Creating Space for Young Attorneys to Speak and Share Their Expertise

At the AYLA board retreat in early August, AYLA President Emily Morris expressed that one of her goals this year is inclusion and prioritizing CLEs for AYLA members. With that end goal in mind, AYLA is intentionally recruiting young lawyers interested in speaking on their area of expertise on our panels and as CLE presenters.  Including young lawyers in presentations …

AYLA’s Annual Evening with the Judiciary

The Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) held its annual Evening with the Judiciary at Chateau Bellevue on Thursday, Sept. 26. For more than 20 years, this reception has been a signature event where AYLA members have the opportunity to share an evening of food and conversation with local, state, and federal judges.  We also thank our generous and loyal sponsors …

Federal Civil Update November 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in September 2024. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Department of Labor’s minimum salary requirement did not exceed its delegated power to interpret the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “White Collar Exemption.” Mayfield v. United States Department …

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update November 2024

The following is a summary of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from April 2024. The summary is an overview; please review the entire opinions. The subsequent history is current as of October 3, 2024. EVIDENTIARY SUFFICIENCY – Proving Defendant’s Identity in Probation-Revocation Proceedings. Evidence was sufficient to prove that Defendant who violated probation was the …

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update November 2024

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during September 2024. The summaries are an overview; please review the entire opinion. Subsequent histories are current as of October 9, 2024. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Court affirms where party fails to rebut presumption of sufficient notice of a hearing. St. George Affordable Auto, LLC d/b/a Skyline …

Texas Supreme Court Update November 2024

The following are summaries of selected opinions issued by the Texas Supreme Court in September 2024. These summaries are prepared by court staff as a courtesy and are not a substitute for the actual opinions. The summaries are overviews of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Administrative Procedure Act  Tex. Dep’t of State Health Servs. v. Kensington …

District & County Court Trial Verdicts November 2024

Editor’s Note: The monthly jury trial verdicts update is first published through Bar Code and the Austin Bar app. Download the app today on either the App Store or the Google Play Store. CIVIL Robert Lindsay Duncan and Molly Duncan v. Estate of Cheryl Wheeler Sanders and Estate of Robert Reed Sanders Cause No: D-1-GN-16-002071 Judge: Amy Clark Meachum, 201st Civil …

Austin Bar Members Deliver Oral Arguments to SCOTX

The Supreme Court of Texas convened Oct. 1-3, 2024, and heard oral arguments from several Austin Bar members. Bertucci v. Watkins Procedure-Appellate – Waiver Steven A. Fleckman  Munck Wilson Mandala  for Petitioner Elizabeth G. “Heidi” Bloch  Greenberg Traurig  for Respondent/Cross-petitioner These cross-petitions raise issues of briefing waiver and whether fiduciary duties are owed among business partners. Bertucci and Watkins founded several …

Austin Bar Celebrates Our Veteran Attorneys

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the Austin Bar wishes to thank all of our veteran members.  Dominic Castillo U.S. Air Force Veteran Dominic Castillo served in the U.S. Air Force as an Airman First Class from 2000 to 2002, where he specialized as a munitions systems apprentice focusing on precision guidance munitions. During his service, he earned the National Defense …