November 2024

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in September 2024. These summaries are prepared by court staff as a courtesy and are not a substitute for the actual opinions. The summaries are overviews of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Administrative Procedure Act  Tex. Dep’t of State Health Servs. v. Kensington

Years ago, I missed my firstborn’s birth. My client had an emergency guardianship hearing involving financial predation of their aunt, who was so far gone she was stuffing contact lenses into her eyes until they bled.  We get our time in when we can: homework, dinner, bedtime routine, trips to the grocery store, music lessons, day camps, friend dates to

Out-of-state lawyers can temporarily register with the North Carolina State Bar to provide pro bono legal services to victims of Hurricane Helene, following an order by the North Carolina Supreme Court. The court approved the North Carolina State Bar’s temporary rule amendment on Oct. 1.  The State Bar petitioned the Supreme Court for this emergency rule to streamline the process by

Dear Austin Bar Members:  As we celebrate the Thanksgiving season, we want to thank you for your continued support of the Austin Bar Foundation. As you make your year-end charitable donations, we ask that you consider one or more of the following programs: Preservation of Hilgers House – The Foundation bought this beautiful home in 2019. It was built in

The Veterans’ Legal Assistance Program is excited to announce the launch of a groundbreaking new pro bono portal, designed to streamline how attorneys connect with veterans and low-income Texans in need of legal assistance.  Initially serving Central Texas, this platform will soon expand to other bar associations and organizations with limited resources. What’s New? This innovative portal offers a range

Originally published by Austin Monitor On Oct 1., the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $469,559 contract for a residential substance use treatment program for women, using the state’s opioid abatement funds. The contract is the first time an inpatient residential resource has been available in Austin for low-income adults struggling with addiction since Austin Recovery shuttered in August 2020.

Originally published by The Texas Tribune Texas’ sprawling prison and criminal justice system is facing a dangerous staffing crisis that puts inmates and staff at risk — and it could soon run out of room to house the projected number of incarcerated people, according to the state commission that reviews the performance of Texas agencies. The 189-page report documents severe staffing

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Austin Bar wishes to thank all of our veteran members.  Dominic Castillo U.S. Air Force Veteran Dominic Castillo served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman First Class from 2000 to 2002, where he specialized as a munitions systems apprentice focusing on precision guidance munitions. During his service, he earned the National Defense

The Supreme Court of Texas convened Oct. 1-3, 2024, and heard oral arguments from several Austin Bar members. Bertucci v. Watkins Procedure-Appellate – Waiver Steven A. Fleckman  Munck Wilson Mandala  for Petitioner Elizabeth G. “Heidi” Bloch  Greenberg Traurig  for Respondent/Cross-petitioner These cross-petitions raise issues of briefing waiver and whether fiduciary duties are owed among business partners. Bertucci and Watkins founded several

Editor’s Note: The monthly jury trial verdicts update is first published through Bar Code and the Austin Bar app. Download the app today on either the App Store or the Google Play Store. CIVIL Robert Lindsay Duncan and Molly Duncan v. Estate of Cheryl Wheeler Sanders and Estate of Robert Reed Sanders Cause No: D-1-GN-16-002071 Judge: Amy Clark Meachum, 201st Civil