Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found the insulated power structure of an agency meant to protect racehorses facially unconstitutional, Oncor was found liable for a tree trimmer’s injuries and a closely watched insurance case is teed up before the Texas Supreme Court.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge kept the nonpartisan voting rights group from attending Wednesday's ceremony at the M.O. Campbell Center, departing from decades of tradition that historically allows new citizens to register to vote right away in a simple and easy manner.
On their second day of deliberation, jurors in the court of state District Judge Monica McCoy Purdy awarded damages of $3.94 million to the family of electrician Gabriel Vela, who was killed in 2019 while working at a West Texas midstream energy plant. However, because the jury found Vela 51 percent responsible for his death, the defendants will not be liable. Bruce Tomaso reports.
In closing arguments, attorneys for a West Texas midstream gas facility say electrician Gabriel Vela died because of his own negligence. A plaintiff’s attorney counters that the gas plant’s conduct was ‘the grossest of gross negligence’ he’s seen in 34 years of practice.
Since U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that Evan P. Jowers improperly poached business from his former boss, Robert E. Kinney, Jowers has filed a new lawsuit in Florida and a motion for a protective order, alleging that Kinney threatened his family. Kinney, in turn, is seeking sanctions against Jowers and his current and former lawyers.
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the University of Texas settles a gender discrimination lawsuit with the law professor Linda Mullinex, Amazon draws a patent infringement lawsuit over robotics used at its fulfillment centers, the Fifth Circuit denies a bid from a fraudster — who waived his right to appeal — to challenge his 14-year sentence and a settlement is reached in a shareholder lawsuit against Fluor Corporation.
Paul Yetter was a thriving young partner at Baker Botts in 1997 when he faced a decision: Drop a big client or leave one of the most prestigious corporate firms in Texas. He chose the later and this year Yetter Coleman, now a highly-respected 50-lawyer boutique in Houston, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Texas Lawbook recently interviewed Yetter about the firm’s successes and challenges during the past quarter century, why he thinks Yetter Coleman survived and thrived and what still lies ahead.
There were few surprises in the races for district judge seats in the state’s biggest counties, where Democrats have steadily made inroads in recent years. Three judges who were recently appointed to their seats by Gov. Greg Abbott were soundly rejected by voters.
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