Featured image for “UT Study Finds Hospital Systems Can Artificially Inflate Prices”
Nov. 01, 2023

UT Study Finds Hospital Systems Can Artificially Inflate Prices

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin found that a hospital system with a single IT platform can easily collude with rival hospital systems to keep prices above competitive levels. In the study, McCombs School of Business Associate Professor Hüseyin Tanriverdi found that a hospital system with a single IT platform: A hospital system with a single IT platform
Featured image for “Austin Bar President’s Column: Don’t Forget to Have a Little Fun”
Oct. 02, 2023

Austin Bar President’s Column: Don’t Forget to Have a Little Fun

As adults, we often forget the simplicity of the “before” times. Before the job, the family, and the dreaded smartphone, we all allowed ourselves to have a little fun. I recently came across a book that explores the concept of fun and why it’s a necessary part of the human experience, The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again.
Featured image for “Readability of Briefs: Two Empirical Studies”
Oct. 02, 2023

Readability of Briefs: Two Empirical Studies

This column discusses two studies of appellate-brief writing that reached different conclusions and call for different explanations. The first study scored nearly every brief submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1969 to 2004 using four readability-assessment tools, two of which are described here. The Flesch Reading Ease Scale uses sentence and word length to assess readability and assigns a
Featured image for “Federal Civil Update October 2023”
Oct. 02, 2023

Federal Civil Update October 2023

The following are summaries of opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in August 2023. The summaries are overviews of particular aspects of the opinions; please review the entire opinions. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW: Petitioners did not need to be “aggrieved parties” to challenge grant of license as ultra vires; Nuclear Regulatory Commission lacked authority to license private storage of nuclear waste. Texas v.
Featured image for “Third Court of Appeals Civil Update October 2023”
Oct. 02, 2023

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update October 2023

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during August 2023. The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions. Subsequent histories are current as of September 11, 2023. FAMILY LAW: Court reverses appellate fees awarded after conclusion of the appeal. Morris v. Veilleux, No. 03-22-00178-CV (Tex. App.—Austin Aug. 25, 2023, no pet.
Featured image for “Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update October 2023”
Oct. 02, 2023

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update October 2023

The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from April 2023.  The summaries are overviews; please review the entire opinions.  The subsequent history is current as of Sept. 5, 2023. EVIDENTIARY SUFFICIENCY – DRUG POSSESSION: Evidence was sufficient to prove that defendant possessed methamphetamine. Sumrall v. State, No. 03-21-00402-CR (Tex. App.—Austin Apr. 6,
Featured image for “Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 3”
Oct. 02, 2023

Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 3

This is the third in a series of eight articles about the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project. The Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project delivered its recommendations to the Travis County Commissioners in March 2023. The goal of these recommendations is to provide solutions other than jail to address mental health and substance abuse disorders in the county. Recommendation
Featured image for “Austin Bar Members Give Oral Arguments to SCOTX”
Oct. 02, 2023

Austin Bar Members Give Oral Arguments to SCOTX

The Supreme Court of Texas convened for the first time in six months the week of Sept. 11, 2023, and heard oral arguments from several Austin Bar members. In the Interest of R.R.A., H.G.A., H.B.A., Children, Bill Davis of the Office of the Attorney General argued for the petitioner, the Department of Family and Protective Services. The department sought to
Featured image for “Lora Livingston Elected Texas ABA Delegate”
Oct. 02, 2023

Lora Livingston Elected Texas ABA Delegate

Judge Lora Livingston will serve as Texas’ delegate in the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates. The House of Delegates is the ABA’s policy-making body responsible for the election of ABA officers and members of the Board of Governors. Livingston was elected the successor of Dallas attorney Kim J. Askew, who was term limited. Livingston is eligible to serve up
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Oct. 02, 2023

New Laws of Interest

District Judges’ and Felony Prosecutors’ Compensation Senate Bill 2310 establishes a third salary tier for certain prosecutors who have been in office more than 12 years. If a state prosecuting attorney or state prosecutor has been in office for more than 12 years, he/she is entitled to receive a salary equal to the salary paid to a district judge with
Featured image for “UT Study Finds Hospital Systems Can Artificially Inflate Prices”
Nov. 01, 2023

UT Study Finds Hospital Systems Can Artificially Inflate Prices

Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin found that a hospital system with a single IT platform can easily…
Featured image for “Austin Bar President’s Column: Don’t Forget to Have a Little Fun”
Oct. 02, 2023

Austin Bar President’s Column: Don’t Forget to Have a Little Fun

As adults, we often forget the simplicity of the “before” times. Before the job, the family, and the dreaded smartphone,…
Featured image for “Readability of Briefs: Two Empirical Studies”
Oct. 02, 2023

Readability of Briefs: Two Empirical Studies

This column discusses two studies of appellate-brief writing that reached different conclusions and call for different explanations. The first study…
Featured image for “Federal Civil Update October 2023”
Oct. 02, 2023

Federal Civil Update October 2023

The following are summaries of opinions issued by the Fifth Circuit in August 2023. The summaries are overviews of particular…
Featured image for “Third Court of Appeals Civil Update October 2023”
Oct. 02, 2023

Third Court of Appeals Civil Update October 2023

The following are summaries of selected civil opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals during August 2023. The summaries…
Featured image for “Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update October 2023”
Oct. 02, 2023

Third Court of Appeals Criminal Update October 2023

The following are summaries of selected criminal opinions issued by the Third Court of Appeals from April 2023.  The summaries…
Featured image for “Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 3”
Oct. 02, 2023

Decriminalizing Mental Health in Travis County: Part 3

This is the third in a series of eight articles about the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project. The Travis…
Featured image for “Austin Bar Members Give Oral Arguments to SCOTX”
Oct. 02, 2023

Austin Bar Members Give Oral Arguments to SCOTX

The Supreme Court of Texas convened for the first time in six months the week of Sept. 11, 2023, and…
Featured image for “Lora Livingston Elected Texas ABA Delegate”
Oct. 02, 2023

Lora Livingston Elected Texas ABA Delegate

Judge Lora Livingston will serve as Texas’ delegate in the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates. The House of Delegates…
Featured image for “New Laws of Interest”
Oct. 02, 2023

New Laws of Interest

District Judges’ and Felony Prosecutors’ Compensation Senate Bill 2310 establishes a third salary tier for certain prosecutors who have been…