirm a trial court...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Amarillo Court of Appeals Throws Out Suit Challenging Constitutionality of Requiring A License to Practice Law
The Amarillo Court of Appeals has held that a plaintiff who wanted to represent clients in probate court without bothering to obtain a law license does not have standing to sue state and local officials, challenging the constitutionality of that requirement. Levi...
El Paso Court of Appeals Dismisses Neighbors’ Claims Against Real Estate Developer for Negligent Nuisance on Ripeness Doctrine
The El Paso Court of Appeals has applied the ripeness doctrine to dismiss neighboring landowners’ suit against a real estate developer for negligent nuisance. Recreational Land Sales, LLC/James M. Allen, Charles Cedars, and Deborah Cedars v. James M.Allen, Charles...
Beaumont Court of Appeals Enforces Forum-Selection Clause in Dispute Between Missouri Franchisor and Texas Franchisee
The Beaumont Court of Appeals has overturned a trial court order denying a Missouri-based franchisor’s motion to dismiss an application for a TRO brought by its Texas franchisee in Jefferson County district court. The franchise agreement at issue required all claims...
A Primer on Standing Doctrine
Excerpt from the TCJL Journal Summer 2026, by George Christian (Full PDF here) - The enactment of SB 8 in 2023 and subsequent legislation allowing members of the public to enforce state policy by way of private litigation has put Texas courts in a difficult, if...
2026 TCJL Amicus Report
Excerpt from TCJL Journal Summer 2026 (full Journal pdf): The year 2025 was a fairly standard year for the amicus program. We filed seven briefs, five in the Texas Supreme Court, one in the Texarkana Court of Appeals, and one in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania....
Waco Court of Appeals Reverses TC Summary Judgment Against Operator in Dispute with Contractor
The Waco Court of Appeals has reversed a trial court summary judgment against an oil and gas company owned by former State Senator Steve Ogden in a dispute over whether a master service agreement’s indemnification provision applied to services provided by an...
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