History of Impeachment in Texas: Senate Vote Vanquished a Governor and an Heir to a South Texas Dynasty 

In the years since Reconstruction, the Texas House of Representatives has impeached five officials. Two were convicted by the Texas Senate. The most recent was a state district judge 48 years ago. Two were acquitted, in 1893 and 1931, respectively. And now Attorney General Ken Paxton awaits his Senate trial. If convicted, he would be just the third Texas elected official removed from office by impeachment. Texas Lawbook writer Bruce Tomaso looks back to those past impeachments and what insights they might provide.

June 21, 2023 Bruce Tomaso

Litigation Roundup: Suit Over ‘Rushed’ $788M Sale May Get Axed, SCOTX to Hear Fen-Phen Settlement Case

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a Texas federal judge threatens to toss a minority investor suit against Blackstone Inc., a Houston boutique notches a PTAB win against Apple, and the Texas Supreme Court agrees to hear a suit stemming from the handling of a fen-phen settlement.

June 19, 2023 Michelle Casady

Which State Leads the Way? A Comparison of Data Privacy Laws in Texas and California

The absence of comprehensive federal privacy regulation in the United States has created an open field for states to take the lead in addressing individual data protection and privacy rights. The first state to take the field was California. More recently, Texas joined the game by passing the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act. While both California’s and Texas’ laws share the common goal of safeguarding personal information and empowering consumers with new data rights, there are some significant differences in scope and coverage.

This article examines the key aspects of both privacy laws, illuminating their similarities, differences and their expected impacts.

June 16, 2023 Gabor Szecsi & Gavin George

All of Paxton’s Men (And Two Women)

Who is representing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in all of his various legal battles? The make-up of his defense teams have varied case-to-case, but some attorneys have been retained in almost all of the lawsuits Paxton faces. The Lawbook breaks it down.

June 16, 2023 Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: SEC Cries Delay in $8.4M Ponzi Case, SCOTX Sides with Tex-Mex Chain in Fight with City

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is running out of patience for a duo accused of running a Ponzi scheme who have yet to retain counsel, an insurer seeks a declaration it doesn’t have to foot the bill in a $10.6 million workplace injury suit, and a Tex-Mex chain notches a win at the Texas Supreme Court.

June 12, 2023 Michelle Casady

A New Delaware? Texas Passes Legislation for Specialized Business Courts

Similar to the commercial court systems that exist in Delaware and New York, Texas’s business court system will provide a dedicated court system of commercially-focused judges to move high-dollar business disputes efficiently through the judicial system. This article summarizes key aspects of the legislation, including what types of disputes won't go to business court.

June 9, 2023 Eric Hail

Texas Lawyers Play Key Role in PGA, LIV Litigation That Led to Merger

Gibson Dunn retired partner Rob Walters and Quinn Emanuel partner John Bash in Austin played key roles on the teams behind the antitrust litigation between the two rival tours. Mark Curriden has the names and details.

June 6, 2023 Mark Curriden

Litigation Roundup: SCOTX Takes Honda’s $25.9M Seatbelt Injury Appeal, Houston Firm Gets $9.8M Win in Mississippi

In this edition of Litigation Roundup, a Houston firm gets a $9.8 million verdict in a workplace fatality case while the Texas Supreme Court agrees to decide both if a libel suit brought against a newspaper by a prosecutor should be tossed and if a $25.9 million product liability jury verdict against Honda can stand.

June 5, 2023 Michelle Casady