The criminal prosecution of former Blue Bell President Paul Kruse will begin in U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman’s courtroom Monday morning. The government has charged him with seven counts of fraud, but indicated in a hearing Friday they only intend to pursue six counts.
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Widow of ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill Wins Injunction Against Bogus ‘Estate Sale’ of His Personal Items
Charleen McCrory Hill, the late bassist’s wife of nearly 20 years, says in court documents that she never authorized the June memorabilia sale in Houston and didn’t even know about it until she saw press coverage of the event.
Is ESG a Trade Secret?
This article explores whether ESG is a trade secret or at least confidential information that could lead to a lawsuit when an ESG executive leaves a company for a similar position at a competitor.
Texas Supreme Court Told Whistleblower Act Doesn’t Apply To AG Paxton
In a brief on the merits filed Wednesday, the Office of the Attorney General argued a whistleblower lawsuit brought against him by former high-ranking attorneys in the office should be dismissed because the Texas Whistleblower Act doesn’t apply to him. Carlos Soltero of Soltero Sapire Murrell, who represents one of the whistleblowers, told The Texas Lawbook he’s confident the Texas Supreme Court — like the Austin Court of Appeals panel and a Travis County District Court judge who have allowed the case to move forward — will find no merit in the argument.
Crawford, Wishnew & Lang Hires New Partner
Matthew Muckleroy is the Dallas litigation firm’s sixth partner and 12th attorney.
Patent Lawyers: WDTX Waco Order Unfair, Misguided and Hypocritical
Since Judge Alan Albright took the federal bench in 2018, businesses and individuals have filed 2,622 lawsuits in Waco accusing others of patent infringement. New statistics show he handles 24 percent of patent disputes in the U.S. – more than any other judge. His cases proceed quickly from filing to finish. Empirical data shows plaintiffs and defendants each win about half of their trials. Judge Albright rules for defendants 90 percent of the time on summary judgment.
This week, the federal judiciary shut down Judge Albright’s patent docket and has started sending his patent cases to other judges. In an in-depth report, The Texas Lawbook looks at the allegations by some tech companies against Judge Albright, reveals new data about his caseload and provides feedback from 19 patent lawyers in Texas. FYI: They are pissed.
DBJ: Munsch Hardt Opts to Keep HQ at Ross Tower with New Lease
The firm, which hit record profits last year, has 50% more employees since it first made the move to Ross Tower and expects to move to the new space in the fall of 2023.
Drew Baldinger Weighs In on Return to Skadden and the Making of his Practice
The Texas Lawbook visited with Baldinger, who was previously the co-chair of DLA Piper’s energy practice, about how much of his energy practice has shifted to renewables work.
Q&A with Recent GT Real Estate Shareholder Additions in Dallas
The Texas Lawbook caught up with Ashley Aten and Austin Wyker, both formerly of Munsch Hardt, about why they moved and what they are seeing in their practices.
Texas M&A Lawyers Look Ahead: More of the Same, Maybe
This week, The Texas Lawbook published new Corporate Deal Tracker data showing M&A lawyers were busier during the first six months of 2022 than they have ever been. The article quoted several of the state’s leading dealmakers on the trends they saw during H1 2022. Now, we asked those same M&A lawyers to look into their crystal balls for the second half of the year? The bottom line: Opinions differed.