Vehicle accidents involving large commercial trucks can cause catastrophic amounts of damage, and trucking companies have an obligation to take appropriate measures toward minimizing the risk of such accidents. The National Safety Council reports the involvement of...
Firm News
Civil Liability for Livestock on Highways
Historically, Texas has rejected the English common-law rule, which imposes a duty on livestock owners to restrain their animals. However, the Texas Constitution explicitly authorized the Legislature to deviate from this rule should they choose. Tex. Const. Art. XVI...
Errata Sheet Considerations
During depositions there are many things that can go awry in the process, the most significant of which can be your client making a mistake or providing inaccurate testimony. What can you do? What remedies should you pursue, if any? You can cross examine your witness...
Compelling a Witness’s Appearance at an Oral Deposition and Rule 199.3’s substitute notice process
Under Rule 199.3 of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, a subpoena is generally required to compel a witness to attend an oral deposition. However, when a “witness is a party or is retained by, employed by, or otherwise subject to the control of a party…service of the...
Ambiguity in Arbitration Agreements
Ambiguity and Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements The Texas Supreme Court concluded in a per curiam ruling on March 18, 2022, that three provisions in a written contract between a gentlemen's club and a deceased employee are not so ambiguous as to render the...
What I Have Learned While Working at The Bassett Firm – Michael J. Noordsy
I walked into The Bassett Firm (“TBF”) on 10.31.05 for my first day of work. Little did I know then how profoundly my life as an attorney, as well as, person, father, and friend would change. I have said this time and time again - this is the hardest (yet, most...
Open and Obvious Conditions under Chapter 95 by Robert L. McGee, Jr. and Jane Mullis
In a recent judgment, the Texas Supreme Court addressed the applicability of Chapter 95 in an electrocution-injury lawsuit. The question in this case is whether a property owner has an obligation under Chapter 95 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to notify...
Positivity in 2022
2022 is officially here and I’m not going to lie, it’s starting to feel like deja-vu all over again. The holidays came and went, and while I would have normally looked forward to catching up with my Team about their holidays over one of our Friday office breakfasts,...
When Does Chapter 95 Apply and What Constitutes an “Improvement”?
Recently, the Supreme Court of Texas issued an opinion addressing the applicability of Chapter 95 in an electrocution-injury case. The case involved a property owner's liability for injuries sustained by its contractor's employees while they were working on the...
Loss of Consortium Claims
Loss of consortium is a type of damage claim that may be brought during personal injury actions – most often by the spouse of the person injured by a tortfeasor. Under such circumstances, “consortium” means the mutual right of the spouses to that affection, solace,...