A defendant may object to a lawsuit based on its merits which include the facts and evidence at issue. In addition, defendants may make a dilatory plea, one that delays or ends the action based on procedural issues. For example, a plea in suspension provides information which warrants a pause of the proceedings, while a plea in abatement objects to the place or manner of the lawsuit.
Month: May 2021
Special Exceptions as Part of the Texas Answer
A defendant uses special exceptions to point out weaknesses in the plaintiff’s claim, providing an opportunity for the plaintiff to correct the problem if possible. Special exceptions should be filed with the answer or shortly afterward. Each exception is presented to the judge in writing.
The Basics of Drafting an Answer in Texas
Drafting an answer correctly lays important groundwork for the defendant in a lawsuit. Most importantly, the filing of an answer prevents the plaintiff from taking a default judgement against the defendant. Answers are generally due around 20 days after a defendant is served in Texas.
Trade Secret Misappropriation in Texas
Unique practices and proprietary information, sometimes known as trade secrets, help a business stay competitive. When someone wrongly obtains, shares, or uses a trade secret without consent, a business has a right to file a claim for misappropriation of trade secrets. For a business to protect its proprietary information with this claim, the information must […]
Statutory Fraud in Texas
An act of fraud involves misrepresenting or deceiving someone, causing harm to that person in the process. Statutory fraud is a particular kind of fraud which involves real estate or a stock transaction. Texas law prohibits a person from using false or incomplete information when inducing another person to sign a contract. If the misrepresentation […]
Tortious Interference with a Contract in Texas
Since contracts are legally binding, laws exist to prevent wrongful, or tortious, interference with existing contracts. That interference can occur when an outside party purposefully leads someone in a business agreement to break the terms of the agreement.
Letters Testamentary in Texas
Heirs and beneficiaries are often informed by banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions that they need Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration to be able to access funds in bank accounts or obtain information related to a mortgage. This article will discuss what these letters are and how to obtain them from the court. […]
The Texas Real Estate Lien Note
Typically drafted at the same time as the Deed of Trust, the Texas Real Estate Lien Note is a one-way agreement in which the signer makes a promise to pay someone a specific sum of money at a specific time. This article will discuss the different elements and sections of a Texas Lien Note. The […]
Understanding The Texas Warranty Deed
Warranty Deeds in Texas are generally used to transfer title to real estate between parties. This article will define and discuss the common elements of a Texas Warranty Deed. The first element of The Warranty Deed is the heading or caption which provides key information identifying the specific type of Deed. For example, Special Warranty […]
The Texas Deed of Trust
A Deed of Trust in Texas transfers title of real property in trust. It is the equivalent to a mortgage used in other states and provides a secured interest for a lender against real estate. It is often used as part of a real estate transaction that includes a Warranty Deed with a Vendor’s Lien […]