In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a bench trial to determine whether the U.S. Trustee can clawback millions in fees awarded to Jackson Walker for work done on certain bankruptcy cases is officially canceled, personal injury lawyer Thomas J. Henry hires David J. Beck to defend his trademark and a longtime Dallas judge makes a big announcement.
Lynn Pinker Accuses AAA Arbitrator of More ‘Egregious Conduct’ in Dickey’s Case
Lynn Pinker partner Mary Goodrich Nix told the AAA its arbitrator refused to grant her any accommodation or continuance when she was in the hospital with her fatally ill father. She also told the administrator of the arbitration between her client, Dickey’s, and a franchisee that arbitrator Gary Leydig referred to her in an email as “Ms. Dix” and said he “has never apologized or acknowledged this, despite having been confronted with how offensive it was.”
Another Case of Missing Cases? Fifth Court of Appeals Wants Clarification
Just six days after telling parties in a separate appeal that the court could not locate a handful of cases cited by the appellant, the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas on Wednesday told a man representing himself in a child custody case that it couldn’t locate eight cases he cited.
Houston Jury Awards $5.9M in Family Dispute
Jurors sat through a four-day trial in Harris County District Judge Michael Gomez’ court before siding with the plaintiffs and awarding them $5.9 million in damages. The case centered on the disputed transfer of 45 acres of property near Seabrook, Texas.
Shook, Hardy & Bacon Hires Retired Magistrate Judge
Kimberly Priest Johnson, who formerly served as a U.S. magistrate judge in the Sherman Division of the Eastern District of Texas, has joined the Houston office of Shook, Hardy & Bacon as a partner in its complex litigation and strategic counseling practice group.
Copart’s Former VP of HR Alleges Company Operates As ‘A Mad Men-Era Boys’ Club’
Dallas-based Fortune 500 company Copart has been sued by its former global vice president of human resources, who alleges she was fired after complaining about discrimination and harassment toward female employees. The online car auction company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Litigation Roundup: Texas Says ‘Roadmap to Violate Consumer Protection Laws’ is Being Followed Post-Google Ruling
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a man who kidnapped his attorney and demanded a $1 million ransom gets 24 years in prison, Texas warns the state’s high court of dire consequences in a bid to revive its suit against Google, and a jury in rural West Texas awards more than $1 million in an oil and gas contract dispute.
Bankruptcy Judge Isgur Rips GWG Holdings Trustee’s Lawyers on Lack of Due Process Notice to Investors
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur ended a hearing Friday morning in the GWG Holdings case after finding lawyers for the trustee had failed to meet their due process obligations under the constitution to provide bondholders with notice of how a proposed settlement would impact them. “I find there is not due process notice and this is not a close call,” he said, adding the effort of the lawyers to inform bondholders, some of whom put their life savings in the company, that they could expect to get back only about 3 percent of what they invested was “completely deficient” and “an embarrassment.”
WDTX Chief Judge Removes Jackson Walker Bankruptcy Fee Cases from SDTX Chief Bankruptcy Judge
Chief U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Alia Moses, has taken control of the 34 bankruptcy cases where the U.S. Trustee is seeking to clawback millions in fees awarded to Dallas-based
Jackson Walker. “This unique case nevertheless requires stiff measures. The need to reestablish public trust and
confidence in the court system alone impels withdrawal in this highly unusual case,” she wrote.
Judge Moses to Decide Standing Issue in Ex-Judge Jones Related RICO Case
Roughly one month after deciding a bankruptcy judge should determine whether a former CEO can proceed with his lawsuit alleging he was the victim of a conspiracy carried out in proceedings before former bankruptcy judge David Jones, a federal judge changed her mind this week.