There were few surprises in the races for district judge seats in the state’s biggest counties, where Democrats have steadily made inroads in recent years. Three judges who were recently appointed to their seats by Gov. Greg Abbott were soundly rejected by voters.
Litigation Roundup: Botched Surgeries Net Big Jury Verdicts, FedEx Hit With $366M in Damages, Full Fifth Circ. to Hear Reporter’s Arrest Suit
In this week’s edition of Litigation Roundup, juries in Dallas and Tarrant County doled out damages to individuals permanently injured in separate botched surgeries, FedEx is slammed with nine-digit damages in a racial discrimination and retaliation case and the entire Fifth Circuit votes to rehear a lawsuit over a citizen-journalist’s arrest in Laredo.
SEC Regional Director, Former Enforcement Officials Talk Rulemaking, Fifth Circuit Rulings and More
About 75 lawyers attended in-person or online a CLE that delved into enforcement priorities at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Fort Worth Regional Office, what impact recent Fifth Circuit decisions could have on SEC actions, and how to navigate clients through uncertain times during an increase in rulemaking initiatives.
Austin Software Company Wins $105M IP Verdict Against Ford Motor
A federal jury in Detroit listened to 15 days of testimony and arguments and then deliberated nearly 10 hours before ruling Wednesday that Ford Motor Co. misused Versata’s trade secrets and the carmaker to pay Austin-based Versata Software $105 million in damages. The nine-digit verdict is the largest courtroom victory for Houston-based Mitby Pacholder Johnson, a three-partner litigation boutique formed earlier this year. The Texas Lawbook has the inside story.
Dallas Judge Tonya Parker to Run for Appeals Court Spot
Dallas District Judge Tonya Parker announced Monday that she intends to seek election to an upcoming opening on the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.
Judge Parker, a widely respected trial judge who consistently ranks among the top three judges for judicial temperament and legal knowledge by Dallas Bar Association members, sent an email to supporters stating that she has been “seriously considering a run for court of appeals” for some time.