Jury Trial Verdicts
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CIVIL/FAMILY
CAUSE NO: D-1-FM-22-005482; IN THE INTEREST OF L.P., A CHILD
JUDGE: CATHERINE MAUZY
DATES: June 2-6, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Petitioner: Gracie Wood Shepherd, Friday Milner Lambert Turner [Austin]
Respondent: Rob Frazer, Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC [Austin]
SUMMARY: Petitioner Erikka Walor filed a motion to modify the parent-child relationship, requesting that she be appointed sole managing conservator. Respondent Frederick Pevar, filed a counter-petition to modify the parent-child relationship. A jury of 10 found that the joint managing conservatorship should be replaced by a sole managing conservatorship and awarded the sole managing conservator of L.P. to Petitioner Erikka Walor.
CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-21-004840; JOHN LEWIS MCCARDLE v. JOSEPH JEFFERSON JOHNSON
JUDGE: CORY LIU
DATES: June 3-4, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Price Ainsworth, Lorenz and Lorenz PLLC [Austin]
Defendants: Lauren Lewis, Mehaffy Weber, P.C. [Beaumont]
SUMMARY: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle driven by the defendant. Plaintiff claimed Defendant was the cause of the accident, which occurred in October 2019. A jury of nine found Defendant 60 percent and Plaintiff 40 percent responsible. Damages awarded: Past physical pain and mental anguish – $0; future physical pain and mental anguish – $0; past physical impairment – $15,000; past reasonable medical care expenses – $7,000; past loss wages – $5,000; past disfigurement – $30,000; and future disfigurement – $30,000.
CAUSE NO.: C-1-CV-20-005096; MERLE DAPITON FRIZELL v. ALFONSO J. CALVEART HERNANDEZ
JUDGE: ERIC SHEPPERD
DATES: June 10, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Thomas Pronske, Lorenz and Lorenz, LLP [Austin]
Defendant: Jenny Forehand, Meynier, Liber, Matte, Hofland & Del Valle [San Antonio]
SUMMARY: Plaintiff claimed she was injured when she entered the intersection after stopping at a flashing red light in March 2019. A jury of five found the plaintiff responsible for the accident.
CAUSE NO: D-1-GN-22-003511; JOHNSON-POWER CONSTRUCTION, INC. v. PAIGE MYCOSKIE
JUDGE: JAN SOIFER
DATES: June 24 – 26, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Brian Bishop, Law office of Brian W. Bishop [Austin]
Defendant: Brian Buster, Hajjar Peters, LLP [Austin]
SUMMARY: Plaintiff sued the defendant due to a dispute over payments for residential construction and remodel of the plaintiff’s home in Austin, Texas. A unanimous jury found that the defendant failed to pay the plaintiff promptly for properly performing construction work, services, and/or materials. The jury awarded money to the plaintiff to fairly and reasonably compensate for the unpaid amount – $213,358.01. The jury also found that the plaintiff performed compensable work for which the plaintiff was not compensated in the amount of $304,797.16. The jury then awarded attorney’s fees: Representation through trial and completion of proceedings in the trial court – $193,208.00; in the court of appeals – $50,000; in the Supreme Court of Texas – $25,000.
CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-000923; DAMARIS PAYNE v. ISABELLE MARIE WILLI
JUDGE: DANIELLA DESETA LYTTLE
DATES: June 24 – 27, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Nathan Kennedy/Alexander Maxwell Caruso, The Carlson Law Firm PC [Austin]
Defendant: David Plaut/Scot Talbot, Hanna and Plaut, LLP [Austin]
SUMMARY: Plaintiff was traveling in Buda, Hays County, Texas, and the defendant was coming out of a parking lot when the accident occurred in June 2022. A unanimous jury found that Defendant 95 percent and Plaintiff five percent responsible. Damages awarded: Past physical pain and mental anguish – $120,000; future physical pain and mental anguish – $15,000; past physical impairment – $30,000.00; future physical impairment – $30,000; necessary medical care expenses – $263,512.98.
CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-003243; DESTINY MAYFIELD v. GITONGA BUNDI
JUDGE: CATHERINE MAUZY
DATES: June 23-26, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: C, Brooks Schuelke, Schuelke Law Firm, PLLC [Austin]
Defendants: Sean Hoffman, Skelton & Woody, PLLC [Austin]
SUMMARY: Plaintiff claimed she was injured due to Defendant’s negligence in 2022. A unanimous jury awarded the following damages: Past physical pain – $1,000; past mental anguish – $2,000; past physical impairment – $1,000; past medical care expenses – $11,000.
CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-22-006523; MARSH DEEPAK THANKIAH, VINCENT, BEENA LAL BABU JAMAL
LAL and ARUL MICHAEL v. JOSEPH CROSS RAJA and RASHITHA RAJA.
JUDGE: JESSICA MANGRUM
DATES: June 24-30, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiffs: Dov Preminger, Preminger PLLC [Austin]
Defendants: Jason Sheffield, Naman Howell Smith and Lee, PLLC [Austin]
SUMMARY: Plaintiffs claimed that Defendants made fraudulent representations regarding a restaurant investment. A jury of 11 found the following: Defendants failed to comply with a material term of the agreement; Plaintiffs Raja substantially relied upon Defendants’ promise to their detriment, and the reliance was foreseeable by Defendants, but awarded $0 in reliance damages; Defendants failed to comply with a material term of the agreement; Plaintiff Arul Michael substantially relied upon Defendant, Joseph Raja’s promise to his detriment, and the reliance was foreseeable by Defendant, but awarded $0 in reliance damages. In addition, the jury found no actual damages for the amount of money paid by Plaintiffs to Defendant as a result of Defendants’ fraudulent actions. The jury further found that Defendants did not commit fraud against Plaintiff Arul Michael. The jury awarded attorney fees: Representation in trial court -$63,000; in the court of appeals – $25,000; representation for petition at the review stage in the Supreme Court of Texas – $20,000; and for representation for oral argument and the completion of proceedings in the Supreme Court of Texas – $15,000.
CRIMINAL
CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-25-904036; STATE OF TEXAS v. MAURYS MADRUGA-MESA
JUDGE: BRAD URRUTIA
DATES: June 20-25, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Kate Hall
Defendant: Raymond Espersen
SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse, which allegedly occurred in May 2024. The jury found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to five years community supervision. In addition, he was required to register as a sex offender. [Note: A previous jury trial was declared a mistrial on June 2, 2025].
CAUSE NO: C-1-CR-23-211904; STATE OF TEXAS v. ANTHONY THOMPSON
JUDGE: MARY ANN ESPIRITU
DATES: June 23-24, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Brooks Lachowsk
Defendant: Robin Baessler
SUMMARY: A complaint was filed against the defendant for operating a vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. The jury acquitted the defendant.
ADDITIONAL MAY CASES:
CAUSE NO.: C-1-CV-23-004014; ADONIS ADRANA v. BRIAN ALEXUS AVILA-VELAZQUEZ
JUDGE: TODD WONG
DATES: May 19-21, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
Plaintiff: Carolyn Brown, Lorenz and Lorenz, PLLC [Austin]
Defendant: Danny Barber, Keramidas Law Firm [Richardson]
SUMMARY: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle and claims the defendant’s negligence caused her injury in November 2022. A jury of five found that the defendant was responsible for the accident. The jury awarded the following damages: Past physical pain and mental anguish – $650; past physical impairment – $650; reasonable expenses of necessary medical care – $8,209.80; and past loss of earning capacity – $0.
CAUSE NO: C-1-CR-24-211242/211243; STATE OF TEXAS v. SAMUEL PERKINS
JUDGE: BIANCA GARCIA
DATES: May 13-14, 2025
ATTORNEYS:
State of Texas: Trevor Mathes
Defendant: Miguel Aguilera
SUMMARY: Defendant was allegedly charged with criminal trespass as of Oct. 2024. The jury found the defendant guilty of trespass but not guilty of evading arrest.