Amid a flurry of amicus briefs from property rights advocates, business groups and municipal planners, the Texas Supreme Court heard arguments last week in an eminent domain dispute from Rowlett. The case is a test of a Texas statute designed to protect private property rights following Kelo v. City of New London.
Fifth Circuit Affirms Verdict in Favor of Saudi Prince
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed a 2017 jury verdict that awarded $3 million to a member of the Saudi royal family in a breach of contract dispute. The ruling benefits Prince Mansour Bin Abdullah Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Details here of the ruling.
Fifth Circuit Hands John O’Quinn Final Courtroom Defeat
The Fifth Circuit ruled late Thursday that Lexington Insurance Co. was not required to indemnify famed trial lawyer John O’Quinn, who died in 2009, and his law firm for the costs of settling a case that accused him of improperly charging his clients for millions and millions of dollars in expenses that had nothing to do with the litigation.
Justice Fund Spotlights Phil Johnson, Veterans
AUSTIN – Vietnam veteran Phil Johnson was in mid-career as a military pilot when a distinguished law career intervened. These days, however, the Texas Supreme Court jurist is focused on the legal needs of today’s military men and women, and those interests were noted last week at the annual Texas Access to Justice luncheon.
HBA Lawyers Favor Incumbents, GOP in Judicial Poll
Houston lawyers love Appeals Court Judge Jane Bland and Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeff Brown, but they are not fans of Justices Jimmy Blacklock and John Devine. The Houston Bar Association’s newly released 2018 Judicial Preference Poll shows that lawyers in the Bayou City strongly support incumbent judges running for re-election next month.
SCOTX Hears New Case Regarding Post-Production Deductions
For nine years Burlington Resources deducted post-production costs from royalties paid to Amber Harvest for development in the Eagle Ford. Then came the 2015 Chesapeake v. Hyder decision, and now Amber Harvest is asking SCOTX to make Burlington reimburse them. Janet Elliott details their arguments before the court.
Finally, SCOTX Settles ‘Jarndyce v. Jarndyce’
A 46-year-old property tax case was finally settled by the Texas Supreme Court. Their ruling in the inter-county dispute, often compared to Dickens’ famously epic litigation, was settled in favor of San Patricio County.
After a Quirky Trial, Shook Hardy Scores Win in Fifth Circuit
It was a defense counsel’s dream. After the plaintiffs rested, defense lawyers presented a motion for judgment as a matter of law to U.S. District Judge Samuel Ray Cummings in Lubbock. And he granted it. But that was only one odd turn in a trial – now blessed by the Fifth Circuit – during which procedure really, really mattered.
Fifth Circuit Affirms $3M Win for Gray Reed in Franchise Dispute
Houston and Dallas lawyers from Gray Reed & McGraw have secured a $3.15 million appellate win for a cleaning franchisor that had a contract dispute with its partner in the United Kingdom.
Latest Deepwater Horizon Case Brings Question of Insurance Limits for Defense Expense
The dispute involves high-risk surplus lines insurance commonly purchased by drillers, and is being closely watched for its impact on that market.
