A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in a decision issued late Friday blasted the federal trial judge overseeing the litigation over the allegedly disgraceful conditions of the Texas foster care system for telling lawyers for the state of Texas that “doesn’t hurt” for state officials to “go over and above the minimum standards for protecting Texas children. The federal appeals court panel said that U.S. District Judge Janis Jack has made courtroom remarks that “implied bias” that “raise serious questions concerning … the appearance of justice.”
P.S. — ADL Honors Reasoners, Dallas Hispanic Bar Gala, Inns of Court Recognizes Gray Reed Partner
Two years ago, The Texas Lawbook created the full-time pro bono, public service and diversity writer position with a carrot-and-stick approach: Highlight the successes of Texas lawyers in these three critical areas to hopefully encourage others to do the same and to provide data and analysis about where lawyers and firms are falling short. To be sure, the sticks are being sharpened to address failures. But today, we have three successes to highlight.
J&J Bankruptcy to Stay in Texas
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez said Thursday that he is keeping a Johnson & Johnson-related bankruptcy in Texas and not transferring the case back to New Jersey where J&J is headquartered.
P.S. — ACC San Antonio, Texas Lawbook Announce Partnership, Honor Christine Reinhard and Vincent Johnson for Ethics, Leadership
The Texas Lawbook and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s San Antonio Chapter have agreed to a new media content partnership similar to partnerships The Lawbook has with ACC chapters in DFW and Houston. And as part of the partnership, ACC San Antonio has announced that it is honoring St. Mary’s University School of Law professor Vincent R. Johnson and San Antonio labor and employment lawyer Christine Reinhard with the 2024 Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life and Leadership Award. This week’s P.S. column also highlights the new leadership of the Houston Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, led by chapter president and Pattern Energy Senior Counsel Lauren Haller.
The Dallas Morning News, The Texas Lawbook Form News Partnership
The Texas Lawbook, the largest and most influential legal publication in Texas with more than 16,000 paid subscribers, is expanding its reach into the Texas business community with a new content partnership with The Dallas Morning News.
Butler Snow Leads Fort Worth Elder Care Center Bankruptcy
Citing $112 million in municipal debt, Fort Worth senior living center The Stayton at Museum Way has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time in five years.
Houston Bankruptcy Judge Lopez’s Highly Complex, Big-Dollar Docket
Few Texas courtrooms are as busy as Houston Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez’s. His docket of more than 380 business bankruptcies, plus a couple thousand personal and consumer bankruptcies, includes some of the highest profile and bitterly disputed corporate restructurings currently pending in the U.S., including J&J’s controversial $10 billion Chapter 11 Texas Two-Step restructuring under the subsidiary Red River Talc, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Info Wars media company. Judge Lopez is, by all accounts, establishing himself as one of the premier jurists for the most complex restructurings. But there are things lawyers should know when handling cases before Judge Lopez.
Kirkland, Bracewell Advise Vertex Energy in Bankruptcy
Houston-based energy transition products provider Vertex Energy Operating filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday in the Southern District of Texas citing $500 million to $1 billion in financial liabilities. Vertex Energy General Counsel James Gregory hired Kirkland & Ellis and Bracewell as its legal advisors in the restructuring. The case has been assigned to Houston Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez.
Paul Hastings Adds to Bankruptcy Practice in Texas
Dallas corporate bankruptcy and restructuring partner Charles Persons has joined Paul Hastings as the corporate law firm continues to beef up its Texas bankruptcy operations.
Led by Jones Day and Porter Hedges, J&J Brings Texas Two-Step to Houston
Johnson & Johnson, hoping the third time’s a charm for solving its multibillion-dollar talc baby powder litigation fiasco, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday for its Red River Talc subsidiary in Houston. The case featuring the highly controversial Texas Two-Step procedure has been assigned to Southern District of Texas Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez. Two Texas lawyers expected to play key roles for the debtors in the case are Jones Day partner Gregory Gordon of Dallas and Porter Hedges partner John Higgins of Houston.