Androvett Holiday Card 2023
From our families (literally) to yours, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Thank you to our clients and friends for making 2023 a memorable and meaningful year!
#1 | The top Texas legal story of 2022: Texas’ abortion trigger law triggers range of responses.
In August, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling not only overturned the landmark precedent of Roe v. Wade, but also “triggered” a controversial Texas law that made performing an abortion in the state a felony punishable by up to life in prison.
Texas joins at least 12 other states with an abortion ban, with similar legislation pending in more than a dozen others. Conversely, voters have since added protections for abortion rights in California, Vermont, Michigan, Kentucky and Kansas. Judges in other states have temporarily blocked bans from taking effect in order to hear challenges against them.
https://bit.ly/3Gvi2FZ
#3 on Androvett’s Top legal stories of 2022 | Texas jurors return blockbuster verdicts.
It was a year of staggering verdicts in Texas (and elsewhere,) particularly so-called exemplary damages meant to punish civil defendants for their actions.
- Dallas jury’s $7 billion verdict in September against Charter Communications for the family of an Irving woman who was robbed and murdered by a Spectrum internet installer
- Austin jury returned a nearly $50 million defamation verdict against InfoWars and its conspiracy-slinging host Alex Jones
- $70 million verdict for 10 employees of a Dallas IT company who were subjected to a hostile work environment
https://bit.ly/3Vx4duN
#6 on our Top Texas legal stories of 2022 | The Texas culture wars continue.
The legal and political battle over gender and sexuality in Texas continued in 2022 with – most recently – the revelation Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office asked for information about Texans who changed their gender on their Texas driver licenses.
The Texas Department of Public Safety reports it was unable to fulfill the request, but news of the request still served as a chilling reminder of the legal jeopardy in which many transgendered Texans find themselves.
https://bit.ly/3Q1vN2i
#7 on Androvett’s Top Texas legal stories of 2022 | Cancer victims cry foul as ‘Texas Two-Step’ dances into national scrutiny.
Legal observers across the nation are anxiously awaiting a Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on the legitimacy of a corporate bankruptcy strategy that’s come to be known as the “Texas Two-Step.”
The case before the Philadelphia-based court involves a move by Johnson & Johnson, one of the world’s largest and most profitable corporations, to briefly incorporate its consumer products division in Texas before splitting into two separate companies to avoid litigation by complainants claiming its products caused cancer.
https://bit.ly/3vsIhX3
Androvett is breaking down Texas’ top legal stories of 2022
#10: Full throttle Waco patent court forced to pump the brakes.
Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia’s “equitable distribution” order forced the random assignment of patent cases to judges throughout the Western District, while allowing for the possible reassignment of cases “by mutual consent” of judges.
https://bit.ly/3PXG1Rb
On this Veteran’s Day, we would like to extend our sincerest thanks all who have served our country.
David Norton, head of the aviation practice at Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, is a veteran and you can hear about his time as a military pilot in a recent episode of the Keep It Legal podcast.
"Those were some of the best days of my life and led me to where I am today."
Happy Veterans Day!
*Catch the full episode anywhere you get your podcasts!
On this episode of Keep It Legal, we sat down with attorney Kenton Hutcherson to discuss a $250,000 verdict secured for a North Texas woman who was the victim of revenge porn.
Revenge porn is a form of online harassment in which nude photos and videos are distributed without consent. It is an epidemic, and unfortunately the imagery is usually accompanied by identifying information. That’s exactly what happened in this case.
Hear from the victim herself alongside Mr. Hutcherson to learn what happened in this specific case and what to do if it happens to you.
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the final judgement was issued. The final judgement was issued on June 20, 2022, with Jane Doe awarded the full amount of $250,000.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks0tJ0hUmis&t=9s
On this episode of Keep It Legal, we sat down with attorney Kenton Hutcherson to discuss a $250,000 verdict secured for a North Texas woman who was the victim of revenge porn.
Revenge porn is a form of online harassment in which nude photos and videos are distributed without consent. It is an epidemic, and unfortunately the imagery is usually accompanied by identifying information. That’s exactly what happened in this case.
Hear from the victim herself alongside Mr. Hutcherson to learn what happened in this specific case and what to do if it happens to you.
NOTE: This episode was recorded before the final judgement was issued. The final judgement has since come through, and Jane Doe was awarded the full amount of $250,000.
Martin Walker PC on Texas Opioid Settlement
ICYMI: Martin Walker PC partner Jack Walker discusses $1.85B opioid win, what it means for rural counties in Texas. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3C4UmnW
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SBSB Law and Eastham, Watson, Dale & Forney, LLP announced today they have finalized a merger that brings together two of the most highly respected law firms in the country.
The merger combines Eastham’s renowned Maritime and Catastrophic Claims practice with SBSB’s highly respected Maritime, Longshore, Defense Base Act, and Insurance Defense practices, to create a legal powerhouse. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3vUY9De
