Karen Kidd News
Texas appeals court restores $1 million arbitration award to The Belfiore's developers
HOUSTON – A Texas appeals court has returned a nearly $1 million award of an arbitration panel to developers of The Belfiore in Houston despite a would-be resident's claim that they're not entitled to it, according to a recent opinion handed down by the court.
Orange County district court has no jurisdiction to hear soured oil-well agreement case, appeals justices rule
BEAUMONT – An Orange County district court does not have jurisdiction over parties in a soured oil-well agreement between plaintiffs and a group of defendants in a 2016 lawsuit, a state appeals court ruled earlier this month.
Appellate court returns veteran's case against collection agency to Montgomery County court
BEAUMONT– The case of a military veteran who sued a collection agency over negative dings to his credit for a 2010 cellphone contract he alleges was canceled when he was deployed is on its way back to a Montgomery County court following a state appeals court ruling earlier this month.
Appeals court rules in favor of pipeline company in Brazoria County condemnation case
HOUSTON – A Texas appeals court ruled against a man in a Brazoria County condemnation case for lacking standing because - as he freely admits - he lacks an interest in property seized by a pipeline company.
Judge denies dismissal of complaint against Don Herring LTD over marketing mailing
DALLAS – A class action lawsuit against a Dallas-area auto dealership group accused of ignoring the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act by trawling through state motor vehicle records to find potential customers is moving ahead following a judge's ruling earlier this month.
Hurricane Harvey class actions moving ahead after judge denies DOJ delay request
HOUSTON – A pair of class action lawsuits against the federal government over Hurricane Harvey flood damage and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' decision to release water from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs are moving forward following a federal judge's decision earlier in December.
Paxton participates in three amicus brief coalitions this year supporting Trump travel ban
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has been part of coalitions three times this year that filed friend of the court briefs in federal courts in support of President Donald Trump's executive order, or proclamation, enforcing a travel plan on some nations.
Tax appraisal districts cannot move boundary lines between school districts, Paxton opines
AUSTIN – A tax appraisal district cannot unilaterally move a boundary line between two contiguous Texas school districts, such as a state lawmaker alleges happened in Montgomery County in 2016, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a recently issued opinion.
Texas investors appeal recently dismissed $7.2 billion Stanford Ponzi case against Proskauer law firm
NEW ORLEANS – Texas investors who for years have accused Proskauer Rose LLP of nurturing the $7.2 billion Robert Allen Stanford Ponzi scheme, appealed their case five days after it was dismissed by a federal judge who said the firm was entitled to attorney immunity.
Appeals court denies Enterprise Products' request for dismissal in dispute with DCP Partners
BEAUMONT – A Texas appeals court has declined a petition in a dispute between entities in an oil pipeline company over whether to build a pipeline interconnection between two existing pipelines in the state, according to a recent court order.
Doing business and paying taxes in Texas does not create Texas jurisdiction over out-of-state companies, appeals court says
HOUSTON – A non-Texas company may seek out and do business with Texas companies and pay Texas taxes but that isn't enough for that company to fall under the jurisdiction of Texas courts, according to a recent opinion from a state appeals court.
Paxton joins 20-state coalition of attorneys general in letter to EPA regarding WOTUS rules
AUSTIN – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army are moving to rescind the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) following a 20-state coalition, including Texas, calling for the preservation of the states' role in protecting the nation’s water sources.
Allegiance Bank requests injunction against Clear Lake marina sale
GALVESTON – A Houston-based bank has asked a federal court for a temporary restraining order to stop sale of a Clear Lake marina in Kemah, property previously used as security for now defaulted loans.
Public may be surprised by report's allegations about Texas asbestos litigation, tort reform spokesperson says
AUSTIN – A Texas tort reform group found information in its report all too familiar but it's likely news to the every-day Texan, a spokesperson for the group said during a recent interview.
Vet files second lawsuit over his firing after animal complaints against UT
GALVESTON – A veterinarian fired from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2015, allegedly after he spoke out about monkeys allowed to needlessly suffer during biomedical research, has filed a second lawsuit over his dismissal.
Federal judge's injunction gives NLRB time to decide Dish Network case
FORT WORTH – An injunction by a federal judge in Texas has given the National Labor Relations Board time to decide whether Dish Network Co. legally cut the wages of union employees by about half.
Texas brothers agree to SEC settlement in $23 million fraudulent energy venture
&&&SHERMAN (SE Texas Record) – Two Texas brothers must to cough up all illegal gains from an alleged $23 million fraudulent oil and gas well investment scam as part of a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in federal court.
Texas AG's felony fraud trial could come next spring after court refuses appeal
DALLAS – Texas' embattled attorney general is headed for a trial date as early as next spring after the state's court of criminal appeals decided to not get involved in his securities fraud case.
Texas civil rights group says will continue fight for ADA rights following U.S. Supreme Court decision
Texas' attorney general is pleased the U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a case after all about whether Texas must force private drivers’ license training schools to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Three state Supreme Court incumbents top TLRPAC's all-Republican endorsements
Three incumbent Republicans running for re-election for their positions on the Texas Supreme Court have received endorsements from the Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC in next month's general election.