Marilyn Tennissen News
Texas Senate passes Citizen Participation Act to eliminate SLAPP suits
Hunter AUSTIN - The Texas Senate unanimously passed the Citizen Participation Act, anti-SLAPP legislation aimed at curbing lawsuits intended to silence critics.
Texas Senate committee approves revised 'loser pays' bill
Huffman AUSTIN - A House bill designed to penalize those who file frivolous lawsuits received unanimous support from members of the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, a move that surprised both sides of the aisle.
Texas lawmaker proposes reforms to federal rule regarding frivolous lawsuits
Smith On the heels of the Texas House of Representatives' successful passage of a lawsuit reform bill to reduce frivolous suits in state courts, a Texas lawmaker in Washington is hoping to push a similar bill on the federal level.
'Loser pays' bill passes Texas House in emergency Saturday session
Creighton In an emergency session on Saturday, the Texas House of Representatives passed a "loser pays" bill that could change who pays legal fees in certain civil lawsuits.
O'Quinn firm sued for legal malpractice by silicosis clients
O'Quinn Almost 200 former silicosis clients of renowned Houston attorney John O'Quinn are now alleging the deceased lawyer's firm improperly charged expenses and continues to hold on to their settlement funds.
Report examines problems with TWIA settlements, fees
Mostyn The settlement of the Hurricane Ike claims demonstrates that more oversight is needed for the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, according to a report from a state legal reform group.
East Texas judge tosses $625M patent verdict against Apple
Apple's Cover Flow TYLER - A federal judge in East Texas has thrown out a $625.5 million patent-infringement verdict against Apple.
Texas lawmakers file 'loser pays' bills in House, Senate
Huffman Following the lead of Texas Gov. Rick Perry in support of a loser pays tort reform initiative, two Texas legislators have filed bills that could make the reforms a reality.
Proposed bill would close trial lawyer loophole in asbestos suits
Miller State Rep. Doug Miller (R-New Braunfels) has filed House Bill 2034, which would halt abuses in asbestos lawsuits by requiring plaintiffs' lawyers to seek compensation from federal bankruptcy trusts before going to trial against solvent defendants.
Lawmaker says attorney fees in Ike settlements excessive
Taylor The fees paid to lawyers for Hurricane Ike litigation were excessive, said a Texas lawmaker at a meeting of the Texas House Insurance Committee on Tuesday.
Perry talks tort reform in annual address
Texas Gov. Rick Perry delivers the State of the State Address to both chambers of the Texas Legislature at the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 8. AUSTIN - Although the state is facing a budget deficit, Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday said the Texas economy and jobs have been helped by the state's legal climate.
Texas judge names former law partner to investigate Toyota
Coontz A Texas judge has named his former law partner as special prosecutor to look into possible wrongdoing by Toyota in a rollover lawsuit.
Beaumont attorney, wife make major donation to Lamar music department
Beaumont attorney Ray Moore, right, and his wife, Mary, were present for the formal renaming of Lamar University's music department as The Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music. The founder of one of Beaumont's most successful law firms and his wife have made a major contribution to Lamar University.
TWIA information on Ike settlement shows $44M to Southeast Texas lawyers
Beach houses reduced to pilings and slabs by Hurricane Ike. Sixty-four attorneys from Southeast Texas received an estimated $44 million from settlement agreements with the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, according to recent documents from TWIA.
Criss lifts ban on release of TWIA information
Criss State District Judge Susan Criss (D - Galveston) issued an order Thursday dissolving her injunction prohibiting the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association from releasing information about a $189 million settlement with Hurricane Ike victims.
WSJ touts Perry's 'loser pays' plan
Perry In a recent editorial, the Wall Street Journal praised Gov. Rick Perry for his plans to expand Texas' "impressive tort reform record."
State Rep. Ritter switches to GOP
State Rep. Alan Ritter of Nederland announces Dec. 14 that he is switching his party affiliation from the Democratic Party to the GOP. AUSTIN - State Rep. Alan Ritter of District 21 announced Tuesday that he is changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican in order to better "reflect the views" of the people in his district.
TWIA chief won't defy Judge Criss' order banning release of settlement information
Criss Despite his belief that the information should be available to requesters, the head of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association told Texas lawmakers that he would not defy the order of a Galveston judge prohibiting the release of documents relating to Hurricane Ike settlements.
Texas Gulf Coast courts tough place for defendants, 'Hellhole' report claims
Although tort reforms have kept Texas from making the list of the top "judicial hellholes," several of the state's courts are still under the eye of American Tort Reform Association.
Abbott names George Mason professor as Texas solicitor general
Mitchell AUSTIN � A faculty member from George Mason University in Virginia has been appointed as the chief appellate lawyer for the state of Texas, Attorney General Greg Abbott announced Friday.