Texas Loses Second SCOTUS Case in a Week
For the second time in less than a week, Texas has lost an “original jurisdiction” case before the U.S. Supreme Court, giving new gravitas to the nickname Lone Star State. Tony Mauro has the details.
Emoji Creator Sues Apple in Waco Federal Court
Apple received kudos when it rolled out a stock of emoji that revealed diverse skin colors along with their typically diverse emotions. But a Texas woman has filed suit in Waco contending that Apple stole the concept when she approached the company about a partnership. Bruce Tomaso has details of the litigation.
CDT Roundup: 15 Deals, 9 Firms, 122 Lawyers, $4.3B
If you were wondering where the energy deals went, don't worry. Of the 15 deals last week 11 of them were in the energy space. Yes, they included some alt deals, but there were a few familiar names as well. They're in the CDT Roundup.
Quantum Lodges New Claims at K&L Gates, Becomes a $300M Battle
An amended petition in a dispute between San Marcos-based Quantum Materials and K&L Gates is now armed with more ammo and the possibility of a steeper price tag should K&L lose the malpractice battle. But the Philadelepha-based global firm has responded publicly for the first time.
Implicit Bias in the Courts and at the Bar
Everyone has biases. Not everyone tries to identify theirs. Some don't realize they are discriminatory. And lawyers who see prejudice with judges or other lawyers "need to pushback against it," U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore told the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Houston Chapter in a CLE webcast last week called “Implicit Bias in the Courts.”
Violate My Patents? See You in Texas
Covid-19 be damned, Texas is the place to legally protect your intellectual property. Waco, the birthplace of Dr Pepper, the death place of two-dozen ancient Mammuthuss, the scene of the Branch Davidian and Twin Peaks biker gang tragedies is now the undisputed patent litigation capital of the world. Some Dallas law firms expect to open branch offices in Waco in 2021. Plus, Judge Alan Albright discusses the Waco jury pool and Zoom trials.
Latham, Hunton AK, Porter Hedges, Simpson Take Roles in Superior Energy Bankruptcy
Within a few hours of Superior Energy Services filing for bankruptcy Monday in the Southern District of Texas, the court docket was filled with notices of appearance by at least five law firms and five financial advisors. The Texas Lawbook has the names.
Bankruptcy Experts: More Pain and Uncertainty Coming
As Texas ends 2020 with a record number of business bankruptcies, four legal experts, including SDTX Chief Bankruptcy Judge David Jones, say there is much more carnage to come, especially in the world of real estate, retail and midstream energy, according to a panel of leading corporate bankruptcy and restructuring experts. At an exclusive CLE Friday, the panelists predicted that business restructuring cases are going to get increasingly difficult to resolve in a positive manner and that many companies seeking to reorganize will be forced to liquidate instead. The Texas Lawbook has exclusive details.
Kirkland, Jackson Walker Lead Seadrill Partners in Ch. 11, Houston Retailer Francesca’s Files in Delaware
A Houston boutique retailer and a London oil rig operator filed for Chapter 11 last week. Francesca's hired no Texas lawyers, while Seadrill filed for bankruptcy protection in SDTX and multiple law firms in Texas are involved.
Red Oak Husband and Wife Go to Prison for Embezzlement Scam
White-collar federal prosecutors Nick Bunch and Christopher Stokes of Dallas notched another victory for the government last week when Vantage Benefits Administrators co-owners Wendy Richie and Jeffrey Richie were sentenced to several years in prison for their roles in a $15.2 million fraud scheme.