A federal judge in the Eastern District of Texas on Tuesday declared a mistrial in a commercial case after a COVID-19 outbreak among participants of the jury trial temporarily closed the Sherman federal courthouse and left the parties with less than six jurors.
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CDT Roundup: 14 Deals, 10 Firms, 157 Lawyers, $864.1M
In 2020, and for the first time in more than two decades, there were no FIDs made in LNG projects in the US. Blame that on the pandemic. But not to worry, there are enough projects on the boards to make LNG increasingly relevant, even under a Biden administration. The CDT Roundup explains.
Managing ESG Risks through the Energy Downturn
At a time when the energy industry is facing a “perfect storm” boards and executives are grappling with evolving expectations regarding ESG-related performance and disclosures. Sidley partner Heather Palmer weighs in with considerations on the implications of a Biden presidency.
What’s It Like to Try a Jury Trial — In Person — During the Pandemic?
Anybody who works in litigation knows that rolling with the punches is part of the job, and occasionally, even part of the thrill. But, when you throw the COVID-19 pandemic into the mix, you’re faced with a host of uncertainties and no rule book on how best to navigate the waters. Just last week a federal jury trial in Texas was halted after numerous positive cases and was declared a mistrial on Tuesday. CourtroomLogic Consulting’s Kacy Miller shares what she and the Carrington Coleman trial team learned from a recent in-person federal jury trial.
Prominent Austin and Dallas Plaintiffs’ Law Firms Merge
The firms announced Tuesday that their two shops are merging to create a 10-lawyer plaintiff’s practice that will have offices in Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth.
Lawyer Ranks Expanding in Mall Owner Bankruptcy
Two weeks after national mall owner CBL filed for bankruptcy protection in Houston, the number of legal and financial advisors involved in the corporate restructuring now includes Weil Gotshal, Akin Gump, Berkeley Research Group and at least seven other firms. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
Kirkland, Jackson Walker and Slew of Firms Working on Gulfport Energy Bankruptcy
Oklahoma-based Gulfport Energy and 10 of its affiliated companies filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas on Friday. Nine corporate law firms representing debtors, creditors, lenders and special committee board members have already filed motions to be involved in the $2.5 billion restructuring. The Lawbook has the details.
SCOTX Scrutinizes a 30-Year-Old Rule on Trade Secrets
In HouseCanary v. Title Source, a scrap over source code pits a 2013 law designed to protect trade secrets against a longstanding rule of Texas Civil Procedure that presumes that court records are open to the public. At stake is not only a jury verdict of more than $700 million, but a longstanding vision of public trust.
SDTX Federal Judges Release New Music Video: ‘We’ll Be Back’
A new video featuring Fifth Circuit Judge Jennifer Elrod and U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge singing about the coronavirus’ impact on the federal courts in the Southern District of Texas is spreading across Facebook. The message: Don’t be sad or mad. Your fave judges will be back in their courtrooms soon.
CDT Roundup: 13 Deals, 9 Firms, 129 Lawyers, $6.3B
The politics of energy popped up briefly during the election. But according to GlobalData the votes that matter in the energy business, capex investments, have already been counted. Follow the money, and last week’s deals in the CDT Roundup.