News from July 2022
Chief Judge of the Western District of Texas Ends Automatic Assignment to Judge Albright of Patent Cases Filed in Waco Division: A Look at the Numbers
Is this the end for Judge Alan Albright’s dominance as the most popular judge for filing patent infringement suits?
Texas AG announces $2.37 billion agreement to settle with former opioid maker
AUSTIN –For the second time this week, Attorney General Paxton and a bipartisan group of attorneys general announced an agreement in principle to address the opioid crisis. The proposed settlement would require the former opioid maker Allergan to pay up to $2.37 billion to participating States and local governments, a press release states.
Charter Spectrum hit with $7.37 billion verdict for robbery, murder of elderly woman by cable installer
DALLAS -- Charter Communications was hit with a combined $7.37 billion verdict – including $7 billion meant to punish the company – for systemic safety failures that led to the robbery and stabbing death of an 83-year-old woman by a cable repairman and for using forged documents to try to keep a jury from hearing the lawsuit, a press release states.
Motorcyclist claims defective rear tire caused his I-45 crash
HOUSTON — A motorcyclist claims a defective rear tire caused him to crash into a concrete barrier on Interstate 45 in Houston.
Sheppard Mullin Expands Texas Presence With New Houston Office
Sheppard Mullin Expands Texas Presence With New Houston Office.
Justices dismiss injury suit against city of Houston
HOUSTON - The First Court of Appeals dismissed an injury lawsuit against the city of Houston yesterday, finding that the city did not have actual notice.
Texas appellate court reverses Allstate’s summary judgment win in claims suit
HOUSTON - Yesterday, the 14th Court of Appeals reversed Allstate’s summary judgment win in a lawsuit brought over the insurer’s alleged failure to pay claims.
O’Melveny’s rapid Texas growth continues with addition of Houston private equity dealmaker Garrett Johnston
HOUSTON — O’Melveny announced today that Garrett Johnston has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in its Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group. Johnston is the latest in a series of highly regarded lawyers who have joined O’Melveny in Texas, bolstering its already outstanding private equity team in the state, a press release states.
Collin County jury awards $15M to families who lost sons in auto crash
PLANO - Last week, a Collin County jury awarded a total of $15 million in damages to three families whose teenage sons were killed in a horrific automobile accident in early 2020.
Fifth Circuit vacates injunction on Texas mask-mandate ban
AUSTIN – On Monday, Attorney General Paxton secured a ruling against imposing mask mandates on Texas children in violation of state law, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated a lower court’s injunction on Texas’ statewide mask-mandate ban and ordered the court to dismiss the underlying lawsuit.
Holland & Knight Adds Private Equity and Venture Capital Partner Chauncey Lane in Texas
Holland & Knight Adds Private Equity and Venture Capital Partner Chauncey Lane in Texas.
Order randomly assigns new patent cases to all judges in Texas’ Western District
SAN ANTONIO - On Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia signed an order randomly assigning patent cases filed in the Waco Division of Western District of Texas “in an effort to equitably distribute those cases.”
Texas Supreme Court denies Union Pacific’s petition for review in toxic tort case
HOUSTON - On Friday, the Texas Supreme court denied Union Pacific Railroad’s petition for review in a toxic tort case brought against the company.
O’Melveny adds acclaimed energy lawyer Ryan Sears in Dallas
DALLAS — O’Melveny has announced that highly regarded energy lawyer Ryan Sears has joined the firm as a partner in Dallas, where he will serve in the firm’s Project Development & Real Estate Practice Group and Energy Industry Group, a press release states.
2022 Labor and Employment Law Update on July 28, 2022
2022 Labor and Employment Law Update on July 28, 2022.
AG Paxton Announces Forrest Brumbaugh as New Deputy AG for Legal Counsel
AG Paxton Announces Forrest Brumbaugh as New Deputy AG for Legal Counsel.
Catering company alleges former employee stole business, funds
HOUSTON — A catering company employee is accused of stealing business and funds from the company after being terminated.
Former Houston-based financial services company employee alleges gender discrimination, retaliation
HOUSTON — A former employee of a Houston-based financial services company alleges she faced retaliation for complaining about gender discrimination.
Suit alleges woman refuses to pay back $50,000 car loan
GALVESTON — A Harris County woman is facing a breach of contract claim after allegedly refusing to repay a $50,000 car loan.
Butler Snow Expands Commercial Litigation Team in Austin
Butler Snow Expands Commercial Litigation Team in Austin.