John Council

October 13, 1999 | Law.com

Karen Hanson Messer got what she wanted: a promise that the Texas Education Agency would change its affirmative action policy and $150,000 for her legal troubles. Messer and the TEA signed a settlement that requires the agency, among other things, to "announce to all current employees that TEA does not consider race or gender for any purpose in making any TEA personnel decision." A spokeswoman for the Texas Office of the Attorney General, says the settlement will not affect other state agencies.

By John Council

4 minute read

September 30, 2011 | Corporate Counsel

President Barack Obama signed a significant patent reform bill into law on Sept. 16. But one of Texas' busiest patent judges is ahead of the game in making sure defendants don't get dragged into his federal courtroom unnecessarily.

By John Council

5 minute read

September 05, 2001 | Law.com

In an opinion that lawyers say all but shuts the door on class actions in which damages are sought for alleged civil rights violations, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to certify a class of 200 African-American employees who alleged workplace discrimination. The court found that even though the plaintiffs may have a common cause of action, their damage claims are likely to be different.

By John Council

4 minute read

May 11, 2009 | Texas Lawyer

When Howard Tygrett pulled up his stakes in Dallas and moved to Kaufman County in 1997, he left behind more than just the place he'd lived most of his life. He also moved away from a famous neighbor in his former Preston Hollow neighborhood. "In Dallas, I lived next door to Mark Cuban. I wonder whatever happened to him?" Tygrett says in jest. Tygrett's move to Terrell turned out well. He bought a 1895 Queen Anne Victorian House there, practiced a little bit of law as a solo, and ran and won the 86th District Court bench in Kaufman in 2002.

By John Council

5 minute read

January 17, 2011 | Texas Lawyer

A Dallas law firm has filed a civil suit against a former employee, seeking payment of more than $100,000 she allegedly stole from its coffers. Dallas' Owens, Clary & Aiken filed a petition in the 95th District Court, alleging that a former employee, Rena Gallagher, engaged in theft and fraud and breached her fiduciary duty when she systematically altered checks and entries in the firm's accounting records.

By John Council

6 minute read

March 12, 2007 | National Law Journal

Here's a litigation head-scratcher: Does a prevailing plaintiff ever have a right to contest the legal fees incurred by the defense? That's the unusual question pending before a Texas court. A prevailing plaintiff is suing law firm Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, which represented the defendant in the underlying insurance claim dispute, alleging the firm charged too much to defend its client, thus reducing the plaintiff's recovery due to an eroding-limits provision in the defendant's insurance policy.

By John Council

7 minute read

May 03, 2004 | Texas Lawyer

Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips, who guided the state's highest civil court through the troubling times of the late 1980s, when a TV show questioned the propriety of lawyers' high-dollar giving to justices, says he'll leave the court with a much better image when he steps down in September.

By Mary Alice Robbins and John Council

9 minute read

March 17, 2008 | The Recorder

The Cisco lawyer who anonymously blogged about Cisco cases has royally irritated the lawyers on the other side. And defamed them, if a matched pair of suits are to be believed.

By Brenda Sapino Jeffreys, John Council and Miriam Rozen

9 minute read

January 04, 2002 | Texas Lawyer

Nearly every term, justices on the Texas Supreme Court - either by writing significant opinions or through behind-the-scenes leadership - will distinguish themselves. Yet the most significant player during the 2000-2001 term was not an individual justice, but the empty seats they left behind on the high court. During the term, Alberto Gonzales left the court to become President George W. Bush`s White House counsel; Priscilla Owen was nominated by Bush to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals; Greg A

By JOHN COUNCIL

3 minute read

March 29, 2004 | Law.com

A former associate with Dallas' Jenkens & Gilchrist recently filed a discrimination suit against the firm, alleging it "constructively discharged" her because of her pregnancy � an allegation some lawyers say is on the rise in employment litigation in Texas.

By John Council

8 minute read