The Houston Bar Foundation names its new chair and recognizes many more for their pro bono work. Dallas lawyers at one firm advocate for people of color incarcerated by outdated drug laws. The North Texas Chamber of Commerce names new lawyer leadership on its board. All that and more in this week’s P.S. column.
Thompson Petroleum Gets Win Against Its Former CFO
Dallas County District Judge Emily Tobolowsky granted family-owned Thompson Petroleum’s motion for summary judgment on Jan. 19, days before a trial was slated to begin in the case where its former chief financial officer argued the company should have to pay his legal fees in a dispute with its former general counsel. Plaintiff Paul Rudnicki filed notice of appeal in the case Monday.
New Texas Munis Were Down in 2022, But the Need Remains Durable
The slight drop in the number and value of new bond issues in Texas last year was more a reflection of the market than infrastructure needs in one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. The Lawbook’s Nushin Huq and Texas bond experts examine the year-that-was. She also has rankings for the firms behind the issues and underwriters for what was — in spite of the decline — a very busy year.
Litigation Roundup: Samsung Inks $150M Settlement, Jury Hits Boston Scientific with $42M Judgment
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, Samsung agrees to a $150 million settlement in an intellectual property suit, a group of Texas lawyers secures a $42 million win against Boston Scientific in Delaware and U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes gets reversed, again.
P.S. — More Legal Aid Announcements; Meet Weil’s Newest “Lend-A-Lawyer”
This week’s edition of P.S. features details on the next Weil associate to be selected for the firm’s unique pro bono volunteer program, how to get free legal help if you were the victim of the Jan. 24 tornado that hit the Houston area and the February dates for the Dallas Bar Association’s legal hotline. Natalie Posgate has the details.
Natural Gas Companies Dismissed from Winter Storm Uri Lawsuits
The Texas judge handling more than 100 personal injury, wrongful death and property damage lawsuits brought by hundreds of plaintiffs against scores of energy companies related to Winter Storm Uri has dismissed the allegations against more than 60 natural gas companies in four of those cases.
Judge Sylvia Matthews ruled Jan. 26 that natural gas companies such as Anadarko, Apache, Comstock, Energy Transfer and XTO will not have to stand trial for any damage or deaths caused by power outages during the four days in February 2021 in which Texas was hit with record cold temperatures and sleet and snow.
Energy Transfer Hit With $42M Jury Verdict
A jury in McMullen County that heard two weeks of testimony determined Energy Transfer’s underground, hydrogen sulfide injection well had interfered with the drilling rights of SilverBow Resources Operating and El Dorado Oil & Gas Inc. The case has a long history, including two trips to the Texas Supreme Court, and saw Houston-based law firms Yetter Coleman and Ahmad Zavitsanos & Mensing go head-to-head.
Jury Awards $8.4M In Wrongful Death Case Against Bobcat of Houston
The jury was selected Jan. 18 and began hearing testimony Jan. 19 in the trial that had sought as much as $500 million in wrongful death damages on behalf of the family of Ricardo Garza. The jury deliberated for about seven hours before returning its verdict.