John Council

December 14, 2007 | Law.com

A federal judge in Texas -- who has hired Houston criminal defense lawyer Dick DeGuerin -- met with FBI agents on Nov. 30 to discuss allegations that he sexually harassed a court employee. In September, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Council issued an order reprimanding and admonishing U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent in connection with a May complaint filed by Cathy McBroom, a former case manager for the judge. DeGuerin says Kent, on his own, "solicited the interview" with the FBI.

By John Council and Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

6 minute read

August 20, 2007 | Texas Lawyer

Last May, when a legal malpractice suit against Dallas securities attorney Phillip W. Offill Jr. and his former firm settled, the parties involved seemed happy, but that satisfaction was short-lived. Now a Dallas firm that represented plaintiff Consolidated Sports Media Group in that legal-mal case has filed its own suit against CSMG, its co-counsel and others alleging it was cut out of the deal.

By John Council

11 minute read

December 14, 2009 | Daily Business Review

A legislator's amicus brief to the Texas Supreme Court explained why the Legislature passed a tax on sexually oriented businesses.

By John Council

7 minute read

May 13, 2002 | The Legal Intelligencer

In a case of first impression, Fort Worth, Texas` 2nd Court of Appeals recently ruled that the actual malice standard - which holds news organizations liable if they publish information that is knowingly false about a public official - can be applied to works of satire some readers believe to be true. The May 2 decision in New Times Inc.v. Isaacks is a rare win for libel plaintiffs. But the case troubles media lawyers who believe the decision undermines the freedom of the press under the First Amendment - r

By John Council

6 minute read

March 15, 2002 | Texas Lawyer

After former Attorney General Dan Morales jumped into the governor`s race against billionaire businessman Tony Sanchez of Laredo, the inevitable happened at the ballot box - Democrats and Hispanic voters turned out in droves. The only aspect of the race that was uncalculated was just how badly Morales would lose this battle for the emerging Hispanic vote in Texas. Sanchez used his nearly unlimited personal wealth to get his message out and brush Morales aside, experts say.

By MARY ALICE ROBBINS and John Council

4 minute read

March 01, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

Allegations that the trial judge and a prosecutor in his 1990 trial were in a long-term intimate relationship did not win death row inmate Charles Dean Hood state habeas relief before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. But on Feb. 24, Hood did prevail in a subsequent habeas petition also filed with the CCA, this time arguing that the jury that heard his case was not fully informed about the extent of his mental retardation when it considered his punishment.

By John Council

4 minute read

April 09, 2007 | Law.com

Just as two well-known Dallas firms close their doors and the city is flush with lawyers looking for work, Chicago-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal has announced it's opening an office there. The 700-attorney firm had been considering for years the idea of moving into Texas to focus on high-end corporate litigation related to intellectual property, ERISA, health care and government enforcement actions, but it hadn't found the right lawyers to open an office, says firm Chairman Elliott I. Portnoy.

By John Council

5 minute read

December 13, 2004 | Law.com

At first, it may be hard to believe a government hospital made a federal case out of a little lapel pin. But that's exactly what a Texas hospital district did after a worker wore a button reading "Union Yes." Now the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the district violated the worker's First Amendment right to free speech. The case over the little button is the kind of dispute that may catch the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court, says an expert in appellate law.

By John Council

7 minute read

March 14, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

The Texas Supreme Court long has been conflicted about what constitutes an adequate medical-malpractice expert report — a document state law requires plaintiffs to file in a trial court shortly after suing a doctor. A recent decision reveals deep disagreement on the court about whether to grant time extensions to plaintiffs who file deficient expert reports. Justice David Medina (pictured) wrote the court's plurality opinion.

By John Council

8 minute read

June 27, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

Three family members of a man killed in a helicopter crash have sued two trial lawyers who represented them in a wrongful-death case, as well as a former judge who presided over that suit. The plaintiffs filed Alicia Sanchez, et al. v. Rosenthal & Watson, et al. after one of their trial lawyers in the underlying wrongful-death suit, Jose Santiago "Jim" Solis, and Judge Abel Limas each entered guilty pleas in federal court.

By John Council

5 minute read