Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegmann secured a major win for Energy Transfer in a complex fraud and breach of contract claim mounted by investment funds associated with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board. After a three-week trial in New York, the judge ruled Jan. 17 that Energy Transfer was not liable on any counts, effectively avoiding a potential $200 million judgment including pretrial interest.
Social Media Influencer’s Texas Lawsuit Against Rival Could Pave the Way for Future Copyright Cases
A lawsuit filed by Sydney Nicole Gifford, a former Austin resident who promotes Amazon products, against fellow Austin-area influencer Alyssa Sheil survived a motion to dismiss last month. Lawyers who spoke with The Texas Lawbook said widespread attention on the case is likely to incite other influencers to contact lawyers and explore legal avenues, including litigation, to safeguard their brand aesthetics, even though those same legal observers expressed skepticism about the case’s viability moving forward.
Dallas Judge Finds Khoury, Shamoun’s ‘Improper and Incurable Jury Argument’ Mandates New Trial
Earlier this week, Dallas County District Judge Gena Slaughter issued a four-page order finding that the arguments made by defense lawyers Stephen A. Khoury and C. Gregory Shamoun in front of a Dallas County jury deciding a fraudulent transfer case were “improper and incurable.” But Khoury and Shamoun told The Texas Lawbook this week they are “shocked” by the finding and argue Judge Slaughter’s order is “inaccurate and incorrect.”
Johnson & Johnson Cleared of Causation in Mesothelioma Trial, But Jury Still Attempts to Award $22M in Punitive Damages
A Pittsburgh jury returned a confusing verdict Monday in a mesothelioma trial involving Texas lawyers on both sides. Jurors handed a defense verdict to the pharmaceutical giant but went on to answer questions about punitive damages that they shouldn’t have. J&J is nevertheless claiming the verdict as vindication.
Greystar Accused of Fraud, Breach in Suit Over Management of Dog-Centric Apartment Concept in Grapevine
The 119-page lawsuit brings claims for breach of contract, professional negligence, fraud, fraudulent inducement, fraud by nondisclosure, fraud by concealment, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, business disparagement, and seeks indemnification.
Biggest Texas Verdicts of 2024
Juries in the Eastern District of Texas handed out the largest and second-largest awards of the year and five of the Top 10. But no jury in the state cracked the $1 billion damages award threshold in a single case in 2024.