In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Texas Supreme Court sides with an attorney who got zero compensation for his shares when he and his old firm parted ways, McKool Smith secures a unanimous $4 million jury verdict for a software company client and Baker McKenzie notches a SCOTUS win.
Q&A With the State Bar of Texas President-Elect
Bracewell partner W. Stephen Benesh was sworn in as president-elect of the State Bar of Texas June 22 during the annual meeting in Austin. He answered questions from The Lawbook about why he wanted to take a leadership role and what his goals are.
History of the Heavyweights
The Lawbook has pulled together some highlights of past battles won, lost and settled between the four Houston lawyers leading the prosecution and defense in Ken Paxton’s Senate impeachment trial. Dick DeGuerin, Rusty Hardin, Dan Cogdell and Tony Buzbee have all handled blockbuster trials in their legal careers, but here we explore instances where they were involved in the same case.
Litigation Roundup: Suit Over ‘Rushed’ $788M Sale May Get Axed, SCOTX to Hear Fen-Phen Settlement Case
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a Texas federal judge threatens to toss a minority investor suit against Blackstone Inc., a Houston boutique notches a PTAB win against Apple, and the Texas Supreme Court agrees to hear a suit stemming from the handling of a fen-phen settlement.
All of Paxton’s Men (And Two Women)
Who is representing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in all of his various legal battles? The make-up of his defense teams have varied case-to-case, but some attorneys have been retained in almost all of the lawsuits Paxton faces. The Lawbook breaks it down.
Litigation Roundup: SEC Cries Delay in $8.4M Ponzi Case, SCOTX Sides with Tex-Mex Chain in Fight with City
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is running out of patience for a duo accused of running a Ponzi scheme who have yet to retain counsel, an insurer seeks a declaration it doesn’t have to foot the bill in a $10.6 million workplace injury suit, and a Tex-Mex chain notches a win at the Texas Supreme Court.
Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Takes Honda’s $25.9M Seatbelt Injury Appeal, Houston Firm Gets $9.8M Win in Mississippi
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a Houston firm gets a $9.8 million verdict in a workplace fatality case while the Texas Supreme Court agrees to decide both if a libel suit brought against a newspaper by a prosecutor should be tossed and if a $25.9 million product liability jury verdict against Honda can stand.
Judge Starr’s AI Order Draws Praise
U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr could be the first in the nation to issue a standing order governing the use of artificial intelligence in his courtroom. Texas attorneys who spoke to The Lawbook about the order praised the move as a needed reminder of a lawyer’s professional obligations.
Amici Take Sides in $1.6B IBM, BMC Appeal
Six amicus briefs have been filed with the Fifth Circuit in the case where IBM is trying to undo a $1.6 billion judgment entered against it after a bench trial before U.S. District Judge Gray Miller. BMC had filed a cross appeal in the lawsuit but dropped that fight in April to “simplify and shorten the proceedings.”
Litigation Roundup: Texas Agrees to $425M in Settlements, Jerry Jones Hires Jackson Walker for Defamation Defense
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Jerry Jones hires a Jackson Walker First Amendment pro to defend him in a defamation suit, Texas reaches multimillion-dollar settlements with Audi, Volkswagen and Walgreens and a chemical company lost a bid on appeal to saddle an insurer with a $16 million bill after paying fraudulent invoices.