Interpretation is in the Eye of the Beholder
For decades, Texas courts have been stymied by the issue of deed construction, particularly in the context of mineral conveyances. With the development of the Eagle Ford Shale, there has been an increase in disputes where the central issue is the effect of a deed. This trend is likely to continue with the ongoing development […]
New HSR Thresholds for 2014
Based upon changes in the gross national product, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced the annual revisions to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act (the HSR Act) thresholds which apply to any transaction closing on or after February 24, 2014. Revisions to thresholds are more particularly described as follows: A. Size of Person threshold satisfaction […]
Branscomb Adds Attorneys, Space To Expand Regional Water, Real Estate and Litigation Practices
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (February 7, 2014) – Attorneys Rhonda Jolley, Grady Jolley, Jessica Mann and Carly Hawthorne have joined Branscomb Law, bolstering the South Texas regional law firm’s existing real estate and litigation groups and bringing the firm an active water law practice. Rhonda Jolley and Grady Jolley join the now 29-lawyer Branscomb as shareholders in its […]
Hot Topics in Estate Planning
A quick recap of some hot topics in the estate planning world this year: Portability is here to stay. Portability, as the name suggests, enables the porting of a married decedent’s unused estate and gift tax credit to the surviving spouse. In the past, this required a credit-shelter or bypass trust. Portability can therefore add […]
Three Clauses Every Texas Industrial Contractor Should Negotiate For
Almost every industrial service contractor has had the experience of trying to collect from a difficult customer on an invoice. Sometimes these issues can be predicted before the project, but often they cannot. Once the dispute arises, it’s too late to add helpful terms to the deal, so the time for a contractor to protect […]
Destination Bayfront
In less than a month (November 5, with early voting October 21—November 1), the citizens of Corpus Christi in a special bond election will be asked to approve the City’s financial contribution to Destination Bayfront, an ambitions public-private plan to dramatically upgrade a 34 acre area along Corpus Christi Bay just south of downtown. The […]
Texas Supreme Court Creates a New Way to Stop Baseless Litigation Immediately
Many times our clients are sued in Texas state court with no legal basis. Then, they spend months and thousands of dollars of legal fees defending the case before a motion for summary judgment can be filed and the case can be thrown out. Now, defendants have a new option to do this immediately after […]
Arguable Property of the Bankruptcy Estate
Most creditors realize that when a debtor files a case under the Bankruptcy Code the creditor must cease all collection activity, whether that activity is directed against the debtor or against property of the bankruptcy estate. The bankruptcy estate includes all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property, wherever located, and by whomever […]
Ramification of Supreme Court definition of supervisor for Title VII
Recently, in Vance v. Ball State Univ. the Supreme Court settled the issue as to who is supervisor for Title VII discrimination claims. For purposes of imputing liability on an employer under Title VII, a supervisor is someone who has the authority to take tangible employment action against the employee, e.g., hire, fire, demote, promote, […]
New Rules Make It Even Easier To Represent Yourself In JP Court
After August 31, 2013, new rules will go into effect that will make it even easier to represent yourself or your business in a Justice of the Peace Court. JP Courts typically hear civil cases that involve suits to collect on a debt, breach of contract cases, credit card debt cases, and landlord tenant issues. […]
