Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the first state official known to be infected with the novel coronavirus. Justice Lehrmann confirmed the diagnosis in an interview with The Dallas Morning News.
First Virtual Trial: No Dogs, No Kids, No Jury Strikes
From the beginning the whole process took only a smidge over 94 minutes. But jury selection in the first actual (sort of) virtual trial was as smooth and efficient as 30 faces from 30 different places mashed onto a screen can be. The Lawbook watched and was impressed.
Texas Court Administration Hacked in Ransomware Attack
UPDATED: The Texas Office of Court Administration has announced that the website that serves the Texas judiciary has been the victim of a ransomware attack. Updated to include comments to The Lawbook by Chief Justice Nathan Hecht.
SCOTX a la Mode: Rejects Emergency Challenge to Local COVID-19 Restrictions
The court rejected the effort by a group of protestors to curb the coronavirus curbs by filing directly to the state’s highest court. In rejecting
In Re Salon a La Mode, et al. the court showed sympathy for both sides, but ordered them to begin their legal protest with the lower courts.
State Bar Discipline: 2 Judges Disciplined, 3 Lawyers Disbarred, 8 Lawyers Suspended
The State Bar of Texas reported disciplinary actions against 15 lawyers, two of them judges. A judge from San Antonio was disciplined for her Facebook posts about lawyers in her court and an Austin lawyer, previously suspended for a marijuana charge in Arizona, was disbarred for defrauding a client’s account and generally neglecting another client’s litigation.
Former GC Sues Ex-Employer Over WFH Request
Her lawsuit says a Collin County real estate firm fired Dallas lawyer Amy Reggio for complying with the county-wide shelter-in-place order.
Blue Bell Settles Investor Lawsuit for $60M
Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries Inc. agreed to a $60 million settlement of one of the stockholder lawsuits filed in Delaware that emanated from an outbreak of listeriosis traced to its ice cream. Investors have claimed they were blind-sided by the financial fallout that resulted from allegations that the company failed to maintain food production safety standards.
Varsity Brands Wins Again at Alabama Supreme Court
Dallas-based Varsity Brands has sealed last year’s $3.1 million Alabama jury verdict with a final win at the Supreme Court of Alabama. The court let stand a judgment against Jostens for luring 47 school clients by hiring two salesmen bearing key trade secrets from a Varsity Brands subsidiary.
State Bar Discipline: 3 Judges, 9 Lawyers
The State Bar of Texas has made its April update on disciplinary actions. Violations include an injudicious quarrel, a judicial threat and a lawyer with an apparent penchant for forging official documents.
Corporate Deal Tracker Chart: 2019 M&A
If a Texas lawyer worked on a corporate transaction – even if the deal involves non-Texas clients – The Texas Lawbook documents it as part of its Corporate Deal Tracker. Today, the CDT publishes its master list of non-confidential mergers and acquisitions for 2019. The M&A non-confidential database features 303 transactions and the lawyers who worked on them.