SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

AUSTIN – The Texas Supreme Court recently expanded the state’s form of the anti-strategic lawsuit against public participant (SLAPP) law ruling that a defendant can pursue a motion for dismissal even if they deny the claims of the First Amendment activity in the lawsuit.

EL CAJON, Calif. – What started as just a concerned mother calling Dallas-based law firm Baron and Budd because her child’s elementary school popped up on a list of polluted schools turned into an investigation that revealed a California community is sitting on top of a toxic plume.

DALLAS – The battle continues in a high-profile case in Texas as Facebook Inc. subsidiary Oculus engaged in post-trial motions recently before U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade arguing no evidence proves the jury’s finding that resulted in a $500 million award to video game maker ZeniMax Media Inc.

NEW ORLEANS – A woman is appealing a lower Texas court’s ruling that Century Surety Co. is not responsible to cover the nearly $22 million owed to her from her successful sexual assault suit against the owner of Pastazios Pizza Inc.

AUSTIN – Groups and individuals suing the state recently presented evidence in a hearing to determine whether or not the voting ID law, also known as SB 14, was enacted in 2011 with discriminatory intent.

HOUSTON – A Texas insurance company is holding its ground as the 1st Court of Appeals affirmed a take-nothing decision by a lower court Jan. 31, negating the $13 million sought by a hurricane-damaged city.