The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Winter Storm Uri lawsuits brought by thousands of individuals and small businesses against electric transmission and distribution utilities in Texas are legally flawed, but the justices allowed lawyers for the plaintiffs to amend their lawsuits to fix the legal issues and even provided a roadmap for their possible success. In a unanimous decision, the state’s highest court dismissed allegations of intentional nuisance and gross negligence against Oncor, CenterPoint and American Electric Power, but the decision to allow the plaintiffs to replead their gross negligence claims is viewed by attorneys for the plaintiffs as a significant victory because it keeps their lawsuits alive and moving forward. (File photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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DNOW Acquires MRC for $1.5B
Kirkland and Akin advised on the combination of two Houston distributors of infrastructure machinery and supplies to create a $3 billion company with 350 service and distribution centers across 20 energy-producing countries.
Thomas Verity Vaults to Norton Rose Fulbright
The energy-focused corporate securities partner leaves Latham & Watkins where he was a frequent contributor on some of Latham’s largest transactions.
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He was once a Texas student with no more than a visa to be in the U.S. who coincidentally helped pass landmark tuition law. Now, Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann partner Andrés Correa is at the forefront of a legal battle to stop its repeal following a swift federal court ruling.
Ex-SMU Law Prof Sees Defamation Suit Partially Revived
After receiving some guidance from the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has determined that a former law professor at Southern Methodist University will get another chance to bring defamation claims against some of her former colleagues.
Dallas Associate Scores Split Decision in First SCOTUS Case
In a five-to-four decision, the U.S. Supreme Court handed Gibson Dunn senior associate Stephen Hammer a partial victory Thursday in a major immigration law dispute that divided the federal circuit courts of appeal and could impact thousands of asylum cases pending in the lower courts.
Is Your Commercial Property Insurance Ready for Hurricane Season?
As hurricane season kicks off, ensuring your company’s insurance coverage can withstand the storm is more important than ever. Commercial property insurance policies contain numerous potential coverage pitfalls that can significantly impact a corporate policyholder’s ability to recover for losses. These challenges often remain hidden until a loss occurs, at which point they can severely restrict or even eliminate coverage for otherwise valid claims. Understanding these common issues during the policy review process can help risk managers and legal counsel identify and address potential coverage gaps before they impact an organization.
AT&T to Pay $177M to Settle Customer Data Breach Class Action
U.S. District Judge Ada Brown has set a schedule that would see the preliminary settlement finalized in December. The company has agreed to pay two classes a total of $177 million.
Veteran Houston Partner Jumps from Latham to Simpson
Bryce Kaufman spent nearly 12 years in the Houston offices of Latham, specializing in multilayered financial transactions. He joins Simpson Thacher’s growing Houston office to focus on energy and infrastructure to help clients seeking financing solutions.
Litigation Roundup: Fifth Circuit Slashes FTC’s $37.5M Win
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the Federal Trade Commission sees a $37.5 million judgment in its favor trimmed down to $12.2 million by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth sides with a landowner in a condemnation dispute involving golf course operations.