The Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Texas Association of Defense Counsel are all on the same side of the issue: Harris County District Judge Dedra Davis’ remote jury trial order is unconstitutional. Among the issues with the proceedings, the amici argued there’s been no effort to ensure the pool of potential jurors have access to technology necessary to participate, artificially limiting the diversity of the panel.
Patent Lawyers: WDTX Waco Order Unfair, Misguided and Hypocritical
Since Judge Alan Albright took the federal bench in 2018, businesses and individuals have filed 2,622 lawsuits in Waco accusing others of patent infringement. New statistics show he handles 24 percent of patent disputes in the U.S. – more than any other judge. His cases proceed quickly from filing to finish. Empirical data shows plaintiffs and defendants each win about half of their trials. Judge Albright rules for defendants 90 percent of the time on summary judgment.
This week, the federal judiciary shut down Judge Albright’s patent docket and has started sending his patent cases to other judges. In an in-depth report, The Texas Lawbook looks at the allegations by some tech companies against Judge Albright, reveals new data about his caseload and provides feedback from 19 patent lawyers in Texas. FYI: They are pissed.
In Competition Suit That Sought $41M, Dallas County Jury Awards $120K
Alston & Bird attorneys representing Boral Windows got a ruling that ensured the jury never got to consider counterclaims seeking $100 million in damages against its client. And Don Godwin batted back Boral’s bid for about $41 million in damages against his client, who sold his company to Boral.
Charter/Spectrum Hit With Staggering $7B in Punitive Damages in 2019 Murder of 83-year-old Cable Customer
A Dallas County jury deliberated less than two hours before finding that the cable giant was liable for the exemplary damages on top of an earlier verdict of $375 million in actual damages.
WDTX Chief Judge: “Equitably Distribute” Waco Patent Cases to All Judges
The Waco patent rocket docket days may be over. WDTX Chief Judge Orlando Garcia issued an order Monday that requires that all new patent infringement lawsuits filed in the Waco Division be immediately assigned randomly to the district’s 12 federal judges. The order seems designed to end Judge Alan Albright’s three-year run as the federal judge handling the most patent cases in the U.S. The patent litigation bar is speaking out and they are not happy about the new order. The Texas Lawbook has the details.