EOG Resources to Acquire Encino Acquisition Partners for $5.6 Billion
The deal, which makes Houston-based EOG one of the largest producers in Appalachia's Utica shale play was advised by Wachtell, Akin and Latham & Watkins.
Dykema DQ’d in PE Dentistry Suit
Dykema Gossett has been disqualified from representing a group of plaintiffs suing a dentist and his many practices after a judge in Dallas determined the law firm had previously represented the dentist in other legal matters that are “substantially related” to this case.
SCOTUS Grants Stay to Highland Capital in Dispute with Ex-CEO
The U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay to Highland Capital Management, halting a lower court decision that allowed former CEO James Dondero to sue parties involved in the firm’s bankruptcy. Justice Samuel Alito issued a one-page order that pauses a March ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which had permitted Dondero to pursue litigation against individuals previously deemed protected by a North Texas bankruptcy judge in relation to Highland Capital’s bankruptcy and restructuring.
Influencer Drops Copyright Suit Against Competitor
An influencer who alleged another influencer’s videos and photos posted to social media amounted to infringement of the “neutral, beige and cream aesthetic" that constitutes her “brand identity” has dropped her federal lawsuit.
Jury Orders Samsung to Pay $111.7M in Patent Dispute
An East Texas jury ruled Wednesday that Samsung Electronics violated the patented technology of rival Maxell Ltd. and awarded the plaintiff $111.7 million in damages. Japan-based Maxell sued Samsung, which is headquartered in South Korea, in 2023 alleging it willfully infringed on three patents related to its technology on smart phone and home devices, including appliances.
Inside a Whistleblower’s Ordeal: Tyler Shultz Details the Battle to Expose Theranos
Tyler Shultz still remembers the exact moment he realized that Theranos, a Silicon Valley health technology startup claiming to have revolutionized blood testing, was a fraud. Shultz shared his story of blowing the whistle on Theranos during a panel discussion hosted by The Texas Lawbook, SMU Dedman School of Law and the SMU Rowling Center for Business Law & Leadership. And he has a powerful call to action for lawyers.
SCOTUS to Consider Chevron Removal Case
In April, a Louisiana state jury decided that Houston-based Chevron Corp. owes Plaquemines Parish $740 million for harm done to the local coastal environment by Chevron and its corporate predecessors during oil and gas exploration more than seven decades ago. On Thursday (May 29), the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider a grant of certiorari for an argument by Chevron and other oil companies that the case shouldn't have been heard by a state court in the first place. The Texas Lawbook backgrounds the case.
Litigation Roundup: Feds Wade into Texas-Led Suit Against BlackRock, State Street, Vanguard
In this edition of Litigation Roundup, the federal government wades into an antitrust lawsuit Texas launched against a trio of asset managers alleging coal market manipulation, and the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas hears oral arguments in a $19.7 million loan dispute between former partners in a real estate firm.
Southwest Airlines to Pay One Cent, Legal Fees to Settle Lawsuit Over Cancelled Hispanic Student Program
The Dallas-based airline has agreed to pay one cent in damages and a confidential amount in attorney fees and court costs to resolve a lawsuit brought by political conservative Edward Blum’s American Alliance for Equal Rights over its now-terminated flight program for low-income Hispanic students.
CDT Roundup: Texas Lawyers Deliver Rare $20B+ Hat Trick
In this edition of CDT Roundup, the week ending May 24 saw 15 deals reported for a total of $24 billion. The week prior saw 16 deals for $21.7 billion. In fact, it's the third week in a row we tallied $20 billion or more for transactions handled by Texas lawyers. And that's the first time that's happened since we started keeping these stats for deals reported to the CDT Roundup. It's also the first time we've seen three consecutive weeks of $10 billion or more since the three weeks the third quarter of 2024.