Medical providers offer “letters of protection” to allow uninsured persons to receive medical treatment in anticipation of personal injury settlements. Critics say they can be used to hike the costs of litigation. The Texas Supreme Court heard arguments recently that discovery should allow defendants greater access to the real costs of such medical care. Janet Elliott details the arguments.
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CDT Roundup: 17 Deals, 13 Firms, 138 Lawyers, $6.8B
So, we have a new president, one who has telegraphed his intentions regarding hydrocarbons. Decarbonization is going to be a big deal. The Keystone XL pipeline apparently isn’t. Not only does it mark a break with the past, it may mark the point at which we recognized that lots of energy dollars had already moved on. In the CDT Roundup Caroline Evans explains.
Steve Cox Resigns as EDTX U.S. Attorney, First Asst. Takes Over
Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Steve Cox resigned today. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei, a career federal prosecutor, will be acting U.S. Attorney until the Biden administration appoints a replacement. Cox, in an exclusive interview with The Texas Lawbook, discusses his time in the EDTX and the huge impact he has had on corporate regulatory and enforcement reforms during his time at DOJ.
M&A 2020 Rankings: Mergermarket Names the Top 50 Law Firms
For six of the past seven years, three law firms consistently rank as doing the most M&A deals in Texas. That did not change in 2020 – though all three saw a decline in deal activity. Only eight of the top 50 law firms involved in Texas dealmaking are Texas-based. Overall, M&A work declined for 27 of the top 50 firms and increased for only 19. The Texas Lawbook has the details.
Schwab Hires Shamoil Shipchandler as New Chief Counsel
Financial services giant Charles Schwab, which just relocated its HQ on Jan.1, is expected to announce next week that it is hiring former Securities and Exchange Commission regional director and former federal prosecutor Shamoil Shipchandler as its new chief counsel.
FBFK Adds Stefani Carter to its Shareholder Ranks
Ferguson Braswell Fraser Kubasta has hired former Texas legislator Stefani Carter, who serves on the boards of two publicly traded REITs, as a shareholder in the firm’s commercial litigation practice.
SCOTUS to Determine Fate of Climate Change Suits in State Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Jan. 19 in a climate change case involving BP that has drawn strong interest from the oil and gas industry in its ongoing efforts to keep climate litigation in federal courts, rather than state and local courts. The cases claim that cities should be compensated because emissions caused major damages.
Thompson Coburn Gains Healthcare Litigator in Dallas
A healthcare trial lawyer from Thompson & Knight starts this week at Thompson Coburn as the 11th attorney and seventh partner to join the St. Louis-based firm’s Dallas office since it launched in early 2020.
Marathon Oil Hires Alta Mesa GC to Lead Legal Team
Houston-based Marathon Oil has chosen Kimberly Warnica, the former general counsel at Alta Mesa Resources, to replace Reginald Hedgebeth as its new general counsel.
Appellate Year 2020 in Review: SCOTX and the Fifth Circuit
The Texas Supreme Court and the Fifth Circuit transitioned to remote arguments and kept busy dockets in 2020. The federal appellate court handed down key decisions offering guidance to businesses and commercial litigators regarding judgment finality, jurisdiction and removals. The state Supreme Court issued 32 emergency pandemic-related orders, clarified the high standard for sanctions under the court’s inherent authority and resolved a longstanding conflict on an issue of appellate procedure. The appellate experts at Haynes and Boone have the details.