Exactly 358 days after the Texas Supreme Court issued its first Covid-19-related emergency order closing most state courtrooms to in-person hearings and trials, the justices issued their 36th order Friday officially lifting the statewide ban. But the pandemic caused a backlog of thousands of civil and criminal jury trials that Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht told The Texas Lawbook needs to be addressed.
Remembering Clyde Siebman, ‘The Guiding Spirit Behind the EDTX Bench Bar Conference’
When the biggest corporations in the world – Toyota, Walmart, Phillip Morris, Boeing and Huawei – needed a lawyer in East Texas, they called Sherman’s Clyde Siebman. So did single moms, the elderly and veterans. Siebman, a zealous advocate for the right to trial by jury, died Friday. He was 62.
Judge Albright Adjourns from Trial to Chat Courtroom Practices, IP Trends
Even as U.S. District Judge Alan Albright was in the middle of one of the most closely-watched patent infringement trials of the year, he gave The Texas Lawbook and the IP community some of his time to sit in the hot seat and discuss patterns and trends unfolding in and out of his courtroom.
Waco Jury: Intel Infringed on VLSI’s Patents, Awards $2.175B
Jurors in the VLSI v. Intel patent infringement trial ended their deliberations shortly after noon today, awarding VLSI $2.175 billion. The patented technology is related to the speed and power-saving capabilities of computer chips. The Lawbook’s Natalie Posgate has the details.
‘It’s an Outrageous Demand’: VLSI and Intel Talk Money and Credibility as Trial Closes
Jurors in the VLSI v. Intel patent infringement trial officially begin deliberations Tuesday morning over whether to follow the advice by VLSI’s lawyers given in Monday’s closing arguments to award their client billions of dollars or side with Intel that the requested damages are an “outrageous” amount and award VLSI nothing. Texas Lawbook litigation writer Natalie Posgate has the in-depth details.
Jim Rolfe: Remembering a Great Dallas Trial Lawyer
This story is about my friend and a mentor Jim Rolfe who died Feb. 26, 2021. Jim was larger than life and one of the best trial lawyers ever produced in Texas.
Houston Chronicle: Texas AG Sues Griddy
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against Griddy Monday, claiming the retail power company used deceptive practices to mislead customers, many of whom were hit with electric bills in the thousands of dollars during the weather-driven power crisis.
Electrolit v. Gatorlyte Trademark Infringement Fight in South Texas Flares Up Again
A federal judge in McAllen issued a new, second temporary restraining order Saturday enjoining PepsiCo from making, marketing and selling its new rehydration drink Gatorlyte on the grounds that the global soft drink giant engaged in anticompetitive conduct against Mexico-based Laboratorios Pisa and its trademarked Electrolit drink.
Akin Gump Obtains Employment Win for Cattle Semen Provider
A former Cuban worker for a cattle semen provider has lost an employment discrimination lawsuit in which he alleged his employer treated him worse than younger Brazilian employees at the company. The ruling highlights a less-traveled avenue employers can take to win on summary judgment.
Power Outage Lawsuit Avalanche Coming
A dozen lawsuits against ERCOT and four Texas energy companies have already been filed and hundreds more are expected as a result of the winter storm-induced power outages. The initial lawsuits are by individuals, but legal experts say that the biggest cases – those pitting energy companies against each other over contract breaches – are several months away from being lodged. The Texas Lawbook has an in-depth report.
