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Access over workers' compensation decisions, including En Banc, Significant Panel Decisions, and writ-denied cases.

Case No. 05-17-00423-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Dec 31, 2018

Linda Dickens and Dickens Law, LLC v. Jason C. Webster, P.C. D/B/A the Webster Law Firm and Jason Webster

This case concerns a dispute between two lawyers, Linda Dickens and Jason C. Webster, over an alleged contingency fee sharing agreement in a wrongful death case. Webster sought a declaration that the agreement was unenforceable under Texas law, while Dickens counterclaimed for tortious interference and breach of contract, arguing Kansas law should apply. The trial court dismissed Dickens’s tortious interference claim under the TCPA and granted summary judgment to Webster. On appeal, the court reversed the dismissal of Dickens's tortious interference claim, finding sufficient evidence, but affirmed that Texas law applies and the fee sharing agreement is unenforceable due to a lack of written client consent as required by Texas Disciplinary Rules. The case is remanded for further proceedings on the tortious interference claim.

Fee Sharing AgreementTortious InterferenceTexas Citizens Participation ActCommercial Speech ExemptionChoice of LawProfessional Conduct RulesContingency FeesLegal EthicsSummary JudgmentAppellate Review
References
40
Case No. 15-24-00116-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 12, 2025

Arnulfo Cortez, Jr.; Homero R. Balderas, Brian D. Nipper, Mark F. Van Rosendael and Bryan K. Hugghins v. Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; Gregory Stevens in His Capacity as Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And John Beauchamp, in His Official Capacity as Counsel for Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; And T.J. Vineyard, in His Official Capacity as Major for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Appellants have neither identified a waiver of the Appellees’ sovereign immunity nor pled a cause of action to confer subject matter jurisdiction on the Court. Sovereign immunity protects state agencies and officers unless there is a clear waiver. Appellants' claims for judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) are barred as administrative remedies were not exhausted, and they are not aggrieved by a final contested case decision. Similarly, claims under the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (UDJA) fail to waive sovereign immunity and seek impermissible relief challenging an unripe agency order. Appellants' ultra vires claims and mandamus requests are also barred because Appellees acted within their statutory authority in taking disciplinary actions and issuing a warning, and no ministerial duty to grant SOAH hearings for all Appellants exists. Therefore, the trial court properly granted Appellees’ plea to the jurisdiction.

Sovereign ImmunitySubject Matter JurisdictionAdministrative Procedure Act (APA)Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act (UDJA)Ultra Vires ClaimsMandamus ReliefPeace Officer LicensureLaw Enforcement DisciplineTexas Courts of AppealsJudicial Review
References
38
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Claim of Spyhalsky v. Cross Construction

This case of first impression examines whether Workers' Compensation Law § 13 (a) mandates a workers’ compensation carrier to cover sperm extraction and intrauterine insemination for an injured worker who cannot procreate due to a causally related injury. The claimant sustained a work-related back injury in 1995, leading to surgery and consequential retrograde ejaculation. When conservative treatments failed, his urologists recommended artificial insemination to achieve pregnancy. The Workers’ Compensation Board authorized these procedures, ruling that the inability to naturally father a child constituted a compensable injury requiring treatment. The court affirmed this decision, emphasizing a liberal interpretation of the Workers' Compensation Law to meet its humanitarian objectives and asserting that coverage for restoring lost bodily functions extends to procreative capabilities.

