Steve Korris News
Firms must prevent conflict of non-lawyer employees too, Texas SC rules
Medina AUSTIN � Texas law firms must adopt and enforce policies to prevent office workers from betraying secrets of firms where they previously worked, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on Aug. 27.
Court denies Judge Keller's emergency stay of public reprimand
Keller AUSTIN � On Aug. 16, Texas Supreme Court justices denied emergency relief to Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller in her bid to erase a public warning over her conduct on the occasion of a killer's execution.
Entergy wins appeal of 2005 Bridge City case
Ninth District appeals judges wiped out an Orange County jury verdict holding Entergy Gulf States liable for a man's fall from the roof of a moving house.
Judge cancels expert hearing in Digitek MDL
Goodwin CHARLESTON, W. Va. -� U.S. District Judge Goodwin cancelled a unique hearing with four other judges - including a state judge from Orange County, Texas - on the qualifications of experts in litigation over the heart medicine Digitek.
Judge Barbier on panel at trial lawyer maritime conference
Barbier NEW ORLEANS � U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier, responsible for all oil spill suits filed in federal court, met privately with hundreds of plaintiff lawyers on Friday, Aug. 13.
Appeals Court: Liberty cop fired over bad behavior, not race
Former Liberty police detective Hugo Flores lost his job due to his conduct and not his national origin, Ninth District appeals judges ruled on Aug. 5.
Rand's asbestos report shows lucrative outcome for lawyer trust fund managers
Kazan Giants of asbestos litigation hold half the power in seven trust funds that paid $2.4 billion in claims in 2008, according to tables in a new Rand Corporation report.
Appeals court: Jury should have heard from therapist in commitment trial
Montgomery County jurors who declared Michael Bohannan a sexually violent predator didn't hear all relevant facts, Ninth District appeals judges ruled.
USSC rules in arbitration of arbitration disputes
Scalia WASHINGTON � When an agreement to arbitrate disputes contains an agreement to arbitrate disputes over arbitration, an arbitrator and not a judge must determine the validity of the entire agreement, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June.
Appeals court: Debtor waited too long to challenge arbitration award
Montgomery County District Judge Frederick Edwards improperly cancelled a $25,549.30 credit card debt, Ninth District appeals judges ruled on July 8.
Texas MDL panel consolidates 15 Toyota acceleration suits
Schaffer AUSTIN � Fifteen lawsuits from 11 counties over unintentional acceleration of Toyota vehicles will proceed in a single court.
Texas high court reverses $1.25M award in cattle rustling case
AUSTIN � Jurors in San Saba County took cattle theft too seriously when they awarded $1.25 million in exemplary damages against a rancher for taking 13 head that strayed across a dry river bed, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on June 25.
Justices find no evidence Wal-Mart lamp caused fatal fire
AUSTIN � Texas Supreme Court justices have corrected appellate court judges in Texarkana who swallowed a far-fetched theory that blamed Wal-Mart for a fatal fire.
Kimberly-Clark attorney claims asbestos plaintiffs shopped for friendly forum in Jefferson County
Fogdall PHILADELPHIA � U. S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno's decision to remand 73 asbestos suits to Jefferson County District Judge Gary Sanderson drew a howl of protest from paper maker Kimberly-Clark, a defendant in all 73.
Chief justice to sort out unique triple recusal case
Jefferson AUSTIN � Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson must decide whether to recuse a judge who didn't recuse a judge who awarded more than $200 million in a family dispute.
Plaintiffs want Toyota wrongful death suits kept out of MDL
Tracy AUSTIN � Wrongful death claims against Toyota Motor Corp. don't belong in the statewide consolidation of lawsuits being filed over unintended acceleration, a Texas plaintiffs' attorney claims.
Appeals court rules plaintiff not to blame for confusion caused by attorney
Horton Montgomery County District Judge Fred Edwards shut down a suit against the county three times in three ways, and now he must reopen it.
Former Texas justice to represent BP in state litigation
Brister AUSTIN � Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister will lead BP Exploration and Production's defense in state litigation over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Trial court can't cut insurer out of settlement, Texas SC rules
Texas Supreme Court AUSTIN � Fayette County District Judge Daniel Beck improperly cut an insurer out of a wrongful death settlement, the Supreme Court of Texas decided on May 28.
Texas Supreme Court: Forfeiture required regardless of proof of actual damages
Green AUSTIN � Luring a partner into a buyout while plotting to compete against him constitutes fraud and requires forfeiture even if the victim can't prove damages, the Supreme Court of Texas decided on May 7.