In a 7-2 ruling issued Friday morning, the last day of the court’s term, the justices denied a request from the former owner of the Houston Astros, Drayton McLane, to bring an early end to a lawsuit brought by the team’s current owner, Jim Crane, alleging lies and deceptions caused him to overpay for the team in 2011. The ruling means Crane will have a chance to proceed with a trial in Harris County where he is seeking to recoup the entire $332 million he paid for a stake in the Houston Regional Sports Network that was part of his $615 million purchase of the Major League Baseball team.
Texas is Chipping Away at Property Owners’ Rights: Inside the Troubling Trend
The “Texas Miracle” is by all accounts a real thing. There is little doubt that Texas businesses have thrived in the confluence of conditions existing in Texas for the past couple of decades. Then why would the Texas Legislature strive to place hardships on Texas businesses by making it more difficult for them, as property owners, to recover the full cost of repair for construction defects?
Q&A with the State Bar of Texas President
Cindy V. Tisdale, a partner at Goranson Bain Ausley in Granbury, was sworn in June 22 as the new president of the State Bar of Texas. Tisdale, who practices family law, answered questions from The Lawbook about why she sought to lead the organization and what her goals are.
Dallas Litigator Stephanie Clouston Laterals to Winston & Strawn
Clouston, who led the Texas litigation practice at Alston & Bird, said she has seen an increase in large disputes being filed in the state.
Courts’ Use of Zoom Hearings Plummets Post-Pandemic
Memories of muted microphones, strange filters and unprecedented courtroom access are recalled during a recent Open Government Seminar at the state bar’s annual convention. A panel discussion on post-pandemic court proceedings found some glitches but also much to like about remote and hybrid hearings.
Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Rules on Plant Explosion MDL, SCOTUS Clarifies Scope of RICO
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Texas Supreme Court sides with an attorney who got zero compensation for his shares when he and his old firm parted ways, McKool Smith secures a unanimous $4 million jury verdict for a software company client and Baker McKenzie notches a SCOTUS win.
Q&A With the State Bar of Texas President-Elect
Bracewell partner W. Stephen Benesh was sworn in as president-elect of the State Bar of Texas June 22 during the annual meeting in Austin. He answered questions from The Lawbook about why he wanted to take a leadership role and what his goals are.
SB 833 Protects Fossil Fuels from ESG Insurance Discrimination — But It May Not, Attorneys Say
The bill would prohibit an insurer from using a score based on environmental, social or governance characteristics — commonly referred to as ESG — to charge a rate different than the rate charged to another business in the same class for essentially the same hazard. But its success depends on whether there’s a problem to begin with. And some Texas insurance practitioners think that really isn’t the case.