Overhead Door of Lewisville Did Not Violate Competitor’s Patents, Jury Finds
At the end of a weeklong trial in Marshall, a federal court jury determined that the Chamberlain Group failed to prove its garage-door patents had been infringed upon.
BMC ‘Crystal Clear’ IBM Could Not Replace BMC Software
BMC's second witness took the witness stand for most of Tuesday. Brian Jones, a key negotiator for BMC during its contract discussions with IBM, said his side was always "crystal clear" about its position of removing a coveted client from the parties' displacement provision: it wasn't happening.
NRA, Advertising Agency Settle Suit that Threatened More than NRA Wanted Known
The lawsuit has been settled that had the National Rifle Association in its sights and led to an investigation of the gun-advocacy group. The suit filed in Texas, now settled, was bitter. At one point, lawyers for ad agency Ackerman McQueen — Michael Gruber and Brian Mason of Dorsey & Whitney — sought state sanctions against Bill Brewer, the NRA attorney, which ultimately the Texas Supreme Court dismissed.
In Beginning of Trial BMC Lambastes IBM’s Conduct As ‘Not Acceptable’
BMC’s attorney tells the court: BMC “always relied on the plain meaning” of its contracts with IBM and the language “speaks for itself.” But IBM’s lead lawyer countered that BMC breached the non-displacement contract when it did not inform IBM that AT&T had purchased special rights in its own contract with BMC that allowed IBM, as its outsourcer, to displace BMC software in AT&T’s systems without paying extra. “At best, BMC could (and did) try to leverage payments from IBM.”
Trial Begins Between BMC & IBM
IT giants BMC and IBM map their cases for U.S. District Judge Gray Miller today in a bench trial alleging fraud and trade-secrets misappropriation. Although BMC begins trial with a breach-of-contract finding already in the bag, Judge Miller made clear in a February order that BMC still has much to prove before it’s considered a win. Opening statements wrapped up just before lunch Monday afternoon and when the parties returned, BMC called its first witness, BMC VP Raul Ah Chu.
Anne Johnson: The Lawyer ‘No One Wants’ on ‘the Other Side of an Appeal’
Anne Johnson has accomplished much in her legal career. The UK-born lawyer has won numerous difficult appeals, served on Haynes and Boone’s management committee and tried a multi-month case while six months pregnant. On Tuesday, Johnson made a move in her career that is both a big transition and another accomplishment: She joined a boutique law firm as a name partner.
The Lawbook details Johnson’s life and career and the magnitude of her lateral move.
Norton Rose Fulbright Study: Lawsuits Against Texas Companies Up, Fear of Litigation Up More
Texas companies’ reprieve from litigation due to the Covid-19 pandemic is over. A new study of corporate general counsel in Texas finds that the number of lawsuits filed against larger businesses jumped 75 percent in 2021 over the previous year and that the fear of additional litigation in 2022 has increased, too. The good news for lawyers at Texas law firms is that companies returned to pre-Covid levels of hiring outside counsel to handle their litigation battles in 2021.
DBJ: Federal Judge Dismisses Fraud Claims Involving $2B Wade Park in Frisco
The allegations in the case involved the financing for the former Wade Park project located along the “$5 Billion Mile,” a one-mile stretch of land in Frisco that’s home to The Star headquarters and training center for the Dallas Cowboys, Toyota Stadium, and various high-end, mixed-use developments such as Frisco Station and The Gate.
Prominent E-Discovery Firm Accused of Invading 10 Years of Personal Emails
In a civil suit in state court in Fort Worth, lawyer Rob Miller says the company, Consilio, went far beyond an agreement for discovery in a case involving one of his clients.
Anne Johnson & Jeff Tillotson Join Forces
After 27 years at Haynes and Boone, prominent appellate lawyer Anne Johnson is joining forces with respected Dallas trial lawyer Jeff Tillotson. The move puts Johnson’s name on the door as well as another lawyer at the firm. The Texas Lawbook has the scoop.
Norton Rose Fulbright Wins Verdict for Shell in Dispute Over Crude Oil Sales
A state district court jury in Houston rejects a multimillion-dollar tortious-interference claim by an oil company represented by Rusty Hardin.
More Insurance Companies Sue ERCOT, Energy Providers over Billions in Winter Storm Property Damage
ERCOT is having a very bad two weeks in court. And things just got worse for power providers in Texas, too. Nine London-based insurance companies joined a massive lawsuit this week brought by scores of the world’s largest property insurance companies seeking to force the ERCOT and three dozen Texas electric providers to reimburse them for billions of dollars in damages related to Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.