March 2025 District & County Court Trial Verdicts

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… To view the rest of this article, please log into your account if you’ve already purchased a subscription. If you’re …

Language Models Can Serve as Virtual Legal Clerks, Must Still Be Fact-Checked

Lawyers can and should use generative AI tools, particularly generative pre-trained transformers (GPTs). When they do, they can and should use prompt engineering to make the best use of these tools. With a GPT, the lawyer provides inputs, or prompts, regarding various user goals. The basic interface allows a user to type in a query and receive a response. This …

Navigating the New Administration’s Immigration Policies: Implications for Employers and Foreign Nationals

The inauguration of a new presidential administration often heralds a wave of executive orders and policy shifts, and the first month of the current administration has been no exception. The new administration’s immigration policies signal heightened scrutiny of visa issuance, trade-related work authorizations, and enforcement actions. Employers—particularly those navigating cross-border mobility, corporate compliance, and workforce planning—must prepare for potential travel …

February 2025 Jury Trial Verdicts

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… To view the rest of this article, please log into your account if you’ve already purchased a subscription. If you’re already …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update April 2025

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 discretio… To view the rest of this article, please …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update April 2025

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 Ro… To view the rest of this article, please log into your account …

Federal Civil Update April 2025

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… To view the rest of this article, please log into your account …

Federal Civil Update March 2025

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… To view the rest of this article, please log into your account if …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update March 2025

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during January 2025. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of February 10, 2025.  ARBITRATION: Court reverses trial court’s failure to enforce arbitration … To view the rest of this article, please log into your account if …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update March 2025

EVIDENCE ADMISSIBILITY – BREACH OF COMPUTER SECURITY: Evidence found on defendant’s phone by defendant’s wife was inadmissible. State v. Holloway, ___ S.W.3d ___, No. 03-23-00423-CR (Tex. App.—Austin July 26, 2024, no pet.) (designated for publication). Holloway was charged with aggravated sexual assault. Evidenc… To view the rest of this article, please log into your account if you’ve already purchased a …