The 85th Texas legislature passed changes to the law that now allow notarization to occur virtually through an online process. Senate Bill 2128, enacted in 2019, modifies Section 193 of the Local Government Code and Section 12 of the Property Code to create a scheme for recording documents notarized online. How is Online Notarization Different […]
Category: Litigation
Proving Up Attorney’s Fees in Texas After Rohrmoos
When seeking attorney’s fees, the general rule is that a claimant must provide evidence of the number of reasonable hours worked multiplied by a reasonable hourly rate. This is known as the lodestar method and requires a claimant to provide sufficient evidence for both rate and hours.In April of 2019, the Texas Supreme Court provided […]
Vacating a Default Judgment in Texas
A default judgment is granted by the trial court when a defendant hasn’t filed a timely response. This means that a defendant did not respond to the lawsuit by 10 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days has elapsed from the date of service as dictated by Rule 83 of the Texas Rules of Civil […]
Where a Texas Deposition May Be Taken
The deposition is one of the most valuable pre-trial discovery methods in a trial attorney’s arsenal. Depositions allow parties to a suit to obtain the testimony of witnesses and parties involved in an action. The deponent’s testimony is given under oath and recorded for evidentiary purposes. Notice Procedure for Oral Depositions The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure […]
Lawsuits in Texas: A Basic Guide
There are few phrases that make the heart stop quite like “you are being sued.” A civil lawsuit can be a stressful experience; however, promptly obtaining competent legal counsel and understanding the basic language and process in Texas will ensure you are legally protected and proactive in asserting your rights. The first step in dealing […]
Texas Structured Settlement Agreements
It is not uncommon for plaintiffs in Texas to receive a structured settlement as opposed to a lump sum as compensation for their losses. Generally, there are certain tax benefits for the plaintiffs and cost savings for defendants associated with structured settlements. Despite settling for a series of payments over time, many plaintiffs and their […]
Consulting Experts vs. Testifying Experts
Experts are a vital part of most litigation in Texas. There are generally two types of experts used in the litigation process: testifying experts and consulting experts. “A testifying expert is an expert who may be called to testify as an expert witness at trial. A consulting expert is an expert who has been consulted, […]
When a Texas Property Manager May Be Liable for the Debts of the Property Owner
Property managers routinely contract for services to properties on behalf of the owner. Commercial real estate projects including apartment complexes, retail centers, and office buildings need a variety of services for things such as landscaping and janitorial. Service agreements are often signed and orders are placed without much thought as whether the property manager has […]
Texas Certificate of Merit
Tort reform in Texas has made it critical for plaintiffs to ensure that all threshold requirements are met before filing lawsuits against certain professionals. Failure to comply with certain conditions precedent may have dire consequences. Texas law requires a plaintiff to file a certificate of merit contemporaneously with a lawsuit against certain licensed or registered […]
Use of a Bill of Review to Set Aside a Judgment
It is not uncommon for our firm to receive calls from potential new clients explaining that they just found out they have a default judgment against them because they failed to file an answer to a lawsuit. Sometimes the failure to answer occurred because they were never personally served or service occurred and there was […]