Court Updates

The following is a summary of a selected criminal opinion issued by the Third Court of Appeals from November 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinion. The subsequent history is current as of April 4, 2025.

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in March 2025. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. 

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-21-005768; JUDITH KENT v. TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS, INC. DBA TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS JUDGE: LAURIE EISERLOH DATES: March 24 – 31, 2025 ATTORNEYS:      Plaintiff: Michael R. Cowen/Sonia M. Rodriguez, Cowen, Rodriguez, Peacock (San Antonio) Defendants: Weston L. Hall, Chamblee Ryan, PC (Dallas) SUMMARY: The plaintiff claims injury as a result of a fall into a 10-foot shipping container at

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in March 2025. These summaries are prepared by court staff as a courtesy. They are not a substitute for the actual opinions. The summaries are overviews of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. GEO Grp. v. Hegar, ___ S.W.3d ___, 2025 WL ___ (Tex. Mar. 14,

CIVIL/FAMILY CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-002369; DENA SESSIONS v. ABBY ARGO, CHAMPAGNE CAMPAIGN, LLC; AMAZING REALTY, LLC, JACOB SOLIZ, GENA CARTER; KW ATX BROKER, LLC JUDGE: MAYA GUERRA GAMBLE DATES: Feb. 10 – 18, 2025 ATTORNEYS:      Plaintiff: R. Alex Conant/Walter Williams/Hayden Prosise, Amini & Conant, LLP (Austin) Defendant: Kevin F. Lee, Thompson Coe Cousins & Irons, LLP (Austin) SUMMARY: This case arises from

The Supreme Court of Texas convened Feb. 19, 2025, and heard oral arguments from two Austin Bar members. Austin Bar Member Catherine Robb, Haynes and Boone, for Respondent Paxton v. Am. Oversight Administrative Law – Public Information Act At issue is whether trial courts have jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus against the Governor and Attorney General to compel information under the

The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from October 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of March 7, 2024. JURY SELECTION – LIMITATIONS ON QUESTIONING: Trial court did not abuse its discretion by prohibiting defense counsel’s questions to panel regarding

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during February 2025. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of March 7, 2025.  ATTORNEY’S FEES: Court reduces fee awarded in contingent-fee lawsuit. CCR Roofing, LLC v. Garner, No. 03-23-00506-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 5, 2025, no pet.

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in February 2025. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions.  Editor’s Note: This is Jason LaFond’s final Federal Civil Update for Austin Lawyer. We sincerely appreciate his insight and tireless work in keeping our members updated on federal issues.

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in January 2025. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. APPELLATE PROCEDURE: 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) did not permit interlocutory review of pretrial ruling on proper measure of damages. Silverthorne Seismic v. Sterling Seismic Services, 125 F.4th 593 (5th Cir.