This article explores whether ESG is a trade secret or at least confidential information that could lead to a lawsuit when an ESG executive leaves a company for a similar position at a competitor.
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.
Litigation Roundup: Opioids, Psilocybin & (Alleged) Legal Malpractice
This week of the Litigation Roundup features a settlement, an attorney’s fees award and three new lawsuits. The litigation features a deceased Houston Rockets scout, a disabled NFL player, a Houston DEA agent who won awards for putting pill-pushing doctors in jail, the founder of a well-known Dallas hedge fund and a Houston litigation boutique’s role in a Freedom of Information Act request involving the clinical use of magic mushrooms in Washington state.
Did you just get hired on an interesting case or have a new development you’d like to report? Email us the update to tlblitigation@texaslawbook.net to be considered for inclusion in the next Litigation Roundup.
Judge in Salesforce MDL To Decide Whether Plaintiffs Can Use Discovery in Related Cases
A hearing on a motion to modify the protective order governing an MDL in which Salesforce is accused of facilitating sex trafficking ended Friday with the presiding judge deciding he would review on a case-by-case basis the discovery the plaintiffs’ lawyers are seeking to use in other related litigation nationwide. Salesforce’s attorney Michael Raiff of Gibson Dunn said at one point in the hearing he felt he was being accused of committing fraud on the court, but the plaintiffs’ lawyers said that wasn’t the case.
Litigation Roundup: Nike Ghosts Patent Lawsuit, Tennis Star Double Faults in Court of Law, Energy Transfer Sued
Two jury verdicts that exceed $1 billion, including abortion issues involving Southwest Airlines and the adjudication of long-anticipated Dallas Police and Fire Pension dispute. Two new lawsuits against two major North Texas corporations — one involving alleged illegal horizontal drilling and another involving boiling water poured on customers. Two Ukrainian nationals accused of money laundering strike plea deals with federal prosecutors. All that and more in this week’s Litigation Roundup.
Departing-Employee Lawsuits Are a Tough Racket, Panel Says
Experts at a Texas Lawbook CLE say even top litigators struggle with the lightning pace of suits to stop departing workers from stealing customers and trade secrets.
Texas Lawbook Hires Law360 Litigation Reporter Michelle Casady
Michelle Casady joins Natalie Posgate, who has been with The Lawbook for a decade, and former Dallas Morning News writer and editor Bruce Tomaso in covering litigation for The Lawbook.
“Michelle’s tremendous experience and knowledge in covering Texas courts will mean The Lawbook will provide our readers with more breaking news stories and more in-depth coverage of litigation trends and personalities than ever before at any news publication in Texas,” said Posgate. “Michelle is a highly respected and gifted reporter and we are greatly pleased to be working with her now as a colleague rather than against her as a competitor.”