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 Criminal Update May 2024

The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals in October 2023.  The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of April 1, 2024. BURDEN OF PROOF – DUE DILIGENCE: Trial co… To view the rest of this article, please log into …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update May 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals in March 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of April 9, 2024. GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY:  Court holds agency is immune from takings claim. Texas State Library & Archives Comm’n v. Westmoreland, …

Federal Civil Court Update May 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in March 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. CLASS ACTIONS: Class Action Fairness Act’s local controversy exception to federal jurisdiction requires that all plaintiffs sustain their principal injuries in theforum state and nowhere else. Cheapside Mins., Ltd. …

Texas Supreme Court Update May 2024

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court  in March 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. GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY: Governmental entity contract deemed properly executed until entity …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update

The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from August 2023. The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of March 1, 2024. DEFENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS – CONSENT: Trial court did not err in failing to include additional factual detail in defensive instructions.  Poncio v. State, No. 03-22-00292-CR …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update April 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during February 2024. The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of March 11, 2024. ATTORNEY’S FEES: Court reverses order denying attorney’s fees.  Abira Med. Laboratories, LLV v. OMH-Healthedge Holdings, Inc., No. 03-22-00176-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Feb. 13, 2024, no …

Federal Civil Update April 2024

The following are summaries of opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in February 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS: Contractual limitations provision barred federal employment discrimination claim. Harris v. FedEx Corp. Servs., Inc., 92 F.4th 286 (5th Cir. 2024). FedEx hired Harris as an account executive in …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update March 2024

The following are summaries  of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from August 2023. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of Feb. 1, 2024. DEFENSIVE ISSUES—MISTAKE OF FACT: In prosecution for failure to stop and render aid, defendant was entitled to …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update March 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during January 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of Feb. 7, 2024.  ORIGINAL PROCEEDING: Court grants relief where trial court denied discovery of plaintiff’s medical history.  In re Westside Roofing, …