As we approach the end of 2024, it’s crucial to ensure that your submissions to the Corporate Deal Tracker are fully credited. The Texas Lawbook’s M&A team is committed to identifying all relevant submissions for deals involving Texas-based lawyers, and we want to make sure that no qualified deal from your firm goes unaccounted for. That and more, including last week’s deals, in this edition of the CDT Roundup.
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Foley Leads Vodka Maker’s Bankruptcy
The U.S. subsidiary of vodka producer Stoli Group and its sister company, whiskey maker Kentucky Owl, have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Texas.
Update: GOP Considers Appeal in Dallas Appeals Court Election
Thompson Coe litigation partner Matthew Kolodoski, a Republican candidate for the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, will have to decide in the next few days whether he will challenge the official election results in his race against his Democratic opponent, Dallas Criminal Court Judge Tina Clinton. When votes were tallied on election night, Nov. 5, Kolodoski was unofficially declared the winner, leading Judge Clinton by 1,512 votes. But mail-in and provisional ballots were counted, there was a 3,000-vote swing in Judge Clinton’s favor.
Texas Secretary of State Updates Results in Dallas Appeals Court Election
Wednesday afternoon, as lawyers left their offices for the long Thanksgiving weekend, Texas election officials quietly updated the official results of the race for the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas. The final vote tally shows that Dallas County Criminal Court Judge Tina Clinton received nearly 1,600 votes more than her Republican opponent, giving the Democrats a sole victory among the eight races for state appellate court. But lawyers say that state Republican leaders are pressuring its candidate to challenge the results.
Weil, AZA Name Newly Promoted Partners for 2025
Weil and AZA are the 12th and 13th law firms in Texas to release their new partner list, bringing the total number of newly minted partners this cycle to 69.
Dallas-Based Dean Omar Branham Shirley Takes Johnson & Johnson to Trial in String of Legal Fights
DOBS has been in near back-to-back trials this year across the country against Johnson & Johnson over claims its talc-based baby powder was contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos. At the heart of DOBS’ latest trial is Michaeleen Lee, an 80-year-old grandmother and former chemistry professor who died from mesothelioma, a cancer in the lining of the lung.
Dallas Litigators Courtney Barksdale Perez and Joshua Bennett Jump to BakerHostetler
Less than a year after being made name partner at litigation firm Carter Arnett, Courtney Barksdale Perez and Joshua Bennett have moved to a larger, national platform.
Rapper Drake Taps Houston Firm AZA to Take Rap Beef to Courtroom
Rapper Drake has tapped Houston law firm Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing, known as AZA, to represent him in a legal action against Universal Music Group amid his high-profile feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar. AZA Partners John Zavitsanos, Daryl Moore, Monica Uddin and associate Michael Killingsworth on Monday filed a pre-lawsuit petition in Bexar County requesting permission to take depositions of corporate representatives for UMG and iHeartMedia.
Jury Slams Natera with $292.5M Verdict in False Advertising, Unfair Competition Trial over Colorectal Cancer Test
Guardant Health and Natera had lodged false advertising claims against each other, with Guardant filing suit first in May 2021 and Natera following with counterclaims in June 2021. The jury, which was seated Nov. 4 and heard 10 days of testimony before returning a verdict Monday, awarded Guardant $75 million in damages for corrective advertising, about $41.5 million for disgorgement of Natera’s profits and $175.5 million in punitive damages.
North Texas Tollway Authority Nets $280M Verdict Against President George Bush Turnpike Constructors
A Dallas County jury found Prairie Link Constructors, a joint venture of construction companies Fluor Enterprises and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, breached its contract with the North Texas Tollway Authority to build six and a half miles of roads, bridges and retaining walls on the President George Bush Turnpike. A majority of the walls were found to be defective, the NTTA alleged.