In Texas, a plaintiff filing a lawsuit pertaining to a construction project for damages arising out of the provision of services by licensed design professionals such as architects or engineers, must file an affidavit by a competent expert with the lawsuit supporting the claims against these professionals. Otherwise, the lawsuit will be dismissed.
This issue
Introduction. The Texas Supreme Court recently reversed another multi-million dollar business fraud verdict in Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC v. Carduco, Inc., 16-0644, 2019 WL 847845, at *1 (Tex. Feb. 22, 2019). The court found that the underlying contract between the parties negated the fraud claim.
Background. In this case, Carduco, Inc. entered into
Introduction. The Texas Supreme Court has now held that contractual limitation of liability clauses barring a party’s right to recover punitive damages are enforceable, even if one of the parties to the contract commits fraud. Bombardier Aerospace Corp. v. SPEP Aircraft Holdings, LLC, 17-0578, 2019 WL 406075, at *8 (Tex. Feb. 1, 2019)
Background
The Texas Supreme Court has finally put to rest the question of whether the implied warranty to repair or modify tangible goods or property in a good and workmanlike manner can only be brought by a consumer under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) or whether it can be brought under the common law
The equitable constructive trust. In Texas, a court acting in equity may impose a constructive trust upon property held by a party to a transaction that belongs to another. The Austin Court of Appeals recently used this remedy to impose a constructive trust upon life insurance proceeds that, under a divorce decree, should have
If the Texas recreational-use statute applies, then a landowner’s liability is limited when a guest is injured on the owner’s property while engaged in recreation. (See Chapter 75 of the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code).
In the recent case of Meredith v. Chezem , 03-18-00256-CV, 2018 WL 6425017 (Tex. App.—Austin Dec. 7, 2018,
In 2011, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) also characterized as an anti-SLAPP statute (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). “The purpose of this [Act] is to encourage and safeguard the constitutional rights of persons to petition, speak freely, associate freely, and otherwise participate in government to the maximum extent permitted
The constructive trust is a powerful weapon that plaintiffs can use against defendants who have breached their fiduciary duties or committed fraud. In one Texas case, the court of appeals actually affirmed the trial court’s award to the plaintiffs of all the assets in the business owned by the defendant who breached his fiduciary duties
Texas Corporate directors and officers owe fiduciary duties of obedience, loyalty and due care to the corporation. Gearhart Indus., Inc. v. Smith Intern., Inc., 741 F.2d 707, 719 (5th Cir. 1984); Loy v. Harter, 128 S.W.3d 397, 407 (Tex. App.—Texarkana 2004, pet. denied). In this context, directors and officers are probably most often found