District & County Court Trial Verdicts December 2024/January 2025

Editor’s Note: The monthly jury trial verdicts update is first published through Bar Code and the Austin Bar app. Download the app today on either the App Store or the Google Play Store. CIVIL/FAMILY 5005 SSR LLC v. Laszlo Herczeg Cause No: D-1-GN-19-002982 Judge: Daniella Desetta Lyttle, 261st Civil District Cour… To view the rest of this article, please log …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update December 2024/January 2025

The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from May 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of November 5, 2024. EVIDENCE ADMISSIBILITY — Prior abuse allegations and testimony as to truthfulness. Trial court did not abuse its discretion by prohibiting cross-examination …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update December 2024/January 2025

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during October 2024. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of November 11, 2024.  FAMILY LAW: Court affirms modification ordering child support.  Doyle v. Doyle, No. 03-22-00691-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Oct. 11, 2024, no pet. h.) (mem. op.). …

Federal Civil Update December 2024/January 2025

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in October 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. TAX: Ordering taxable articles to be shipped to the United States for resale makes one an “importer” under the Internal Revenue Code. Tex. Truck Parts & Tire, Inc. v. …

AYLA Member Spotlight: Alan Lin

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice. I am an Associate at Cornell Smith Mierl Brutocao Burton, LLP, where I practice management-side labor and employment law. My practice encompasses all facets, including litigation, advising, and disputes before government agencies. I grew up in Austin and had the great opportunity to return to Austin after graduating from …

AYLA Produces Videos for Non-Lawyers to Pick Juries

AYLA recently completed production on its series of tutorial videos meant to educate members of the public on how to pick juries without a lawyer in justice of the peace and municipal courts. See the YouTube playlist here. These videos were made possible by a grant from the Texas Bar Foundation and with the help of Judge Sylvia Holmes, Justice …

AYLA Health & Wellness Committee Hosts RIDE Cycle Class

On Saturday, November 16, the AYLA Health & Wellness Committee organized a cycle class at RIDE Downtown. The class was an awesome opportunity for Austin attorneys to unwind and get to know each other outside of the office or courtroom. The Health & Wellness Committee is focused on facilitating lawyer well-being through regular activities like group exercise. Huge thanks to …

Meet the Austin Bar Foundation Gala Award Winners

David Armbrust, Denise Davis, and Thomas R. Phillips have been named the Austin Bar’s 2025 Distinguished Lawyers, and Austin Kaplan has been named the recipient of the David H. Walter Community Excellence Award. These individuals will be honored at the 2025 Austin Bar Foundation Gala on Jan. 25, 2025. Tickets and sponsorships are now available. Distinguished Lawyers David Armbrust Armbrust …

Austin Bar Members Support Important Missions in Two Fall Events

Thank you to everyone who donated and/or came out to support equal access to justice in Central Texas and lawyer well-being on Saturday, Oct. 26! We had two big events that day: One was the Pro Bono Fall Festival, held in conjunction with the Mother Attorney Mentors of Austin (MAMAs) to raise funds for Volunteer Legal Services (VLS) of Central …

Depression Lies

This is what I know: Depression lies. Depression will tell you that you aren’t successful, that you don’t deserve what you have. That you aren’t a good partner, parent, child, or friend. Depression holds you hostage. It isolates you and warps your reality. It distances you from those who love you and whispers words of shame, doubt, and derision. It …