UDF Investigation Heads for Conclusion As Bass ‘SLAPPs’ Back

Far from crumbling in the face of a lawsuit that accuses him of pushing fake news for profit, Kyle Bass is doubling down on his accusers, United Development Funding. In a recent filing, Bass declares that he and his company, Hayman Capital Management, had a responsibility to turn in UDF to the SEC and the FBI. That Hayman made $60 million in the process is hardly the point, Bass says. And in the coming weeks, the SEC and the FBI may have a lot to say about it. Natalie Posgate has the story in The Texas Lawbook.

February 9, 2018 Natalie Posgate

V&E Wins $28.8M Against State in Houston Toll Road Development Dispute

Don Griffin, Jr. and Billy Coe Dyer have secured what is believed to be the largest jury verdict for a property owner in a land condemnation case against the State

February 7, 2018 Natalie Posgate

Jury Slaps $43M Negligence Verdict on East TX Hospital and Suspended Doctor

A Tyler, Texas jury has awarded a former chemical company executive more than $43 million for lifelong damages he suffered after a local hospital allowed him to go under the

February 2, 2018 Natalie Posgate

Dems: GOP Suit Like ‘Ice on a Sidewalk in Dallas in August’

The Dallas County Democratic party has retained Randy Johnston and Chad Baruch of Johnston Tobey Baruch to defend it in the lawsuit the GOP filed against it seeking the removal of 128 Democratic candidates off the March 6 primary ballot. Johnston has a few things to say about it. Details here.

January 25, 2018 Natalie Posgate

BARBRI Settles Litigation with Blind Law Students

Lawyers for a group of blind law students said Wednesday that they have settled their claims against Dallas-based bar examination preparation course giant BARBRI. The students alleged in a lawsuit filed two years ago that BARBRI failed to address issues that prevented them from adequately preparing for the bar exam despite spending thousands of dollars on the course.

January 24, 2018 Natalie Posgate

Judge David Counts: Meet the Western District’s Newest Article III Jurist

U.S. Magistrate Judge David Counts in Midland heard two felony pleas agreements Thursday morning and recommended to the U.S. District judge that they be accepted. After lunch, Judge Counts accepted the pleas of a handful of criminal felony defendants. Between the two court appearances, he was sworn in as the new U.S. District judge for the Western District of Texas. The Texas Lawbook has an exclusive interview with Judge Counts.

January 19, 2018 Mark Curriden

Dallas Lawyers Think Better of Their Judges than Houston Lawyers (Then Again, Maybe…Or Not)

The Houston Bar Association recently released its biennial survey of lawyer ratings for judges. Dallas released a similar survey last May. Taken at face value, Dallas lawyers are a lot more comfortable with their local judges than Houston lawyers. The problem is you can’t take it at face value. And if you look closely, the results may be reversed. Natalie Posgate explains in The Texas Lawbook.

January 5, 2018 Natalie Posgate

Updated: Next Round in Hopper Family’s $8B Probate Battle Against J.P. Morgan Commences

Jo Hopper and her step-children won an $8 billion jury verdict against J.P. Morgan last year over the handling of her late husband's estate. But a fight over attorneys' fees in a Dallas probate court this week shows the real battle is just beginning. Natalie Posgate has the details in The Texas Lawbook.

January 4, 2018 Natalie Posgate

Federal Circuit Denies Nintendo’s Appeal of iLife’s Patent

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied an appeal by Nintendo challenging a $10.1 million patent infringement verdict by a Dallas jury. The Texas Lawbook has coverage of the appeal and the trial verdict that sparked it.

December 28, 2017 Natalie Posgate

Dallas Jury Slaps BBVA Compass with $98M Fraud Judgment

Derrick Boyd scored the biggest courtroom victory of his 23-year career last week when a Dallas jury found that a bank had defrauded his client, a North Texas developer, and awarded $98 million in damages. The Decatur-based trial lawyer said the trial turned on emails from bank executives. The Texas Lawbook has the inside details.

December 18, 2017 Mark Curriden

Jury Clears Servergy CEO of Most Charges, but Keeps Liability on One

An East Texas jury on Wednesday found William E. Mapp liable for one count of negligence for misleading investors about the business prospects of company that he founded and formerly led, McKinney-based Servergy. But it also cleared Mapp of seven other charges that Mapp committed fraud and offered unregistered securities.

December 15, 2017 Natalie Posgate

Updated: Pecos Judge Enters Final Judgment in Pickens Case – Finally

Summary: A West Texas judge has entered a long-awaited final judgment in the T. Boone Pickens lawsuit against his former partners in an oil and gas deal. The judge’s order is a mixed bag worth more than $117 million for Pickens, but the real value may be in the court battle it took to get the judge to file it. Natalie Posgate has the details.

December 13, 2017 Natalie Posgate