Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
The U.S. Supreme Court heard its first oral argument of the new term Monday with a case from Texas. The question presented was whether a trial court violated a defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel by prohibiting discussions during an overnight recess.
A district court in California dismissed a lawsuit claiming the famous 1991 Nirvana album cover is not child pornography. The court found the photo to be artistic expression.
After nearly four hours of deliberations and an eight-day trial, the Dallas County jury unanimously found a supplier of golf carts breached its exclusivity agreement and purposefully interfered with a retailer’s business by selling its products directly to Lowe’s. One attorney said the jury “sent a message” with its verdict.
The federal government has shut down for lack of funding for the first time in seven years. With lawmakers in a deadlock, it is uncertain when the shutdown will end. Federal workers will continue to be paid for two weeks.
The two-week-long hearing in the Dr. Phil McGraw bankruptcy case concluded Monday afternoon. Counsel presented their closing arguments to the Northern District bankruptcy court on whether the case should be dismissed or converted to a Chapter 7.
Asked & Answered is a standing feature The Texas Lawbook brings to readers every other week highlighting the work of leading Texas lawyers and offering insight into their lives outside the courtroom. In this edition, Dykema member Melanie Fry discusses the best advice she has received and the trends she sees in her appellate practice.
Taut testimony was heard from Dr. Phil McGraw Tuesday in the bankruptcy case of his Merit Street Media. He will continue testifying Thursday. The hearing that began Sept. 16 and has spanned several days is expected to end on Monday.
A Boston jury found a Massachusetts woman's mesothelioma death was caused by American Art Clay Company’s asbestos-laden products. This is the second multimillion-dollar verdict in three weeks for Dallas-based litigation boutique Iola, Gross & Forbes-King.
The trustee of a bankrupt financial services startup aimed at conservative customers that Winston & Strawn represented is suing the law firm and one of its partners for alleged malpractice. The trustee for GloriFi, seeking more than $1.7 billion in damages, claims Winston & Strawn schemed with the company’s founder, putting his interests over those of the business.
Winston & Strawn said it “will vigorously defend against these meritless claims, including the fanciful, billion-dollar lost value claim for a company that never opened its doors for business.”
Northern District Bankruptcy Judge Scott Everett heard from counsel representing Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media and Trinity Broadcasting Network Tuesday, who argued about whether the celebrity television psychologist acted in bad faith by filing for bankruptcy. The hearing on the motion to dismiss and partial summary judgment is expected to last through Thursday, and Dr. Phil is on the list of potential witnesses who will testify. (File photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
© Copyright 2025 The Texas Lawbook
The content on this website is protected under federal Copyright laws. Any use without the consent of The Texas Lawbook is prohibited.
