Insight & Commentary on Texas Appellate Law
The Dallas Court of Appeals recently held that CPRC 12.002 prohibiting use of a fraudulent court record or lien requires evidence of intent to cause harm at the time of filing the alleged fraudulent record or lien.
In this case, the Plaintiff argued that Defendant’s (an attorney) knowledge of lien law satisfied the knowledge element; and "common knowledge" that…
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider the case of Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Company, involving a judicial recusal in West Virginia where judges are elected. The precise question presented is "whether Justice Benjamin’s failure to recuse himself from participation in his principal financial supporter’s case violated the Due Process Clause of …
Cleantech filed a suit on sworn account on July 10, 2007, against Eugene Owens. On August 13, 2007, Mr. Owens handwrote and signed a letter to the court that stated "Please be advised I am employing an attorney for case number 07-1267-336." Mr. Owens included his address on the letter, but he did not include a…
The Fort Worth Court of Appeals issued a couple of opinions in Young v. Thota addressing an alleged jury charge error. In this medical negligence case, the alleged charge error relates to whether the trial court should have submitted an issue asking whether the plaintiff was contributorily negligent or whether the plaintiff’s acts raised mitigation of damages questions. The majority concludes that it…
In an otherwise lengthy opinion, the Fort Worth Court of Appeals provided a reminder to civil practitioners regarding the difference between failure of consideration and lack of consideration. The Court noted:
[L]ack of consideration refers to a contract that lacks mutuality of obligation. Failure of consideration, however, occurs when, due to a supervening cause after
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With its opinion in In re Butler, the Dallas Court of Appeals reminds us that there has been an important change to mandamus procedure. Appellate Rule 52.3 was amended effective September 1, 2008, and now requires a certification by the person filing the petition for writ of mandamus that he or she has reviewed…
The Amarillo Court of Appeals recently confronted an issue not addressed by the appellate rules. While Rule 38.8(a) applies in the event the appellant fails to file a brief, the rules are silent with respect to an appellee’s failure to do so. The Court weighed its options:
Appellees’ failure to file a brief leaves this
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Here’s an interesting factoid you can make use of to amaze and astound your opposing counsel. The Best Evidence Rule, Texas Rule of Evidence 1002, applies only when the the originals are located in Texas. It’s true. It surprised me too.
Kerlin v. Arias, a per curiam opinion issued by the Texas Supreme Court…
Following rendition of a final, appealable judgment, does a notice of appeal have to name all preceeding interlocutory orders as a prerequisite to complaining of those orders? Apparently not. This has been a question of concern for many appellate practitioners and it’s a question that’s been percolating around in the courts of appeals. We now…
The Corpus Christi Court of Appeals recently held that a respondent is entitled to notice and an evidentiary hearing before having its counsel disqualified. First, the court determined it had jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus against a presiding judge of a administrative judicial district because the judge was acting in the capacity of…
