Karen M. Kennard, a shareholder in the Austin office of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP been panelist at the inaugural Austin Bar Association Virtual Equity Summit on May 14 at 12:45 p.m. CT.
AUSTIN – No Texan voted for the California officials who are orchestrating climate change “lawfare” against his state’s energy sector – oil and gas companies that employ hundreds of thousands and brings in billions in tax revenue, says Gov. Greg Abbott.
AUSTIN – Texans for Lawsuit Reform today released the results of a poll conducted among 500 Democratic Primary voters in 17 South Texas counties from April 20-22, finding that voters overwhelmingly support and trust small businesses over trial lawyers.
AUSTIN – After being sent back to committee on a point of order yesterday, proponents of House Bill 2144 – legislation that seeks to restore the tort of public nuisance back to its original intent – believe the bill will be back on the calendar soon.
A legislation currently simmering in the Texas House and Senate would change bail and bond regulations for criminals charged with serious offenses including capital murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and sexual abuse of a child is a step in the right direction to fix alarming homicide by felonies rates in Houston, according to Crime Stoppers of Houston Director of Victim Services Andy Kahan.
Each legislative session is alike – and unique in its own way. This session is more unique than most. A slow, eerie start because of the pandemic and extra security due to the January breach at the U.S. Capitol produced a Texas Capitol that was empty and quiet rather than crowded and bustling, as is usual during session. And there is only one operational entrance rather than four, with heavily armed national guardsmen and DPS officers everywhere. Things are getting somewhat back to normal now, but only somewhat.
AUSTIN – A number of tort reform measures were heard yesterday by Texas House members, including bills on public nuisance, loser pays and paid or incurred.
AUSTIN – The parties accused of orchestrating climate change “lawfare” against the energy sector are feigning shock that their attempts to chill speech and commandeer public policy could be subjected to personal jurisdiction in Texas courts, ExxonMobil argues in a recently filed brief.
AUSTIN – Senate Bill 207 will help put an end to “enterprising” trial lawyers who collude with “unscrupulous” medical providers to inflate medical bills in hopes of greater jury awards, says the bill’s author.
AUSTIN—The Keep Texas Trucking Coalition has released its latest video, highlighting the devastating impact abusive lawsuits have on Texas small businesses.
A pair of bills making their way through the Texas Legislature will bring much-needed and sensible reforms to a litigation system run amuck. House Bill 19 and its companion in the Senate aim to rein in excessive lawsuits that deliver big paydays for lawyers while threatening jobs for one of the state’s most important industries, and driving up insurance rates for everyone else.
AUSTIN – The Senate Business & Commerce Committee held a hearing on the Pandemic Liability Protection Act today, during which the bill’s author, Sen. Kelly Hancock, assured all who were present that “bad actors” won’t be protected from litigation.
HOUSTON – Once described as a “nightmare” for BP and Transocean, Tony Buzbee may be keeping someone new up at night now – disgruntled quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has already been hit with three sexual assault suits, with Buzbee promising more to come.
WASHINGTON – Attorneys Steve Lehotsky and Scott Keller have partnered to form Lehotsky Keller, a national boutique law firm that will focus on regulatory challenges expected as the Biden administration rolls out its agenda.
Recent events suggest that the pursuit of power may be as corrupting as holding power itself. It certainly makes hypocrites of most. Consider the Democrats today who have been saying that Trump must concede the election for the good of the country.
Two years ago, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform released a study showing that the cost of tort litigation nationwide in 2016 was $429 billion: nearly three-quarters the size of the U.S. defense budget and $100 billion more than Americans spent on retail drugs in 2016. Roughly half of that amount went to plaintiffs, the balance to lawyers’ fees and insurance and administrative costs.
Please join the Harvard University and Harvard Business School Club of Dallas, as well as members of the Holland & Knight Digital Healthcare Initiative, for a virtual panel discussion on Current Perspectives on Digital Healthcare Trends.