In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Marriott gets rolling, Dell Technologies gets a win in a $450 million patent infringement lawsuit and the Fifth Circuit agrees Landry’s is on the hook for data breach damages.
Texas Supreme Court to Hear Winstead Malpractice Case
On Friday the Texas Supreme Court granted a petition for review from USA Lending Group that aims to revive a legal malpractice lawsuit it filed against Winstead PC regarding the firm’s in a lawsuit against a former employee. USA Lending sued Winstead after its attorneys failed to request damages in a motion for default judgment, which the company alleges cost it about $1.2 million. The Texas Supreme Court will decide whether the Texas Citizens Participation Act applies to the case.
Oral Argument Re-Do: Texas Justices Focus on German Automakers’ Conduct in Emissions Scandal Suit
The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case for the second time Tuesday, this time with two justices from the intermediate appellate court stepping in for two high court justices who recused themselves. The major issue in the dispute is whether Texas courts have jurisdiction to hear the state’s case against Volkswagen Germany and Audi Germany.
Litigation Roundup: $1.7B Spending Bill Draws Suit from Paxton, Texas Supreme Court Decides $50M Royalty Dispute
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Texas Supreme Court revives a lawyer’s fight with a litigation funder and settles a “fuzzy math” problem in a $50 million royalty dispute.
Baylor Law Dean to Step Down After 31 Years
This summer, Bradley Toben will return to the faculty, where he first began teaching law courses in 1983, following his tenure as the longest-serving dean of any American Bar Association-accredited law school in the country.
Former Texas Software CEO Named in Civil, Criminal SEC Actions
Christopher Kirchner, 35, was named in a criminal complaint filed Tuesday for allegedly misappropriating $20 million from the supply-chain management software startup he founded. Additionally, Kirchner has been accused by the SEC in a $67 million offering fraud scheme.
Litigation Roundup: Paxton Settles Whistleblower Suit, Houston Attorney Guilty of Obstruction
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a federal judge finds more flaws in the No Surprises Act, a Houston attorney is found guilty of obstruction of justice and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton agrees to apologize and pay-up to settle Whistleblower suit.
Thompson Petroleum Gets Win Against Its Former CFO
Dallas County District Judge Emily Tobolowsky granted family-owned Thompson Petroleum’s motion for summary judgment on Jan. 19, days before a trial was slated to begin in the case where its former chief financial officer argued the company should have to pay his legal fees in a dispute with its former general counsel. Plaintiff Paul Rudnicki filed notice of appeal in the case Monday.
Litigation Roundup: Samsung Inks $150M Settlement, Jury Hits Boston Scientific with $42M Judgment
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Samsung agrees to a $150 million settlement in an intellectual property suit, a group of Texas lawyers secures a $42 million win against Boston Scientific in Delaware and U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes gets reversed, again.
Energy Transfer Hit With $42M Jury Verdict
A jury in McMullen County that heard two weeks of testimony determined Energy Transfer’s underground, hydrogen sulfide injection well had interfered with the drilling rights of SilverBow Resources Operating and El Dorado Oil & Gas Inc. The case has a long history, including two trips to the Texas Supreme Court, and saw Houston-based law firms Yetter Coleman and Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing go head-to-head.