Steve Korris News
Toyota seeks MDL for Texas acceleration lawsuits
Viehman AUSTIN � Toyota Motor Corp., facing 15 unintended acceleration lawsuits in Texas and expecting more, seeks to consolidate them before a single judge.
Texas SC rules wrongful death case belongs in Singapore or Australia, not Texas
Justices of the Supreme Court of Texas AUSTIN � Dallas County District Judge Gena Slaughter kept a wrongful death suit that belonged halfway around the globe, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on May 7.
Rarity of icy weather in Texas frees premises owners from liability, high court rules
Jefferson AUSTIN � Ice equals mud, the Supreme Court of Texas declared on May 7, and those who fall on either can't blame anyone but themselves.
Appeals court: Website not responsible for defamatory comments from third party
Horton Owners of the former Watchdog website in Conroe bear no liability for anonymous defamatory statements in a "guest book" for readers, Ninth District appeals judges decided on April 29.
Guzman: Education commissioners engaged in forum shopping
Guzman AUSTIN � Past and present education commissioners improperly vetoed Travis County jurisdiction in a dispute over termination of a teacher who used corporal punishment, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on April 23.
Pennsylvania company is 89th to collapse under asbestos claims
Robreno PHILADELPHIA - Durabla Manufacturing, a Pennsylvania company that made sealing products, collapsed under the weight of 108,000 asbestos suits.
Texas high court denies woman's claim to Kenedy estate
The Main House of the Kenedy Ranch AUSTIN � Letting the dead rest, the Supreme Court of Texas blocked a woman's bid to exhume the corpse of a man she claimed as her father.
Justices uphold 10-year limit on malpractice claims
AUSTIN � Texas legislators didn't violate their Constitution when they set an absolute 10-year limit on medical malpractice claims, according to the Supreme Court.
Appeals court removes conditions in Mexican suit against Ford
EASTLAND, Texas � Ingeniously but improperly, Texas judge Michael Mayes sent a Mexican suit against Ford Motor Co. and Bridgestone Firestone to Mexico in a way that made it three times as strong.
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By Steve Korris
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By Steve Korris
Texas justices at odds over decision on resort bar fight
Willett AUSTIN � Del Lago Golf Resort on Lake Conroe owes $1.5 million to a man who suffered brain damage in a bar brawl, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on April 2.
Defense doubtful doctor lost asbestos X-rays in Hurricane Katrina
Dr. Jay Segarra PHILADELPHIA � Radiologist Jay Segarra, fighting a contempt motion in national asbestos litigation, blames Hurricane Katrina for washing away his X-ray reports.
TxDOT not responsible for cycle crash, appeals court affirms
Barricade feature at the State Highway 105 exit ramp of U.S. 69/96/287. AUSTIN � Jefferson County District Judge Donald Floyd's decision to absolve the Texas Department of Transportation of responsibility for a fatal motorcycle crash stands.
Appeals Court: Father had no duty to warn of adult son's abuses
McKeithen Ninth District appeals judges upheld an $11 million verdict against wildlife ranch owner Jason Newsom for abusing boys, but they reversed a $2.2 million verdict against his father for failure to warn the victims.
Texas SC: Class representation by assignment should be scrutinized
Wainwright AUSTIN � Auditors who sacrificed fees in exchange for standing to sue Southwestern Bell Telephone can't lead a class action on behalf of 6,900 businesses, the Supreme Court of Texas decided on Feb. 19.
Appeals court upholds guilty verdict in Club Tiffany shooting case
Jefferson County jurors didn't believe that Darrius Spearman killed Marcus Allen in self defense at a Port Arthur night club, and Ninth District appeals judges don't believe it either.
VW wants hearing over asbestos expert's influence on NCI
Robreno PHILADELPHIA � Volkswagen of America has asked U.S. Multi District Judge Eduardo Robreno for a hearing about the influence of asbestos expert Arthur Frank on public statements of the National Cancer Institute.
Appeals court upholds incarceration of Port Arthur gang member
Gang members can serve time for deadly threats even if it is other members of the gang that pose the threats, Ninth District appeals judges ruled on Oct. 1.
Appeals court affirms dismissal of former WOSMS principal's suit
Superintendent O. Taylor Collins of West Orange-Cove school district transferred middle school principal Dale Dardeau to an assistant principal position at an elementary school for proper reasons, Ninth District appeals judges ruled on July 30.