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.
Justice Jeff Boyd to Retire
Justice Boyd issued a statement that he’ll be leaving the bench “near the end” of the court’s term this summer. “I am honored and blessed to have served on the Texas Supreme Court these past 12 years,” he said. “I’m especially grateful to gov. Rick Perry for appointing me to the court in 2012, to the many Texans who have encouraged, supported, and voted for me though two statewide elections, to my many court and campaign colleagues and coworkers for their friendship and inspiration, and to my wife Jackie and our children for reminding me daily of life’s most important blessings.”
Jackson Walker Reaches Another Bankruptcy Fee Settlement
In paperwork filed with the court Monday, the chief restructuring officer for 4E Brands North America told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher M. Lopez that the Dallas-based law firm has agreed to pay back $617,000 of what it was awarded for work on the bankruptcy case.
Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Gets Fifth Circuit Homework
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Fifth Circuit sends a certified question about judges refusing to perform same-sex marriages to the Texas Supreme Court, Tesla hires Jackson Walker to defend against a workplace death lawsuit, and we take a look at three petitions for writ of mandamus the state’s high court recently granted.
Jackson Walker Reaches First of Potentially Several Settlements in Ex-Judge Jones Bankruptcy Fee Case
Jackson Walker issued a statement to The Lawbook indicating more settlements will be filed soon. “We have always said that we regret being misled in this matter by our former partner, and we have continued to proactively reach out to other parties to try to resolve this matter in a constructive fashion,” the statement reads.
Sheppard Mullin Adds Healthcare Partner in Houston
Tammy Woffenden comes to the firm from Troutman Pepper Locke, where, prior to the firm’s merger with Troutman Pepper, she was co-chair of Locke Lord’s healthcare practice group. She had been with the firm since September 2006.