CIVIL/FAMILY
CAUSE NO.: C-1-CV-24-000300; SAMER CHABAN VS. KATHY MOBARRA, ARMAN ESHRAGHI
JUDGE: TODD WONG
DATES: April 22, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Michael Navarre, Beatty Navarre Strama, PC
Defendants: Brian McGiverin, Austin Community Law Center (Austin)
SUMMARY: The defendants appealed the eviction judgment entered on Jan. 8, 2024. A unanimous jury found that the plaintiff was entitled to possession of the home as of Nov. 30, 2023. Reasonable and necessary legal fees awarded as follows: Representation in justice of the peace court and county court at law – $65,000; court of appeals – $15,000; petition for review with the Supreme Court of Texas – $0; merits briefing stage with the Supreme Court of Texas – $2,500; representation through oral argument and the completion of proceedings with Supreme Court of Texas – $5,000.
EDIT June 12, 2025: A previous version of this case said Michael Navarre was with the Law Office of Thomas J. Henry. This has been corrected to Beatty Navarre Strama, PC.
CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-001795; MICHAEL CODA v. PAUL LIST and TEMPERATURE PRO AUSTIN
JUDGE: CATHERINE MAUZY
DATES: April 22 – 24, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Joseph Barrientos, Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys (San Antonio)
Defendants: Andrew Neal/Tabor Dorsey, Skelton & Woody, PLLC (Austin)
SUMMARY: The plaintiff claims injury because of a vehicular accident in Oct. 2021. A jury of 10 found Michael Coda and Paul List each 50 percent negligent. Jury awarded: Past medical care expenses – $17,765; past physical pain and mental anguish – $7,500; future physical pain and mental anguish – $2,500; future physical pain and mental anguish – $2,500.
CAUSE NO: D-1-FM-23-008164; IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF ERIKA MARIE SOTO VS. JORGE ADRIAN SOTO AND IN THE INTEREST OF O.S., A CHILD
JUDGE: DANIELLA DESETA LYTTLE
DATES: April 22-28, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Petitioner: Slave Talavera/Valeria Lozano-Muncy, Slav Law PC (Austin)
Respondent: Marshall Sales/John Hennan, Hennan/Culp PLLC (Austin)
SUMMARY: Petitioner filed for divorce, requesting a disproportionate share of the parties’ estate due to various reasons, including fault in the breakup of the marriage. Respondent filed a counter-petition. A jury of 10 named Erika Soto as the joint managing conservator with exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child with a geographic restriction of Travis County.
CRIMINAL
CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-23-302250; 302260; STATE OF TEXAS v. JAVONTE DAVIS
JUDGE: KAREN SAGE
DATES: April 7-9, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Katherine West, Assistant District Attorney
Defendant: Raymond M. Espersen (Austin)
SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in July 2023. The jury found the defendant guilty and confined to 14 years in TDCJ prison.
CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-24-202066; STATE OF TEXAS v. ADAM RAY BROWN
JUDGE: SELENA ALVARENGA
DATES: April 7-17, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Jacob Salinas, Asst. District Attorney
Defendant: Charles Baird (Austin)
SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for a murder that occurred on or about March 23, 2024. The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in TDCJ by the jury.
CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-24-904076; STATE OF TEXAS v. OMAR CORTES-CASTILLO
JUDGE: BRAD URRUTIA
DATES: April 14-16, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Kathyrn Moynahan Hall, Assistant District Attorney
Defendant: Gilbert Martinez (Austin)
SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted on two counts of sexual assault and attempt to commit sexual assault in October 2022. The defendant was found guilty on all counts. His confinement of 10 years was suspended, and the jury ordered him to serve eight years of probation.
CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-25-904008; STATE OF TEXAS v. JUVENTINO LOPEZ-DOLORES
JUDGE: MIKE DENTON
DATES: April 21-25, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Tamara Marshall, Asst. District Attorney
Defendant: Brian Burns, (Conroe) and Christopher Warren, Cowboy Law Group, PLLC (Woodlands)
SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and indecency with a child. A mistrial was declared after an Allen charge. Case reset for jury trial on May 28, 2025.
CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-20-900078; STATE OF TEXAS v. JERRIS HARRIS
JUDGE: P. DAVID WAHLBERG
DATES: April 21-24, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: TJ Harris, Asst. District Attorney
Defendant: Jessica Shaye Freud/Michael Watson (Austin)
SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for aggravated sexual assault on or about Aug. 18, 2018. The jury found the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault but did not find that the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon. The court sentenced the defendant to 25 years in TDCJ.