Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
After a week of testimony and nearly five hours for jury deliberations, one cousin walked away a winner Wednesday night. The cousins fought over the management fee, distributions and whether they were meeting the requirements of their jobs. The jury returned a $46 million verdict, but the defense will argue Gala has to pick which $23 million claim to recover damages on.
Jury trial in the $10 million dispute between cousins who bought Cicis Pizza’s debt during the COVID-19 global pandemic continues with testimony from one of the cousins and a valuation expert. The plaintiff’s counsel rested its case Monday afternoon, and the defense rested its case Tuesday afternoon.
The cousins who purchased Cicis’ debt each took the stand Wednesday in the jury trial in Dallas County, where compensatory damages of $10 million are being sought. The trial is expected to last through Monday.
The cousins are battling over millions in damages from a business partnership to invest in restaurants. The disagreement over management fees and the purchasing of other restaurants led the family to court. Opening statements Tuesday focused on the business agreement between the cousins.
An action movie star’s chartered flight landed aviation companies in a nearly decadelong dispute. The Fourth Court of Appeals almost fully agreed with a San Antonio company, BMH Air, affirming most of a $1 million award.
In a few months, cases filed prior to Sept. 1, or before the business courts opened, can be transferred to the courts. Additionally, cases with $5 million in controversy can be filed in the business courts. Filings are expected to increase due to these changes.
Firearms can now be listed as a prohibited item at the State Fair of Texas, a Dallas County District Judge ruled. Judge Emily Tobolowsky granted summary judgment to the city of Dallas and its city manager in a lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
U.S. District Judge Ada Brown has set a schedule that would see the preliminary settlement finalized in December. The company has agreed to pay two classes a total of $177 million.
Five victims of the Houston Watson Grinding 2020 fatal explosion saw some relief from a Harris County jury earlier this month. Their attorneys discussed the details of the case with The Texas Lawbook and the five-year journey it has taken to obtain the $37.9 million verdict. Another trial in the case is expected at the end of this month. (2020 file photo by Godofredo A. Vásquez/Houston Chronicle via The Associated Press)
Opening statements began in the trial against one fintech founder Thursday morning. Stephanie Hockridge was federally indicted in 2024 for allegedly committing wire fraud through a Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme.
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