The Texas Lawbook

Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury

Avatar photo

Michelle Casady

Michelle Casady is based in Houston and covers litigation and appeals — including trials, breaking news and industry trends — for The Texas Lawbook.

Michelle Casady

Michelle Casady has been a reporter in Texas since January 2009. She's covered crime at The Bryan-College Station Eagle, courts at the San Antonio Express-News and civil litigation for Law360. In July 2022, she joined The Texas Lawbook.

Her reporting has included covering arrests, trials, plea deals and settlements, executions, natural and manmade disasters, colorful characters and various oddities.

She lives in Houston with her husband Matt, a sweet dog Hurricane Harvey brought into their lives, and a confident cat who keeps everyone in line. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University and was a 2018 fellow of the Loyola Marymount University Journalist Law School.

You can reach Michelle at michelle.casady@texaslawbook.net or (713) 614-7929.

Dallas PE Firm Largely Cleared in $180M Alliance of American Football Bankruptcy Case

Western District of Texas Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig A. Gargotta issued a 199-page opinion and order Tuesday in a case he’s been presiding over for six years. He wrote that the trustee failed to prove all but one of its claims for relief and awarded just $1 in damages. “Further, there was insufficient evidence to support an award of damages or attorney’s fees in this case,” he wrote. “The result may be viewed as harsh, but it is appropriate.” 

Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: Harrison County Pharma Lawsuit Nets $41.5M Settlement

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces a $41.5 million settlement of one Harrison County state court lawsuit against pharmaceutical industry defendants and files another in the same venue, and a fraternity at the University of Texas at Austin draws a wrongful death lawsuit in the wake of a freshman’s death by suicide.

Michelle Casady

Lawyers Discuss Impact of Judge Smith’s Scathing Dissent in Redistricting Case

Pushing aside what’s already been reported — like the number of times Judge Jerry Smith wrote that he dissents (16), the number of times he calls out Judge Jeffrey Brown by name (279) and the number of times he references the Soros family (17) — The Lawbook asked more than a dozen appellate lawyers to weigh in on the aftermath: whether the tone of the dissent and the majority’s decision on the timing of the opinion’s release would have an impact on the judiciary, and the public’s opinion of the judiciary, moving forward.

Michelle Casady

Houston Appellate Court Won’t DQ AZA as Transocean Defense Counsel

In a five-sentence per curiam opinion issued Thursday morning, the First Court of Appeals in Houston declined to disturb rulings from a trial judge that allowed the law firm Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing to continue its defense of Transocean in multidistrict litigation stemming from offshore workers’ injuries. Lawyers from Arnold & Itkin, representing the plaintiffs, had argued the move was required and told The Texas Lawbook Thursday they are considering all options as it relates to a possible appeal. 

Michelle Casady

Stars Hit Back in Fight With Mavericks

After filings this week, the fight between the ownership groups of the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks will play out in Delaware bankruptcy court and in the Texas Business Court. The Stars, represented by Winstead, have hired a team of lawyers from Blank Rome to aid in the bankruptcy proceeding. The Mavericks are represented by Jackson Walker.

Michelle Casady

Mary Kay Founder Denied Bid for Legal Funds

Richard R. Rogers, who cofounded Mary Kay with his mother in 1963, filed suit against Mary Kay Holding Company in August, arguing the entity was required to hand over fees to fund litigation over a trust dispute with his son. A magistrate judge in Delaware disagreed.

Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: Kirkland Gets a Win in Texas’ Tylenol Suit

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a new trial is ordered in a dispute involving heirs of deceased oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall, The Goldwater Institutes asks the Texas Supreme Court to grant review in a public records fight involving Highland Park Independent School District and fine-dining steakhouse Perry’s is found to be in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Michelle Casady

Judge Says Jackson Walker Has No Right to Jury Trial in Bankruptcy Fee Dispute

In the concise eight-page order, Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas Alia Moses denied Jackson Walker’s demand for a jury trial, hit pause on several proposed settlements the firm has reached with its former bankruptcy clients, consolidated the 34 cases where the U.S. Trustee is trying to claw back millions in fees, and sent them back to the Southern District of Texas bankruptcy judge who had been overseeing the cases until April.

Michelle Casady

Lanier Firm Represents 6 Families in Camp Mystic Lawsuit

The Lanier Firm was among the six law firms that filed suit against Camp Mystic Monday, joining Yetter Coleman, Arnold & Itkin, Howry Breen & Herman, Tefteller Law and The Armstrong Firm. In total, 15 families are represented across four lawsuits. The flood killed 25 campers and two counselors at the camp. According to those involved in the litigation, more lawsuits are expected to be filed in coming days, but some families have decided against legal action. 

Michelle Casady

Camp Mystic Sued by Families of 9 Who Died in July 4 Flood

Camp Mystic and the family that runs the Christian girls summer camp have been accused of putting “profit over safety” by the families of seven campers and two counselors who died in the July 4 flood.

Three separate lawsuits were filed Monday in Travis County district court.

Michelle Casady

© 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.