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Divided SCOTX Holds That Scope of Utility Easement by Estoppel Is Limited to Original Investment in Poles and Wires
The Texas Supreme Court has reversed a San Antonio Court of Appeals ruling that allowed an electric utility’s to upgrade a power line on an easement acquired in the...
SCOTX Rules That $25 Million Cap on Amount of Supersedeas Bond Applies on Per Judgment Debtor Basis
In a 5-4 decision, the Texas Supreme Court has held that the $25 million cap on the amount of a supersedeas bond applies on a per judgment debtor basis. TCJL filed...
Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals Rejects County’s, ISD’s Immunity Claims in Disputes with Contractors Hired to Repair Hurricane Harvey Damage
The Corpus Christi-Edinburg Court of Appeals has affirmed three TC orders denying a county’s and ISD’s plea to the jurisdiction in a payment dispute with general...
Beaumont Court of Appeals Mandamuses Trial Court for Refusal to Bifurcate Trial on Policy Benefits, Bad Faith Claims
The Beaumont Court of Appeals has granted an insurer’s petition for writ of mandamus vacating a trial court order denying its motion to bifurcate a trial arising...
ILR: British TV series Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office Propels and Third Party Litigation Funding (TPLF)
ITV’s Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office Highlights Problematic TPLF Practices January 22, 2024 In recent weeks, the gripping new British TV series Mr. Bates vs. The Post...
Business Court Denies Defendant’s Plea to the Jurisdiction in Indemnity Dispute
Another party has tried to get out from under the jurisdiction of the Business Court by alleging that a plaintiff was forum shopping or faking its pleadings to...
Get Out The Vote: Texas Primary Runoff 5-26-26
Voted in the Primary? Vote in the same runoff you chose in March. Didn't Vote? You can vote in either party's runoff. The leaders chosen in these races will help...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Eastland Court of Appeals Affirms Defense Summary Judgment in Case of Wal-Mart Customer’s Murder in Parking Lot
The Eastland Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order granting summary judgment to Wal-Mart and Greyhound in a case in which a Wal-Mart customer was murdered by a mentally ill Greyhound passenger who had gotten off a Midland-bound bus in Eastland. Bulah Marie...
Tyler Court of Appeals Affirms TC Denial of Chapter 74 Motion to Dismiss Health Care Liability Claim for Inadequate Expert Report
The Tyler Court of Appeals has affirmed a trial court order denying a physician’s motion to dismiss a health care liability claim based on an inadequate expert report. Antoine Phasha Washington, M.D., Sonic Healthcare USA, Inc., and Aurora Diagnostics, LLC v. Glenna...
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 week before trial. All Valley Innovations Group, LLC and Enrique J. Castellanos v. Carrell (No....
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