The justices had consolidated the oral arguments in two cases that involve disputes in Mills and Wilbarger counties. The cases are part of a large group of lawsuits filed by Oncor to fight the valuation of its transmission lines in 13 counties. The utility company argues incorrect data provided by a private appraisal firm to determine 2019 values led to a $7 million overvaluation of its property and a “windfall” of taxes for the local governments.
Ben Barnes Talks Leaving Kirkland, Launching Texas Office for Missouri Boutique
Texas’ growing economy and “dynamic legal market” present “many opportunities for a nimble firm like Dowd Bennett,” Barnes said in an interview with The Texas Lawbook following the announcement of his move from Kirkland & Ellis. Barnes, now a partner at Dowd Bennett, has long-held ties to St. Louis, where the litigation boutique is based.
Former Senior SEC Lawyer Scott Mascianica Leaves Holland & Knight for Hilgers Graben
Mascianica joins the firm as a partner and head of its Government Investigations and Regulatory Enforcement group. Mascianica shares why the career move was “too good of an opportunity to pass up” in an interview with The Lawbook.
Oversight Board Constitutionality Case Gets Transferred to D.C. District Court
U.S. District Judge Karen Gren Scholer of the Northern District of Texas said a John Doe auditor’s argument that the case should be heard in Texas is “unpersuasive.” The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s disciplinary proceedings.
Sorrels Law Taps Doctor-Lawyer Hieu Dang to Open Dallas Office
Dr. Hieu T. Dang has an impressive résumé, packed with medical and legal experience as well as a diversity of languages. Dang will continue his anesthesiology practice while working for Sorrels and his own private practice. In a Q&A, Dang shares his keys for success and his winding career path.
Fifth Circuit Panel Decries ‘Rambo’ Tactics in Reversal, Scathing Opinion
A three-judge panel including the chief judge issued a rare reversal of a trial verdict on the grounds of improper jury argument. Two Texas lawyers who resorted to name calling, including one who threw a tissue box at opposing counsel, “employed nearly every category of what we have previously held to be improper closing argument,” the judges wrote.
McKool Smith Associate Gets Patent Issued For Study App
Intellectual property and business disputes lawyer Kyle Ryman was a top scorer on the July 2021 Texas Bar Exam thanks to his very own study app that he used to convert long outlines to flashcards. Now, he wants to donate the patent and code to a deserving school or nonprofit.
Haynes Boone Associate Wins First-Ever Appellate Arguments in ‘Whirlwind’ Week
On a recent February morning, Ryan Pitts got his first experience in the Texas Supreme Court, accompanying a colleague who argued the case. That afternoon, Pitts learned a U.S. Fifth Circuit panel handed him a victory in his first-ever appellate argument.
Top Executives Sentenced for Roles in Kickback Schemes
U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr sentenced former Medoc Health Services Chief Executive Kevin Kuykendall and his wife, former vice president of finance, Sabrina Kuykendall on Wednesday. A poignant moment came from the judge at the conclusion of the hearing, when he addressed the Kuykendalls’ two adult sons who sat in the gallery.
Dallas Judge Rules Parkland Nurse Training and Employment Contracts Are Invalid
Judge Martin Hoffman dismissed Parkland Health’s claims against 10 of its former nurses who filed a motion for summary judgment. Several more nurses are still fighting the lawsuit. Hoffman said he wants to see how the appeals court justices rule in a similar case now before them.