U.S. Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, one of the most prominent and busiest bankruptcy judges in the U.S., is expected to resign his position Monday over allegations of an undisclosed relationship with a former Jackson Walker bankruptcy lawyer who never appeared before him in a case, according to sources at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
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Fifth Circuit Revives Racial Profiling Suit Against Mesa Airlines
A three-judge panel on Friday determined that disputed fact issues should have precluded U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor from granting Mesa Airlines a summary judgment win in the lawsuit brought by Issam Abdallah and Abderraouf Alkhawaldeh. The men booked their tickets through American Airlines for a flight Mesa operated. Both frequent fliers on American Airlines, Abdallah holds gold status and Alkhawaldeh holds executive platinum status.
Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Norton Rose Fulbright COO Stacey Martinez
In a Q&A with The Lawbook, Martinez discussed her Hispanic heritage, her career path from litigation associate to COO, how Norton Rose Fulbright has benefited from having women of color in high-ranking leadership positions, the difference between sponsorship and mentorship and her firm’s overall philosophy on diversity, equity and inclusion.
P.S. — Mock Trials, Diversity Scorecards, TX Access to Justice Leadership Updates
This week’s P.S. column features a group of current and recently graduated law students starting early in giving back to the legal profession, two firms that have achieved high scores among two diversity groups and new leadership at the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Texas Access to Justice Foundation, including a new executive director and board member.
The Real Energy Transition
Energy is still king in Texas M&A, despite the diversification of the Texas economy and the rise of technology and manufacturing and infrastructure. ExxonMobil’s decision to buy Pioneer Natural Resources for $59.5 billion is exhibit A. Still, energy deals have been fading in recent years as a share of the overall M&A market: from a 42 percent share of the overall Texas deal count in 2020 to only 32 percent this year, according to The Lawbook’s exclusive Corporate Deal Tracker. But while capital markets have retreated from investment in hydrocarbon development, energy transition is gaining traction in a way that is transforming Texas energy M&A. And even traditional oil and gas is beginning to reap the benefit.
Ex-Wife of Pharmacy Marketer Testifies She Was Paid Lavishly for Doing Nothing
Kristin Najarian said her former husband, Quintan Cockerell, arranged for her to be put on the payroll of a Fort Worth pharmacy that, according to federal prosecutors, paid Cockerell millions of dollars in kickbacks. In one month alone, she said, she was paid $711,706.47 even though “I wasn’t working there.”
Pharmacy Marketer Accused of Taking Kickbacks in Criminal Trial
The co-owner of two Fort Worth pharmacies testified in federal court that Quintan Cockerell made “millions a month” by steering doctors to send in thousands of prescriptions for costly compounded medicines.
Dallas Rental Owners are Latest to Challenge Restrictions Aimed at Airbnb, VRBO Hosts
Owners of Dallas properties available for rent on platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO have lodged a suit seeking to stop enforcement of a city ordinance that would largely ban short-term rentals in the city. It’s the latest in a long line of lawsuits challenging the ability of cities to regulate the short-term rental market, an issue the Texas Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on.
Mapping the Regulatory Landscape for CCUS in Texas
Carbon capture, utilization and sequestration activity is a key tool in combatting climate change, with significant growth in CCUS being required to reach net zero emissions, and Texas is a potential CCUS hotspot. However, regulatory action in Texas will be required for CCUS to meet its full potential.
DLA Piper L&E Lawyers Outline New Employment Laws, Federal Agency Priorities to Watch
Recent laws are creating a more worker-friendly environment, panelists said at a CLE program for the DFW chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.