White-Collar/Regulatory Archives

State Bar Discipline: 3 Disbarments, 8 Suspensions, 2 Public Reprimands

An Austin lawyer stole a client’s 401(K) funds. A lawyer from Tyler bounced checks from his IOLTA settlement account. A Waxahachie lawyer failed to fully account for funds from a family’s estate. In all, 13 lawyers were disciplined. Here are the details.

June 2, 2020 Allen Pusey

Judge Dismisses Mandatory Dues Case Against State Bar

U.S. Judge Lee Yeakel has rejected a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of mandatory bar dues charged by the State Bar of Texas. The Austin jurist ruled that the mandatory dues and the activities they pay for are well within the official responsibilities authorized by the Texas Legislature and do not violate the First Amendment. Allen Pusey has the details.

May 30, 2020 Allen Pusey

Exec in Two Healthcare Fraud Cases Sentenced to 76 Months in Prison

Semyon Narasov, 55, pleaded guilty in 2018 to conspiracy to commit money laundering at NextHealth and conspiracy to pay and receive bribes and kickbacks while at Forest Park Medical Center.

May 29, 2020 Allen Pusey

Impressions from the TRRC’s Historic Decision Against Prorationing

The Texas Railroad Commission rejected a motion by Pioneer Natural Resources and Parsley Energy to order statewide production cuts. But the commissioners instituted a number of alternative measures intended to provide temporary relief to the Texas oil and gas industry. This article has the details.

May 22, 2020 J. Denmon Sigler & Scott Shelton

Flying Cars: Who’s Directing Traffic?

North Texas is ground zero for flying car innovation. Last September, Uber Elevate announced plans to situate the first test site for its fleet of all-electric flying taxis at Frisco Station, one block north of the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facilities. But as is often the case, the speed of technological innovation has outpaced legal regulation. Attorneys at Carrington Coleman examine the emerging legal questions.

May 20, 2020 Lyndon Bittle & Evan Kirkham

State Bar Discipline: 2 Judges Disciplined, 3 Lawyers Disbarred, 8 Lawyers Suspended

The State Bar of Texas reported disciplinary actions against 15 lawyers, two of them judges. A judge from San Antonio was disciplined for her Facebook posts about lawyers in her court and an Austin lawyer, previously suspended for a marijuana charge in Arizona, was disbarred for defrauding a client’s account and generally neglecting another client’s litigation.

May 3, 2020 Allen Pusey

Dallas Real Estate Title Worker Sentenced Via VTC to 46 Months for Fraud

In the first video teleconference sentencing in federal court in Dallas since the COVID-19 crisis began, U.S. District Chief Judge Barbara Lynn this week sentenced a medical mask-wearing white-collar criminal defendant to nearly four years in prison for her role in a $1.4 million real estate title insurance scheme.

April 8, 2020 Mark Curriden

State Bar Discipline: 3 Judges, 9 Lawyers

The State Bar of Texas has made its April update on disciplinary actions. Violations include an injudicious quarrel, a judicial threat and a lawyer with an apparent penchant for forging official documents.

April 1, 2020 Allen Pusey

Judge Denies Forest Park Defendants Requests for New Trial

U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary ruled Monday that requests by Forest Park Medical Center doctors and officials for a new trial are “meritless.” The seven defendants were convicted last year of taking part in a massive insurance fraud scheme. The judge also criticized trial tactics employed by one of the prominent lawyers during the trial as “dirty and nasty” and a “cheap stunt.” The Texas Lawbook has complete details.

March 24, 2020 Bruce Tomaso

State Bar Discipline

Clearing out their report on disciplinary actions for 2019, the State Bar of Texas reported one disbarment, one resignation, nine suspensions and three public reprimands, including one for a South Texas county judge.

February 3, 2020 Allen Pusey