U.S. District Judge Alan Albright, who has the busiest patent docket in the country, issued two amended standing orders this week designed to keep court matters moving as efficiently as possible while maintaining fairness to both. The orders appear to be well-received so far by practitioners.
Appeals Court Preserves Nine-Figure Jury Verdict Against Toyota — Updated
A three-judge panel in the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas Thursday affirmed a $213 million trial court judgment against Toyota Motor Corp. The case revolved around a rear-end collision in 2016 that left two children severely brain-damaged. A Dallas jury concluded in 2018 that the injuries were exacerbated by a defective seatback design in the family’s 2002 Lexus. The Lawbook’s Natalie Posgate has details of the court’s 2-1 decision.
Gibson Dunn Dallas Hands Reins to Two New Partners-in-Charge
Two partners will split the role of leading Gibson Dunn’s Dallas office. One is a female partner who has been described as an “absolute rockstar” and joined the firm’s partnership ranks just two-and-a-half years ago. The other is an experienced male trial lawyer whose name was on the door at a litigation boutique before joining Gibson Dunn as the pandemic began last year.
Real Estate Investor Sues Nate Paul, World Class
In a lawsuit filed Monday, a Colorado investor is seeking to recover a $1.3 million investment he made with the real estate firm owned by Nate Paul, who recently was at the helm of a political scandal involving the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Williams v. ETE Trial Finale: The Battle of the Tax Lawyers
The high-stakes trial between Williams and Energy Transfer over their failed $38 billion merger concluded with testimony from several high billable hour tax lawyers from Cravath, Latham, Wachtell and Gibson Dunn. Natalie Posgate reviews their testimony, which will help a Delaware chancery court decide which party is on the hook for a $410 million merger breakup fee.
A Tale of Two Pipeline CEOs Under Oath – Williams v. ETE Trial Continues
The company leaders behind both The Williams Companies and Energy Transfer have taken the stand in the final trial involving companies’ contentious legal battle over their failed $38 billion merger. Both got grilled, but one CEO’s cross-examination appeared to be more brutal than the other.
Day 1: Witnesses say ETE Offering Was ‘Seriously Adverse’ to Williams Investors in $38B Merger
Key negotiators for The Williams Companies in its failed 2016 merger with Energy Transfer Equity testified Monday in the Delaware Court of Chancery about an equity offering executed by ETE that they say breached the parties’ $38 billion merger agreement because of how unfair it was to Williams shareholders. But they didn’t go unchallenged on cross-examination.
$410M+ Merger Breakup Trial Begins in Delaware Next Week
The final chapter of Energy Transfer and Williams’ legal battle over their failed mega-merger from 2016 will unfold in a six-day trial that begins Monday in Delaware. If you forgot what they’re still fighting about, not to worry. Natalie Posgate has the who, what, when, where and why to refresh your memory.
Fort Worth Judge Dismisses Shareholder Derivative Suit Against Six Flags Board
For the second time this spring, a Fort Worth federal judge has dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit that stemmed from a business deal that fell apart between Arlington-based Six Flags Entertainment Corp. and Riverside Investment Group related to the development of Six Flags parks in China.
Jury Clears Dril-Quip, Engineer of Liability in Trade Secrets Trial — Updated
A Houston jury ruled Thursday afternoon that Houston-based TechnipFMC did not own trade secrets related to subsea drilling designs that the company had accused hometown rival Dril-Quip and ex-FMC engineer Rick Murphy of misappropriating, handing FMC a take-nothing verdict.
Lawyers for Dril-Quip and Murphy said they were thrilled with the result. An attorney for FMC said the company respects the verdict, but promised an appeal.
