Ask Not What AYLA Does, Ask What AYLA Does Not Do

One of the questions I am most often asked when talking to and about the legal community is, “What does AYLA do?” It was the first question my distant cousin asked when I shared the news that I would be president of the organization and it is always the top question prospective members have—and rightfully so, when learning about AYLA. …

AYLA Hosts “Trust & Estate Law Basics” CLE

On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, AYLA held a CLE on “Trust & Estate Law Basics,” presented by Melissa Pina, VP, Trust & Estates Officer, Cadence Bank.  The CLE provided attendees with an overview of considerations of which every attorney should have a basic understanding in serving clients. These included the importance of having a will; potential information needed when building …

Federal Civil Update June 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in April 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. PROPERTY DAMAGE: Reasonable juror could conclude that impounded groundwater that escaped and flowed over river onto plaintiff’s property remained “surface water” under Texas statute, and that defendant’s negligence proximately …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update June 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals in April 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of May 8, 2024. PREMISES LIABILITY: Court reverses summary judgment, concluding plaintiffs were not trespassers. Chavez v. Silverleaf Resorts, LLC, No. 03-22-00498-CV …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update June 2024

The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals in November 2023. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of May 1, 2024. EVIDENCE ADMISSIBILITY – PENDING LAWSUITS FILED BY DEFENDANT: Trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting evidence …

Texas Supreme Court Update June 2024

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in May 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 particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. JURISDICTION – Timely service requirement is jurisdictional prerequisite for suits …

District & County Court Update June 2024

Editor’s Note: A monthly update on jury trials in Travis County will be circulated in Bar Code and posted in the Austin Bar app. Lucy’s Kitchen #2 LLC v. Taylor Plaza, LLC Cause No.: D-1-GN-19-006920 Judge: Hon. Jessica Mangrum, 200th Civil District Court Trial Date(s): April 1 – 3, 2024 Attorneys: Plaintiff:  Russell Frost, Law Office of Russell Frost, PLLC …

Bending the Rules: Utah’s Experiment with Non-Lawyer Entities Providing Legal Services

At a January 2024 meeting of the Texas Access to Justice Commission, the commission voted against a recommendation to create a pilot program that would have allowed non-attorney ownership of entities licensed to provide limited legal services tolow-income Texans. The topic of nonlawyer ownership in legal entities has been a topic of growing interest in recent years. Currently, Texas Disciplinary …