Workers' Compensation LawMedical Treatment CoverageRetrograde EjaculationIntrauterine InseminationProcreation RightsCompensable InjuryBodily Function LossStatutory InterpretationSperm ExtractionMedical Necessity
References
14
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision

Mayor of New York v. Council of New York

This dissenting opinion argues against the majority's decision upholding New York City Local Laws 18 and 19 (2001), which unilaterally expanded the definition of uniformed services employees to alter the scope of collective bargaining. Judge Read contends that these local laws are preempted by the statewide Taylor Law, which grants the Mayor exclusive authority over negotiating with municipal unions. The dissent highlights the historical context of New York City's collective bargaining system, established through a tripartite agreement in 1966 and subsequently codified, emphasizing that changes to this scope were traditionally negotiated, not legislated by the City Council. The opinion asserts that the Council's actions infringe upon the Mayor's management rights and exceed its legislative authority under Civil Service Law § 212, which only permits local legislation in specific areas like representation status or impasse procedures. Judge Read warns that the decision destabilizes long-settled labor relations and allows the Council to act as an unauthorized negotiator.

Taylor LawCollective BargainingPublic Sector Labor RelationsLocal Law PreemptionNew York City Administrative CodeMunicipal UnionsCivil Service LawExecutive OrdersLegislative AuthorityManagement Rights
References
2
Case No. 01 Civ. 6600(RLC)
Regular Panel Decision

Internet Law Library, Inc. v. Southridge Capital Management, LLC

Internet Law Library, Inc. and Hunter M.A. Carr (Internet Law) moved to consolidate two separate legal actions and sought designation as the plaintiff in the combined litigation. Cootes Drive LLC and other entities (Cootes Drive) opposed Internet Law's plaintiff designation but did not object to consolidation itself. The first action, initiated by Internet Law in Texas, alleged securities law violations and fraud by Cootes Drive regarding a Stock Purchase Agreement. The second action, filed by Cootes Drive in New York, accused Internet Law of breaching the same agreement and committing fraud. The Texas court subsequently transferred Internet Law's action to New York for potential consolidation. The court, finding common legal and factual questions and minimal risks of confusion or prejudice, granted the consolidation. Additionally, the court designated Internet Law as the plaintiff and *sua sponte* consolidated a third related case, *Brewer, et al. v. Southridge Capital Management LLC, et al.*

Consolidation of actionsRule 42(a) F.R. Civ. P.Realignment of partiesCompulsory counterclaimForum shoppingFirst-to-file ruleStock Purchase AgreementSecurities fraudBreach of contractJudicial economy
References
27
Case No. 13-01-00119-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 06, 2002

McAllen Police Officer's Union and the City of McAllen, Texas v. Ricardo Tamez, Individually and as President of the McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association, and McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association

The City of McAllen and the McAllen Police Officers Union (appellants) appealed a district court order compelling an election to determine the exclusive bargaining agent for the city's police officers. The Thirteenth District Court of Appeals in Texas reversed the trial court's decision. The appellate court held that selection by petition is a proper method for designating a bargaining agent and found no evidence of coercion in the petition's circulation. It further concluded that the appellees, Ricardo Tamez and the McAllen Professional Law Enforcement Association, failed to provide 'substantial support' to warrant an election, thus denying their requests for a declaratory judgment and a writ of mandamus.

Collective BargainingPolice UnionLabor LawElectionPetitionSupervisor InfluenceMajority RepresentationTexas Local Government CodeNational Labor Relations ActAppellate Review
References
26
Case No. MISSING
Regular Panel Decision
Apr 20, 2012

Sulak v. American Eurocopter Corp.

This order addresses a motion to apply Hawaii law in a case stemming from a helicopter crash in Hawaii that killed pilot William J. Sulak and injured others. Sulak's family, the Sulaks, sued Eurocopter, S.A.S. for negligence, product liability, and failure to warn. The core issue for the court, presided over by Judge Terry R. Means, is to determine whether Texas or Hawaii law governs various aspects of the dispute, applying Texas's choice-of-law rules and the Second Restatement of Conflict of Laws. The court ruled that procedural and evidentiary matters, such as the admissibility of subsequent remedial measures, impleader rules, expert testimony requirements, and the necessity of proving a safer alternative design, fall under Texas law as the forum state. However, on substantive issues related to damages, specifically joint-and-several liability and comparative fault, the court concluded that Hawaii law applies, given Hawaii's most significant relationship to the occurrence and the parties involved in those specific issues.

