Court Updates

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in May 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. JURISDICTION: Upon removal on the basis of improper joinder, plaintiff may clarify allegations to satisfy federal pleading standards; erroneous finding of improper joinder was not cured prior to judgment,

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during May 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions.Subsequent histories are current as of June 11, 2024. MANDAMUS: Court grants relief where trial court denied objection to associate judge referral.  In re Laurie, No. 03-24-00124-CV (Tex.

The following is a summary of a selected criminal opinion issued by the Third Court of Appeals in December 2023. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinion. The subsequent history is current as of June 3, 2024. AGGRAVATED ROBBERY—EVIDENTIARY SUFFICIENCY AND LESSER-INCLUDED OFFENSE: Evidence was sufficient to prove that defendant committed aggravated robbery, and defendant was not

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in June 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. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: Statutory regulations governing public insurance adjusters do not implicate protected speech. 

Editor’s Note: A monthly update on jury trial verdicts in Travis County will also be circulated in Bar Code and posted in the Austin Bar app. CIVIL Ramos v. Regan  Cause No.: D-1-GN-22-007206 Judge: Jessica Mangrum, 200th Civil District Court Trial Date(s): May 13-15, 2024 Attorneys:Plaintiff: Casey Archer and Guilherme Vasconcelos, DJC Law, PLLCDefendant: J. Hampton Skelton and Sean Hoffman,

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

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

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

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

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