Litigation Roundup: Nike Ghosts Patent Lawsuit, Tennis Star Double Faults in Court of Law, Energy Transfer Sued

Two jury verdicts that exceed $1 billion, including abortion issues involving Southwest Airlines and the adjudication of long-anticipated Dallas Police and Fire Pension dispute. Two new lawsuits against two major North Texas corporations — one involving alleged illegal horizontal drilling and another involving boiling water poured on customers. Two Ukrainian nationals accused of money laundering strike plea deals with federal prosecutors. All that and more in this week's Litigation Roundup.

July 18, 2022 Natalie Posgate

Departing-Employee Lawsuits Are a Tough Racket, Panel Says

Experts at a Texas Lawbook CLE say even top litigators struggle with the lightning pace of suits to stop departing workers from stealing customers and trade secrets.

July 18, 2022 Bruce Tomaso

Texas Lawbook Hires Law360 Litigation Reporter Michelle Casady

Michelle Casady joins Natalie Posgate, who has been with The Lawbook for a decade, and former Dallas Morning News writer and editor Bruce Tomaso in covering litigation for The Lawbook.

“Michelle’s tremendous experience and knowledge in covering Texas courts will mean The Lawbook will provide our readers with more breaking news stories and more in-depth coverage of litigation trends and personalities than ever before at any news publication in Texas,” said Posgate. “Michelle is a highly respected and gifted reporter and we are greatly pleased to be working with her now as a colleague rather than against her as a competitor.”

July 13, 2022 Mark Curriden

Litigation Roundup: An American Settlement, Money Laundering & Ducks

A couple feeds ducks in their neighborhood and now may lose their house from a costly lawsuit brought by their homeowners association. Elon Musk hires lawyers in Austin. Prosecutors in the Northern District of Texas score a plea deal in a money laundering case. In this week's Litigation Roundup, Natalie Posgate details each case and invites you to tell your own HOA stories.

July 12, 2022 Natalie Posgate

Litigation Roundup: TCU Hazing, Ripped Gloves, Attorneys’ Fees Galore

A final judgment in a commercial landlord-tenant dispute. Another juror contracts Covid-19, delaying trial proceedings for a second time. A group of Houston lawyers score big in Las Vegas. All that and more in this week's litigation roundup.

July 7, 2022 Natalie Posgate

Ben & Jerry’s Sues Parent for Backtracking on West Bank Ice Cream Sales Stance

Famed ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s sued Conopco, a subsidiary of parent company Unilever, in Manhattan federal court Tuesday morning alleging a deal Unilever struck regarding sale of the company’s ice cream in the West Bank violates their 2000 merger agreement. The lawsuit, filed by AZA, presents a conflict between the prerogative of Ben & Jerry’s independent board to make decisions about its social missions and its parent company’s authority over finances and operations.

July 5, 2022 Natalie Posgate

Litigation Roundup: Pizza Hut Franchise Win, Charter Punis Phase Delayed, More Social Media Addiction

A juror gets Covid, delaying the punitive damages phase of a wrongful death trial that has already rendered a $375 million actual damages verdict. A denied PPP loan turns into litigation. Alleged gossip at a La Madeleine results in a pro se lawsuit. Elon Musk gets sued again. And more. 

June 27, 2022 Natalie Posgate

Litigation Roundup: Double Legal Trouble for Elon Musk, TX Billionaire Spared in SPAC Suit, Revenge Porn Ruling

In this week’s roundup, we have two new lawsuits, a venue change, a new SEC enforcement action, a ruling denying a request for a new trial, a revenge porn final judgment, a loss for Ken Paxton and a tentative dismissal of an investor lawsuit involving Tilman Fertitta. 

June 21, 2022 Natalie Posgate

‘I Never Meant to Make Marshall a Patent Lawyers’ Mecca,’ Storied Ex-Judge Says

T. John Ward, a pioneer of the ‘rocket docket,’ says he didn’t think his simple case-management plan – set strict deadlines and hold people to them – would beckon thousands of patent litigants to knock on his Marshall courtroom door.

June 21, 2022 Bruce Tomaso

Former Flight Attendant Loses Bid for Removal of Judge in Sex-Assault Suit Against American Airlines

Lawyers for Kimberly Goesling said Tarrant County Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick should be recused because of ‘irregularities’ in her instructions to the jury that exonerated American last month. The recusal motion was denied Saturday by a San Antonio senior judge brought to Fort Worth to decide the matter.

June 5, 2022 Bruce Tomaso