Designated for publication Smith, J. (Smith, Graves, Wilson); Graves, J., dubitante; § 1983, amendment Affirming denial of untimely motion to amend, where § 1983 plaintiff failed to adequately explain the justification for his untimeliness. Judge Graves filed a dubitante opinion. “I agree that Banks failed to give an adequate excuse for his failure to diligently … More June 26, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Southwick, J. (Richman, Southwick, Oldham), election law, sovereign immunity Reversing district court’s denial of District Attorney’s motion to dismiss constitutional claims of voters and others challenging recent amendments to Texas election laws, holding that District Attorney is entitled to sovereign immunity; vacating denial of motion to dismiss for lack of standing; and … More June 20-21, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Stewart, J. (Stewart, Duncan, Engelhardt), attorney-client privilege Reversing order compelling depositions and production related to law firm reports prepared for public university arising from alleged incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and racial discrimination, and remanding for further proceedings. Court held that it had jurisdiction over the appeal of the court’s discovery … More June 17-18, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication per curiam (Richman, Higginbotham, Willett), Richman, C.J., dissenting in part; securities law, fraud, breach of contract Affirming summary judgment dismissal of extracontractual and Texas Securities Act fraud claims; but reversing summary judgment on federal securities law and Delaware common law fraud claims; and remanding for further proceedings. Claims arose from an agreement … More May 23-29, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Jones, J. (Jones, Stewart, Duncan), breach of contract, fraudulent inducement Reversing judgment and $1.6 billion in combined compensatory and punitive damages in favor of plaintiff on breach of contract and fraudulent inducement claims, holding that liability determination was in error. The Court held that IBM’s actions in replacing BMC mainframe software on … More April 30, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Oldham, J. (Dennis, Engelhardt, Oldham), Dennis, J., dissenting; bankruptcy Vacating bankruptcy court’s award of $239,655 in compensatory damages on civil contempt award, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court held that the bankruptcy court’s limited contempt power–limited to civil contempt–meant that it may only shift fees that are compensatory for actual expenses … More April 4, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Willett, J. (Willett, Wilson, Ramirez), breach of contract Affirming summary judgment in favor of defendant on plaintiff’s breach of contract and fraud claims arising from alleged breach of supplier-exclusivity agreement between defendant and plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest. The Court held that the plaintiff’s breach of contract claim was time-barred on its face, and that … More April 3, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Elrod, J. (joined by Richman, Jones, Smith, Stewart, Haynes, Higginson, Willett, Ho, Duncan, Engelhardt, Oldham, Douglas, Ramirez, JJ.) (Judges Southwick, Graves, and Wilson recused); Dennis, J., concurring in judgment only (joined by Higginson, Ramirez, JJ.); Ho, J., concurring (joined by Stewart, Elrod, Higginson, Ramirez, JJ.); mootness, appellate jurisdiction, standing In en banc … More April 1-2, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Clement, J. (Clement, Engelhardt, Oldham), prisoner suit Vacating dismissal of Texas state prisoner’s Eighth Amendment claim based on chronic sleep deprivation, where prison’s schedule only allowed three and a half hours of interrupted sleep, and remanding for further proceedings. The Court held that the district court applied the wrong standard when it … More March 22, 2024, opinions
Designated for publication Smith, J. (Higginbotham, Smith, Higginson), appellate jurisdiction Dismissing appeal of denial of motion for declaratory judgment as procedurally improper, holding that, as a matter of first impression, the Court does not have jurisdiction “to review a procedurally improper motion denied as such.” As part of consent settlement of an SEC enforcement action, … More March 19, 2024, opinions