Conflict of LawsChoice of LawProduct LiabilityWrongful DeathFederal Diversity JurisdictionRestatement (Second) Conflict of LawsJoint and Several LiabilityComparative NegligenceEvidentiary RulesProcedural Law
References
49
Case No. 03-97-00478-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Feb 04, 1999

A. James Lynn v. Board of Law Examiners of the State of Texas

A. James Lynn appealed from a trial court judgment that affirmed an order by the Board of Law Examiners of the State of Texas. The Board found that Lynn did not possess the good moral character required for admission to the Bar of Texas, citing his engagement in the unauthorized practice of law, a public reprimand from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, and violations of HUD regulations. The Travis County District Court affirmed the Board's order. On appeal, Lynn raised ten issues, including claims regarding the lack of substantial evidence, rational connection of character traits, constitutionality of the unauthorized practice of law statute, res judicata, right to a jury trial, and due process. The Court of Appeals, Third District, at Austin, overruled all of Lynn's issues, finding that substantial evidence supported the Board's findings and that there was a clear and rational connection between Lynn's character traits and his fitness to practice law. The court affirmed the trial court's judgment.

Bar AdmissionMoral CharacterUnauthorized Practice of LawProfessional MisconductCertified Public AccountantHUD RegulationsAppellate ReviewSubstantial EvidenceDue ProcessRes Judicata
References
18
Case No. 15-24-00097-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Aug 27, 2024

Randall Law v. Texas Department of Insurance – Division of Workers' Compensation Subsequent Injury Fund, Jeff Nelson, Kara MacE, and Blaise Gerstenlauer

Appellant Randal Law, a catastrophically injured worker receiving lifetime income benefits from the Subsequent Injury Fund, appeals a decision from the 353rd Civil District Court of Travis County, Texas. The District Court granted the defendants' Plea to the Jurisdiction, dismissing Law's claims without prejudice. Law argues that manager Blaise Gerstenlauer acted with "Severe Ultra Vires conduct" by unilaterally interrupting his lifetime income benefits, which are protected by the Texas Labor Code from legal process and are paid until the employee's death. Law contends that this ultra vires act bypasses sovereign immunity, allowing his case to proceed in the Texas Judicial Review System. The brief requests the Fifteenth Court of Appeals to reverse the lower court's order and grant jurisdiction to Law.

Workers' CompensationLifetime Income BenefitsSubsequent Injury FundUltra Vires ActSovereign ImmunityPlea to JurisdictionAppellate CourtInjunctive ReliefCatastrophic InjuryTexas Labor Code
References
2
Case No. 14-09-00635-CV
Regular Panel Decision
Jun 16, 2011

Xenos Yuen, Siegel Yuen & Honore, PLLC, Law Office of Xenos Yuen, PC v. James Gerson

This case involves an appeal by Xenos Yuen, Siegel, Yuen & Honore, PLLC, and Law Office of Xenos Yuen, P.C. (appellants) against James Gerson (appellee). The appellants challenged a judgment ordering them to pay $25,000 to Gerson as sanctions. The trial court had sanctioned the appellants under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 13, Chapters 9 and 10 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and section 17.50(c) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code. The appellate court found the evidence legally insufficient to support sanctions under Rule 13 and Chapters 9 and 10 because the appellants did not sign the objectionable pleadings and lacked jurisdiction for sanctions under section 17.50(c) due to improper service. Consequently, the appellate court reversed the portion of the judgment awarding $25,000 and court costs against the appellants and denied Gerson's motion for sanctions.

SanctionsAttorney MisconductFrivolous ClaimsTexas Civil Practice and Remedies CodeBusiness and Commerce CodeTexas Rule of Civil Procedure 13JurisdictionLegal SufficiencyAbuse of DiscretionAppellate Review
References
18
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