Texas judges will be permitted to conduct jury trials remotely and sometimes in-person as long as they develop a plan that follows the social distancing guidelines and other safety provisions established by the Texas Office of Court Administration, according to a new order issued Wednesday by Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht.
First Virtual Trial: No Dogs, No Kids, No Jury Strikes
From the beginning the whole process took only a smidge over 94 minutes. But jury selection in the first actual (sort of) virtual trial was as smooth and efficient as 30 faces from 30 different places mashed onto a screen can be. The Lawbook watched and was impressed.
Updated: Exxon’s $77M SDTX Environmental Trial Goes Virtual
Exxon Mobil and the federal government were in the midst of a $77 million bench trial in Houston when the proceedings were interrupted by COVID-19. Instead of waiting to return to court, the parties chose to finish out the trial electronically. And while there has been no decision on the environmental dispute involved, there has been a ruling on the electronic bench-trial experience. Natalie Posgate has the verdict.
Dallas Firm Reaches $52M Settlement for Facebook Workers Suffering From PTSD
The plaintiffs alleged that their repeated exposure to violent and graphic content — child sexual abuse, beheadings, terrorism, animal cruelty and other disturbing images — have caused them PTSD and other psychological issues. The settlement, obtained by Burns Charest, is considered “a first of its kind” because it also provides workplace reform in addition to monetary relief.
Dallas Law Firm Helps Furloughed Tenant Get TRO Against Relentless Landlord
When a furloughed mother-of-two in the Houston area was not able to make rent April 1, her landlord called and texted more than 267 times over the next month — even suggesting she take up prostitution to come up with the money. But a group of attorneys from Crawford, Wishnew & Lang swept in on a pro bono basis and successfully obtained a TRO for the tenant this week. They say the case makes their “blood boil.” Natalie Posgate explains why.
SCOTX Bill Brewer Sanctions Opinion ‘May Do Incalculable Damage to Jury System’
Four prominent trial organizations representing more than 10,000 lawyers in Texas filed a brief Friday asking the Texas Supreme Court to reverse an opinion it issued two weeks ago that tossed out sanctions against Dallas lawyer Bill Brewer for allegedly trying to taint the jury pool in one of his cases. “This opinion appears to set a new and disturbing standard,” the brief states.
The Last Trial of T. Boone Pickens: Q&A with Authors Chrysta Castañeda and Loren Steffy
There were few more colorful characters in the corporate world than T. Boone Pickens. Chrysta Castañeda and Loren Steffy got to know him well – Castañeda as his lawyer representing him in a major trial in West Texas and Steffy as a long-time journalist who interviewed the oilman several times over three decades. The Texas Lawbook conducted a virtual interview with the duo.
Legal Expert: Governor and AG Make ‘Silly and Dangerous’ Hot Mess of Shelley Luther Case
Shelley Luther was not punished for “giving a haircut.” She wasn’t punished for violating Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders. She was punished for violating a judge’s legitimate and legal order from a court. To suggest otherwise or to make her some kind of a martyr for a cause is a disservice to martyrs and causes. Tom Melsheimer gives the actual facts of the case and the dangers of playing politics with it.