Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Krista Torralva covers pro bono, public service, and diversity matters in the Texas legal market.
Krista Torralva covers pro bono, public service, and diversity for the Texas Lawbook Foundation and The Texas Lawbook. Previously, she covered courts for The Dallas Morning News. Krista has spent the bulk of her decade-plus-long career covering criminal courts in Texas and Florida. Her reporting includes the high profile federal terrorism trial against the Pulse nightclub shooter’s widow in Orlando, which ended in a rare acquittal. Her civil courts coverage has included the long-winding Texas voter ID lawsuit, legal battles over local Covid-19 mandates and school board disputes. Krista's work has been recognized by the State Bar of Texas' Gavel Awards, the Texas Association Press Managing Editors, the National Headliner Awards program and various local chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The daughter of a Naval officer, Krista grew up traveling every few years but calls Corpus Christi home and talks about the Texas Gulf Coast every chance she gets. She lives in Dallas’ North Oak Cliff with her husband, Fares Sabawi.
Krista graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Natalie Alfaro Gonzales joins the Houston boutique from Baker Botts, where she was a partner and co-leader of the firm’s energy tech sector. Her hiring is part of a “critical initiative” for Yetter Coleman, its leaders said.
Paulette Miniter joins the Dallas boutique law firm as a partner where she will focus on business and commercial litigation, as well as appeals. In an interview with The Texas Lawbook, Miniter discusses making the move from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where she was an associate.
Court reporter Jo Ann Holmgren and her firm, Preferred Legal Services, are seeking a court finding that the Judicial Branch Certification Commission failed to do its job when it dismissed a complaint of alleged violations of court reporting laws by a digital recording company. The Third Court of Appeals rejected the JBCC’s appeal and remanded the case to the trial court.
The medical malpractice and personal injury lawyer left Big Law in 2020 to represent victims of negligence and medical malpractice and has recovered more than $40 million in damages for her clients. Newsome brings more than 25 years of litigation experience to Sorrels Law.
Angeles Garcia Cassin’s practice is focused on defending companies in the healthcare, retail and e-commerce industries. One of her existing clients is already a client of Sheppard Mullin, she shared in an interview with The Texas Lawbook.
As equity partner, Nicholas Sarokhanian will work out of the firm’s Dallas and Minneapolis offices, cementing his family’s pandemic move to the Twin Cities’ area where his wife stars in the Magnolia Network’s The Art of Vintage.
An Oncor Electric Delivery Co. driver was negligent in the 2021 crash, jurors decided. Their damages award was about half of what the plaintiffs requested in trial, but was still more than Oncor offered ahead of trial, Zehl & Associates lawyer Matt Greenberg told The Texas Lawbook.
Most of the proposed rules on the State Bar of Texas rules vote ballot are similar to American Bar Association rules and modernize Texas laws, an expert said. The voting period closes April 30.
J. Casey Roy’s experience in regulatory and healthcare matters presents a “truly unique breadth of expertise,” firm partner Jason Binford said in announcing the lateral move. Roy also previously served as an assistant attorney general for Texas.
Texas’ direct-to-consumer sales law is similar to Louisiana’s. A decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit panel could have implications for Texas, where Tesla has unsuccessfully lobbied to overturn the law.
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