Winstead Adds Shareholder to IP Group
Former software engineer Austin Teng was previously a partner at Kirkland & Ellis in Austin.
How the Changing Law of Chevron Deference Might Affect Texas
In January the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two matters that could significantly change how federal courts are to review decisions made by federal agencies. Chevron deference has often allowed federal agencies to “fill gaps” and implement policy decisions where the statute may not be express. However, the issues before the Supreme Court in Loper Bright Enterprises and Relentless, Inc. call the doctrine’s viability into question.
Q&A: Labor and Employment Attorney Jennifer Trulock Discusses Recent Career Move and Employment Law Trends
Trulock shares her predictions on the impact of the upcoming presidential election, how Texas employment law has changed and her advice for younger lawyers.
Litigation Roundup: Fifth Circuit wants SCOTX Input in TCEQ Suit; Texas Gamer Brings $680M Monopoly Claim
In this edition of litigation roundup, the Fifth Circuit has asked the Texas Supreme Court to answer a certified question in a dispute that pits a nonprofit group against the state’s environmental protection agency, the Texas Supreme Court grants review in two tax appraisal cases involving the value of Oncor’s transmission lines and the founder of a Call of Duty esports team take aim at Activision Blizzard’s business practices in a new suit.
Major Franchise Owner Hit with $30.7M Jury Verdict
A Dallas jury heard eight days of testimony and deliberated for two hours before deciding the owner of roughly 150 Popeyes restaurants, Guillermo Perales and his company Sun Holdings, owed former employee Jerry “Scott” Stockton about $15.6 million in compensatory damages and $15.1 million in punitive damages for failing to follow through on a promise to compensate him with 5 percent of the annual operating profits of the restaurants. Sun Holdings is the second largest franchisee organization in the country, with about 1,800 restaurants in its portfolio.
Court Reporters Say Texas Judicial Branch Certification Commission ‘Turns a Blind Eye’ to A.I. Deposition Services
Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ruled an Austin transcription service violated Texas law governing the court reporting industry, even though the commission dismissed a complaint saying it lacked jurisdiction. Court reporters say Judge Ezra’s ruling is a profound decision that affirms their interpretation of the law.
Power Trader Brings Legal Challenge to PUCT’s Creation of Contingency Reserve Service
Aspire Power Ventures filed a direct appeal with the Third Court of Appeals in Austin on Tuesday, challenging three orders issued by the Public Utility Commission of Texas that created and modified a program to provide reserve power in emergency situations. While the stated goal of the ERCOT Contingency Reserve Service is to prevent grid issues like what the state experienced during Winter Storm Uri, Aspire alleges it instead “does nothing to increase actual electricity reserve capacity — in fact, it actually decreases capacity when it is most needed.”
Dallas Jury Awards $22M to Ousted Real Estate CEO
A jury heard eight days of testimony and deliberated for less than two hours before unanimously siding with Daniel Moos on his breach of contract claims. The jury rejected Pillar Income Asset Management’s counterclaims that Moss had breached his fiduciary duty to the company.
Litigation Roundup: Pension Fund Sues Pioneer Over Exxon Deal, Union Pacific to Face Fatal Crash Suit
In this week’s edition of Litigation Roundup, Pioneer Natural Resources draws suit over its $60 billion Exxon deal, a fight between faculty at MD Anderson spills into court, a jury renders a take-nothing judgment in a personal injury suit that had sought damages in excess of $10 million, and the Fifth Circuit revives a fatal crash suit against Union Pacific.
Longtime Thompson Coe Partner to Launch New Personal Injury Firm
William Moye is not only venturing out on his own for the first time after 20 years with Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, he’s entering a whole new practice area. Moye Law Firm, slated to open March 1, will focus on handling catastrophic personal injury cases.
Houston Litigation Firm Vasquez Waite Off to ‘Fast and Furious’ Start
Cara Vasquez and Mark Waite are “complete opposites” on paper, but the unlikely duo decided to launch their own firm in 2024 focused on representing petrochemical and construction companies in litigation. Vasquez, who spent her entire career at DLA Piper, and Waite, who was a senior in-house lawyer at LyondellBasell before practicing at DLA for the past six years, launched Vasquez Waite on Jan. 1 and have been “way busier” than they anticipated.
Baker Botts Expands U.S./Asia IP Capabilities with New Hires
Houston attorney Jeffrey Johnson and California partner Robert Benson join from Orrick, where they worked closely together for clients in the U.S., Taiwan and China.