John Council

September 08, 2008 | Texas Lawyer

A Houston plaintiffs lawyer, on behalf of hundreds of silica litigants, is pressing a constitutional challenge to a 2005 state law that restricts his clients from litigating claims if they suffer no physical impairments. Barbara Barron, a shareholder in Beaumont's MehaffyWeber who represents a group of silica defendants, plans to file a response to the challenge by Oct. 6.

By John Council

5 minute read

October 26, 2010 | Law.com

A Waco, Texas, woman has filed a libel suit in a U.S. District Court in Austin, alleging she fears for her life because she was misidentified as a murder witness on the A&E Network's reality series "The First 48." Dorothy Isabel alleges that a Nov. 1, 2007, episode of the show "misappropriated" her likeness, erroneously exhibited a photograph "mug shot" of her and misidentified her as "Lady," a prostitute, witness to and possible party involved with a murder.

By John Council

3 minute read

March 31, 2006 | Texas Lawyer

Texarkana's 6th Court of Appeals dismissed a mandamus petition March 22, after a prosecutor agreed to recuse himself from a death penalty case in which the defendant was his former client. The case, In Re: Christopher Lee Cobb, involved a defendant whose trial was put on hold after defense attorneys sought the recusal of Lamar County Attorney Gary D. Young.

By John Council

3 minute read

March 22, 2004 | Law.com

Of all the challenges facing Dan Hagood as he investigates how the Dallas DA's office handled the fake drug scandal two years ago, the biggest one may be time. For the past three months, Hagood � who usually makes $500 an hour as a partner in Dallas' Fitzpatrick & Hagood but now is paid $100 as a special prosecutor � has been investigating whether state charges are warranted in one of the city's worst criminal justice scandals in recent memory.

By John Council

10 minute read

October 27, 2009 | Texas Lawyer

On Oct. 26, Judge Carlos Cortez of Dallas County's 44th District Court voluntarily recused himself from hearing a wrongful-termination suit after another jurist, who is a witness in the litigation, had an "unsolicited conversation" with him regarding matters in the case.

By John Council

4 minute read

January 26, 2004 | Law.com

For two years, Charles Pickering's nomination to the 5th Circuit stalled. But then he accepted a recess appointment by President Bush. Still, the full Senate must confirm Pickering, or his appointment will end next year. Controversy over his appointment continues -- and Bush's other embattled 5th Circuit nominee, Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen, remains in limbo. Some speculate Owen, too, was offered a recess appointment.

By John Council

6 minute read

October 25, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

Judge Carole Clark took the long road to law school, which is common for people who pursue a J.D. as part of a career change. But once she started law school, Clark's living arrangement was anything but common. She lived in a 28-foot camping trailer while studying law at Baylor University. Now she is judge of the 321st District Court in Smith County.

By John Council

10 minute read

April 23, 2001 | Law.com

Most massive jury awards in Texas -- ranging from $171 million to $22 million in a Texas Lawyer study -- tended to fade after jurors issued their verdicts. Fadduol, Glasheen & Valles' Kevin Glasheen should know; he saw $44 million disappear from one of his wins. But the Lubbock lawyer says he isn't surprised by appeal courts taking a hard look at punitives. "That's what they're charged with doing."

By John Council

7 minute read

August 02, 2010 | Texas Lawyer

Texas Lawyer turned 25 on April 3. To mark our anniversary, each week the editorial department is looking back at the news we covered over the past 25 years and selecting one story to update for readers. This week, senior reporter John Council updates "Nominee Pleads Case at Rare Second Hearing," an article from the Aug. 1, 1988, issue of Texas Lawyer.

By John Council

5 minute read

February 18, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

Justices on the Texas Supreme Court, which has the authority to promulgate rules that regulate attorney conduct, will meet next week to discuss what to do next, says Justice Nathan Hecht, who serves as the court's liaison for rule making. "I think we just need to talk about: What should the next step be — leave the current rules in place for awhile, do smaller revisions? I don't know," Hecht says.

By John Council

5 minute read