The Texas Lawbook

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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.

Removal Waiver Front and Center in En Banc Fifth Circuit Arguments 

The en banc oral arguments came in a dispute between Abraham Watkins Nichols Agosto Aziz & Stogner and former associate Edward Festeryga, who the firm alleges tried to take its clients with him when he left. The whole court agreed to hear the dispute after Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan — who sat on the panel that sided with the law firm and affirmed a ruling that sent the case back to state court — called for the move in a July 2024 concurring opinion that said the crux of the court’s 1980 holding in In re Weaver was “incorrect.”

Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: Texas Sues Biden Admin One Last Time

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Fifteenth Court of Appeals decides a case of first impression in favor of Google in the biometric data lawsuit Texas is pursuing, the state and W&T Offshore join forces to sue the outgoing Biden administration, and a jury in San Antonio determines a barbecue restaurant owes millions in a suit over hot barbecue sauce.

Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Changes Mind, Grants Review in Boeing, SWAPA Suit

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Boeing gets a second chance to bring an end to a Southwest Airlines Pilots Association’s lawsuit, American Airlines is dealt a blow in a lawsuit over its 401(k) plan investing, and Attorney General Ken Paxton — in the wake of an appellate panel tossing his Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act suit against Google — has filed new lawsuits accusing TikTok of violating the same law and Allstate Insurance of using technology to unlawfully collect driving data to justify premium increases.

Michelle Casady

Jury Hands Landry’s Loss in TM Spat with Whiskey Distiller

Opening statements were delivered to jurors Wednesday afternoon in the lawsuit Landry’s filed against Lowell Zachary Landry and his company, Landry Distilling, in March 2023. Landry was one of just four witnesses called to testify during the trial that ended with a verdict in his favor around 1 p.m. Monday. 

Michelle Casady

Dallas Judge Finds Khoury, Shamoun’s ‘Improper and Incurable Jury Argument’ Mandates New Trial

Earlier this week, Dallas County District Judge Gena Slaughter issued a four-page order finding that the arguments made by defense lawyers Stephen A. Khoury and C. Gregory Shamoun in front of a Dallas County jury deciding a fraudulent transfer case were “improper and incurable.” But Khoury and Shamoun told The Texas Lawbook this week they are “shocked” by the finding and argue Judge Slaughter’s order is “inaccurate and incorrect.”

Michelle Casady

Landry’s Trademark Trial Kicks Off in Houston 

Opening statements were made Wednesday afternoon in the case that pits billionaire Tilman Fertitta’s Landry’s against Landry Distilling, a company that launched in Austin in 2021 and sells bourbon and rye whiskey featuring quarter horses on the bottle.

Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: Landry’s Trademark Trial to Begin this Week

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, we preview a trademark infringement lawsuit brought by Landry’s that’s slated for trial this week, another trial in the 26-year dispute between David Clapper and American Realty Investors is averted, and the Fifth Circuit sends a malpractice lawsuit against Beck Redden to state court.

Michelle Casady

Jimmy Blacklock Named Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court

Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock has been on the court since 2018 and has been elevated to fill the chief justice position left vacant by Nathan Hecht’s retirement. Hecht had helmed the court since 2013. Also on Monday, the governor named James P. Sullivan as the newest member of the Texas Supreme Court. Both men formerly served as general counsel to the governor.

Michelle Casady

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