Government Touts $38.5M Recovery in Case it Argued ‘Never Should Have Proceeded This Far’

Five years after first arguing that the False Claims Act Lawsuit against Academy Mortgage Corporation should be dismissed, the Department of Justice publicized the $38.5 million settlement on Wednesday. This lawsuit marked the first time a judge denied the government’s motion to dismiss an FCA suit, presenting an issue of first impression to the Ninth Circuit panel that heard the case. Earlier this month, a case that asks what authority and discretion the government should have to dismiss whistleblower actions was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

December 15, 2022 Michelle Casady

DFW & Houston Litigation Boutiques Having Record 2022, Paying Record Bonuses

Civil jury trials all but disappeared across Texas for 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but the reopening of the courthouse in 2022 has meant a blockbuster year for most civil litigation-focused law firms. Boutiques specializing in complex commercial disputes report they are experiencing a record number of trials, depositions and courtroom battles in 2022. The result, according to legal industry insiders, is that Houston and Dallas litigation boutiques are projecting record revenues, profits and associate bonuses for 2022.

December 14, 2022 Mark Curriden

Dallas Jury Hits Hospital with $10.1M Verdict in Paralysis Case

The panel deliberated for about eight hours before returning the verdict finding Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound 69 percent liable for the permanent injuries suffered by Judy “Jessie” Adams.

December 13, 2022 Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: Challenge to Texas Transmission Lines Law Expanded, Guns N’ Roses Files TM Claim Against Houston Business

In this week’s edition of litigation roundup, a team from Norton Rose Fulbright wins dismissal of a lawsuit over a never-realized business acquisition, Oncor wins an appeal in Austin in a suit over the valuation of its transmission lines, and a constitutional challenge to a state law governing transmission lines gets expanded by the Fifth Circuit.

December 12, 2022 Michelle Casady

Lawsuit: Elite Privately Owned Texas A&M Dorm ‘Contaminated with Toxic Mold’

A 19-year-old Texas A&M business student has sued the owner and operator of an upscale private dormitory called The Callaway House claiming that her room and other areas of the housing unit are contaminated with toxic mold.

December 9, 2022 Mark Curriden

Jury Awards Families of Fatal Crash Victims $12.1M

A Harris County jury awarded the money to the families of three individuals who were among six killed when a twin-engine plane crashed outside Kerrville in 2019. Deliberations took about five hours before the panel determined a Raymond James financial advisor who was piloting the plane was responsible for the crash and was on the clock at the time.

December 6, 2022 Michelle Casady

Litigation Roundup: Targa Wants $129M Award Axed, 5th Circ. Won’t Rehear Courtroom Prayer Case

In this week’s edition of litigation roundup, Targa Channelview files its opening brief with the Texas Supreme Court in a long-running $129 million fight with Vitol Americas, Maersk says its not responsible for cargo lost at sea and a former Abraham Watkins’ associate accused of taking files and clients from the firm fires back with an anti-SLAPP dismissal bid.

December 5, 2022 Michelle Casady

Comcast, NBC Dropped From $332M Astros Sale Lawsuit

In orders issued Friday morning, the Texas Supreme Court granted a request from Houston Baseball Partners to drop its claims against Comcast and NBC. That means the case now pits current owner Jim Crane against the man who sold him the team, Drayton McLane.

December 2, 2022 Michelle Casady