Dawn Geske News
GMA Legal Conference: A 'must-attend event' for food, beverage and consumer product legal professionals
PALM BEACH GARDENS – This year's Grocery Manufacturers Association's Legal Conference event is set to be held in Palm Beach Gardens on Monday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 5.
Paxton opinion: Special assessments related to PACE Act treated similar to real estate taxes
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton has stated that contractual assessments related to an act regarding property improvements to decrease water demand and consumption are treated similar to real estate taxes.
Class action certified in Methodist Dallas Medical Center meal break case
DALLAS – A nurse has been granted the right to a conditional class action suit against Methodist Dallas Medical Center Auxiliary, et al. over interrupted meal breaks that allegedly resulted in overtime work without pay.
Gilstrap grants partial new trial to Google in patent infringement suit
MARSHALL – Google has been granted partial post-trial relief in a patent infringement suit over malicious software protection for computer systems.
Former judge Mizell named to Texas Ethics Commission
HOUSTON – Attorney and former judge Pat Mizell has been announced as a new appointee to the Texas Ethics Commission by Gov. Greg Abbott.
BestCare Laboratory Services ordered to pay U.S. more than $30.5 million for Medicare mileage billing
HOUSTON – BestCare Laboratory Services LLC has been ordered to pay the United States of America more than $30.5 million for allegedly deceptively charging mileage to Medicare.
SightLine Health to pay $11.5 million to settle kickback allegations
DALLAS – SightLine Health LLC has agreed to pay $11.5 million to settle a False Claims Act lawsuit over allegations it violated the Anti-Kickback Statute regarding Medicare.
Bill looks to require insurance companies to cover 3-D mammography screenings
ADDISON – An independent breast imaging provider is backing support of a Texas House bill to require all commercial insurance providers in the state to cover 3-D mammography.
$2 million settlement reached with CDK Realty Advisors over Dallas Police and Fire Pension fund
DALLAS – A lackluster $2 million settlement agreement has been reached in favor of the Dallas police and fire pension fund over real estate investments oversaw by an advisory firm.
Ethics reform bill passes Texas Senate, moves to House
AUSTIN – In a move that will put legislators under more scrutiny and provide more governmental transparency, the Texas Senate has approved the ethics reform bill SB 14.
New bill to amend collections on abandoned, unclaimed properties by the state of Delaware
DOVER, Del. – Both the Delaware House and the Senate have passed a bill that determines how the state goes about collecting on abandoned and unclaimed properties.
Gov. Greg Abbott gives State of the State Address, focuses on tort and budget reforms
AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott has given his State of the State speech to the citizens of Texas where he addressed what his priorities and emergency activities will be for the 85th legislative session.
End of 'Wet-Foot, Dry-Foot' policy puts all immigrants on equal footing
HOUSTON – While a new administration at the While House brings stricter immigration laws to the country, it was former President Barack Obama who actually eliminated the “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy for Cuban immigration into the United States.
Lawyer: 'Lot of discussion' for 'years' on tort reform for multi-district litigation
AUSTIN – Tort reform is being considered to reduce the recovery amounts in personal injury case that falls under multi-district litigation (MDL).
FAIR proposes immigration plan for President-elect Trump’s first 100 days
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has outlined steps for the Trump administration to take to secure the U.S. borders and reform immigration laws upon taking office this month.
$1B verdict against Johnson & Johnson reinforces 'need for appellate review,' says attorney
DALLAS – A verdict of more than $1 billion has been handed down by a federal jury in a lawsuit regarding hip replacements.
Former worker accuses Veteran’s Administration medical center of dirty water conditions
HOUSTON – A former employee of the Veteran’s Administration’s Michael E. DeBakey Medical Center in Houston, alleges there are unsanitary water conditions at the facility.
$625,000 settlement reached for trainers in Gold’s Gym suit
Gym trainers that had filed a lawsuit against their employer have reached a $625,000 settlement.
Texas ACLU battles Santa Fe to eliminate jail time for not paying fines
SANTA FE – The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas has filed a lawsuit against the city of Santa Fe to protect individuals from being jailed for low-level offenses because they can’t afford to pay the fines associated with these small crimes.
Appeal looks to overturn ban in transgender student bathroom case
AUSTIN -- A notice has been granted for appeal in the Texas case involving the use of bathrooms by transgender students.