Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Eighty percent of Texas businesses faced civil lawsuits this past year and, although they were sued less often, more and more companies are suing each other, according to exclusive data provided to The Texas Lawbook by the Norton Rose Fulbright law firm. Specifically, Texas GCs witnessed a rise in litigation involving oil and gas operations, labor and employment disputes and contract disagreements.
A former female executive for Omni Hotels on Wednesday filed suit against her ex-employer and its holding company for sexual harassment, unequal pay, and retaliation after she spent more than a decade trying to resolve her issues with the Dallas-based hotel chain.
For frequent patent asserters, things used to be simple: buy patents, allege infringement against anyone you could and then make settlement offers. But a series of issues is forcing changes to the business model of companies that make money from patents they do not use to produce goods or services.
A Dallas County jury early this morning delivered a stunning $4 billion punitive damage verdict in favor of the heirs of long-time IT expert, Max D. Hopper, against J.P. Morgan Chase. The jury award is believed to be the largest awards ever handed down in a probate case in Texas. Max Hopper was a pioneer and icon in the use of information technology and worked at American Airlines for nearly 24 years. The Texas Lawbook has complete details.
A jury in La Salle County has awarded $100 million to Houston-based Matrix Petroleum after finding that Repsol-owned Talisman Energy committed accounting fraud and breached an agreement the two companies had to drill wells in the Eagle Ford Shale.
Tom Melsheimer was in his second week of trial defending Tech Pharmacy in a $350 million patent dispute against Plano-based AlixaRx when he suddenly switched from defense to offense in U.S. Judge Amos Mazzant's courtroom to represent Ezekiel Elliott in his case against the NFL. The Winston legal team won complete victory against the NFL and a split decision in the IP trial.
East Texas has lost its status as America’s top place to sue for patent infringement. Delaware is the new king of patent litigation. During the past four months, plaintiffs filed nearly twice as many patent cases in Delaware than they did in the Tyler-based Eastern District of Texas, according to Lex Machina. The Texas Lawbook has the exclusive data and the details.
There were many reasons Yolanda Garcia decided to get involved in the controversial “sanctuary city” litigation, but a conversation she had with her 14-year-old son was certainly one catalyst for her desire to take on the case.
A federal jury ruled Thursday that gaming company Nintendo infringed on patented motion detection technology developed by Dallas-based iLife Technologies. The jury, which heard more than a week of evidence and arguments, awarded $10.1 million to iLife, a technology firm that develops vital sign monitors and other technology.
Even as the South Texas disaster brings out the best in so many, it brings out the worst in others. Cyber thieves, online attackers and cyber scammers are using email and social media to try and capitalize on and profit from the generosity of would-be charitable donors. Former Datatech GC John Ansbach has the details.
Two seasoned Dallas trial lawyers say they have never seen anything like what they witnessed last week in federal court in the $3.6 million fraud and racketeering case between the Diamond Doctor and a Tennessee lawyer. A federal judge ruled a lawyer likely fabricated a client and committed abuse on the judicial process. Another lawyer representing the first lawyer begged the judge in court to postpone a trial so they could settle. The Texas Lawbook has the inside details about the crazy developments in the case, settlement details and how the FBI is suddenly involved.
Legendary Dallas lawyer Jim Coleman was hailed Wednesday night as a gentleman, an honest, genuine and passionate lawyer, and a leader with integrity. The Texas Lawbook and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter hosted a tribute to the 94-year-old lawyer. We brought together many lawyers he mentored and impacted – many of whom are now among the most prominent and successful lawyers and judges in Texas. U.S. District Chief Judge Barbara Lynn, Fifth Circuit Judge Patrick Higginbotham, Bill Dawson, Rod Phelan, Dick Sayles, Bruce Collins, Judge Royal Furgeson and Mike Lynn told stories and reminisced about the time they spent with Coleman and the impact he had on their lives. We have the photos and the stories.
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