Because it specifies the exact terms of agreement for conveying property, a real estate contract is arguably the most important document used in the sale of real property. It identifies in writing the terms and conditions of a real estate transaction and legally binds buyer and seller to fulfill their obligations as outlined in the […]
Category: Litigation
Calculating Damages in a Texas Trespass Action
If someone trespasses and causes property damage, the owner of the property is entitled to compensation for that damage. However, property owners should be careful to prove damages accurately to maximize recovery. Relying on the wrong damages model could mean losing a case, and retrials are rare and costly. See Tex. R. App. P. 44.1(b); […]
Damages For Slander of Title in Texas
Successfully conveying property requires a clear chain of title that is free of encumbrances. Considerable effort goes into researching, verifying, and communicating who the legal owner of a property is and exactly what debts against that property, if any, may exist. Any uncertainty about the title of a property may lead to the loss of […]
The 120 Hour Rule: Survival Requirements in Texas
Sometimes family members pass at or around the same time. Chapter 121 of the Texas Estates Code establishes protocols for situations where a testator (in the case of a will) or an intestate decedent (in the case where there is no will) and beneficiary or heir die simultaneously or in quick succession. 120 Hour Rule […]
Piercing the Corporate Veil in Texas
One of the primary benefits of creating a corporation or LLC is to shield shareholders or owners from the risk of being sued for a business decision that goes poorly. What happens, though, when the entity is a sham being used to perpetrate fraud? How are officers, directors, members, and managers held accountable for their […]
Trespass to Real Property in Texas
Property ownership gives a person the authority to determine how that property is used and by whom. An unauthorized person entering land belonging to another is trespassing, even if the trespassing seems to cause no direct harm. While trespassing seems straightforward, this cause of action is not that simple. Ownership Before making a claim of […]
The Texas Theft Liability Act
While theft has always been a criminal offense, minimal penalties for theft offered a plaintiff few options to recover damages which resulted from theft. That situation changed in the 1980s when chapter 31 of the Texas Penal Code defined the Texas Theft Liability Act. Thanks to the TLA, a plaintiff can now hold the defendant […]
Negligent Hiring in Texas
Texas employers have an obligation to ensure the trustworthiness, reliability, and expertise of their employees. If they neglect those responsibilities, and someone suffers as a direct result, then those employers are guilty of negligent hiring. The Elements of Negligent Hiring To successfully make a claim for negligent hiring, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant […]
Counterclaims, Crossclaims and Third-Party Claims in Texas State Courts
This post is the last in a seven-part series written to explain how counterclaims, crossclaims, and third-party claims are used in answering a lawsuit. Other topics in this series are listed below. Post 1: The Basics of Drafting an Answer Post 2: Dilatory Pleas Post 3: Special Exceptions Post 4: The General Denial Post 5: […]
Keys to Drafting a Valid Non-Compete in Texas
Definition In Texas, a business can limit an employee’s ability to compete against that business when she or he is no longer employed there. A non-compete agreement helps protect businesses from losing clients and/or proprietary information if an employee moves to another job. A non-compete agreement in Texas usually must be part of an employee […]