Womble Adds Construction Pro in Houston
Bob Hancock was previously a leader in Munsch Hardt's construction practice.
$28M Dispute Between Trucking Companies Revs Up with Motion to Dismiss
A Texas freight trucking company brought a complaint to the Texas Business Court, alleging an Indiana company caused $28 million in damages for alleged fraudulent schemes. The defendant calls the complaint “baseless” in a motion to dismiss.
Discretionary Denials 2.0 — The Litigator’s IPR Playbook Under the New PTAB Regime
In March, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued its “Interim Process for PTAB Workload Management” memorandum — quickly dubbed the “Workload Memo.” The memo resurrects and expands the PTAB’s discretion to deny institution for reasons that have little to do with the prior art. By July 31, the acting director had already logged 109 discretionary-denial decisions, signaling a tectonic shift. For petitioners who count on IPRs to stall infringement suits — and patent owners who must decide where to fight — the new regime demands a strategic overhaul. This article distills what has changed, why it matters and how litigators should adapt.
Bondholders Call for Judge Isgur to Recuse from GWG Holdings Bankruptcy Case
GWG Holdings bondholders call for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur to step away from the case, alleging he is protecting David Jones, a former bankruptcy judge, and Elizabeth Freeman, a former Jackson Walker partner with whom Jones had an undisclosed romantic relationship.
Bell Nunnally Bolsters IP Practice with Cheryl Leb
Leb was previously the chair of Kelly Hart's IP practice.
Eastern District Patent Infringement Case Dismissed
Intelligent Wellhead Systems’ lawsuit alleging patent infringement against Downing Wellhead Equipment was dismissed by an Eastern District Court judge this week. This is the second win Haynes Boone has seen for Downing this summer.
Oil, One Lawyer and Only 64 Souls: Fifth Circuit Weighs in on Loving County’s War of Neighbors
A West Texas justice of the peace, sheriff and constable walked into a Fifth Circuit courtroom. No joke. This is the story of six residents of Loving County — together, they account for about one-tenth of the county’s total population — who took their decade-long political dispute over allegations of voter intimidation, jury fraud, “lawfare” and even cattle rustling and turned it into a billion-dollar civil rights litigation. Such is life in Loving County, population 64, but only one lawyer. (2021 file photo by David Goldman/AP)
Litigation Roundup: SFA’s Plans to Cut Women’s Sports Halted
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Phillips 66 must pay $195 million in exemplary damages — on top of nearly $605 million in compensatory damages — in a trade secrets case in California, a federal judge in East Texas sides with female athletes at Stephen F. Austin State University who brought a Title IX lawsuit after the university announced it would end several women’s sports programs, and Amazon is the latest target of a company accusing retail behemoths of infringing barcode technology.
Texas Attorney Helps New Jersey Reach Potential $2B PFAS Settlement Mid-Trial
A Texas attorney served as lead counsel in what could be a $2 billion settlement in New Jersey with chemical giants DuPont, Chemours and Corteva, marking the largest environmental recovery for a single state’s claim in U.S. history, according to New Jersey officials. (File photo by Joshua A. Bickel/The Associated Press)
Trade Secrets Case Offers a Roadmap on Preemption, Jury Charges
The lawyer who represents a dozen former DNOW employees said a recent opinion by the Fourteenth Court of Appeals reversed a significant trial award and reshapes the legal landscape in Texas for trade secret and fiduciary duty claims. The appeal resulted in more than $2 million in attorneys’ fees and costs for the ex-employees, who were accused of conspiring to steal DNOW’s trade secrets.
Boston Jury Awards Couple $42M in Johnson & Johnson Asbestos Trial
Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder was allegedly the direct cause of mesothelioma for a Massachusetts couple, according to a Boston jury. Dallas-based attorneys with Dean Omar Branham Shirley represented the couple in the two-week jury trial, which resulted in a $42 million verdict for the plaintiffs.
WhereverTV is Headed Back to Trial in its Infringement Claims Against Comcast
WhereverTV accused Comcast of infringing a patent covering its interactive program guide and was trying the case before a jury in April 2023. But before the jury heard closing arguments or began deliberations, a federal judge in Florida agreed with Comcast that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law, ending the case. Now, the Federal Circuit Court has remanded the case for a second jury trial.