In Mendell v. Scott, a decedent had a trust that named him as primary beneficiary, and upon his death, the trust would continue for a niece provided that she did not commit a prohibited act. No. 01-20-00578-CV, 2023 Tex. App....more
This webinar will provide guidance regarding the appropriate limitation of liability (LOL) clauses in contracts dealing with fiduciary relationships. The LOL clause can operate to limit a party’s direct, indirect,...more
David F. Johnson co-presented with Zachary S. Davis from Stoel Rives LLP, in Portland, Oregon, on “Limitation of Liability Clauses in Business Contracts: Limiting Potential Damages and Avoiding Pitfalls” on January 31, 2023,...more
Parties often add limitation-of-liability clauses to their agreements. These types of clauses can purport to limit a party’s claims or damages or both. ...more
In In the Interest of M.G.G., an ex-husband was made a constructive trustee of stocks that he held in his retirement account for his ex-wife. No. 05-19-00777-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 6291 (Tex. App.—Dallas August 10, 2020, no...more
David F. Johnson presented his paper on “Remedies for Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims” to the Tarrant County Probate Bar Association’s Litigation Seminar on August 7, 2020. This presentation covered pre-trial remedies such as...more
Plaintiffs in civil litigation often seek punitive or exemplary damages. “Exemplary damages” means any damages awarded as a penalty or by way of punishment but not for compensatory purposes....more
1/27/2020
/ Actual Malice ,
Admissible Evidence ,
Breach of Duty ,
Civil Code ,
Confidential Information ,
Damages ,
Discovery ,
Evidence ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Fraud ,
Gross Negligence ,
High Net-Worth ,
New Legislation ,
Petition for Writ of Certiorari ,
Punitive Damages ,
Retroactive Application ,
Rules of Civil Procedure ,
Statements of Net Worth ,
TX Supreme Court
In In the Estate of Brazda, the trial court found an administrator guilty of neglecting to timely distribute the property and ordered the administrator to pay one of the heir’s damages for the neglect. No. 01-18-00324-CV,...more
In Shopoff Advisors, LP v. Atrium Circle, GP, the buyer and seller to a real estate transaction sued each other. No. 04-18-00438-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 5764 (Tex. App.—San Antonio July 10, 2019, no pet. history)....more
In In re Amerisciences, a bankruptcy trustee sued a bankrupt company’s former officers for breach of fiduciary duty regarding the theft of trade secrets. No. 18-20394, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 20635 (5th Cir. July 11, 2019). ...more
8/26/2019
/ Appeals ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Breach of Duty ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Corporate Officers ,
Damages ,
Directors ,
Evidence ,
Tortious Interference ,
Trade Secrets ,
Trustees
In In re Ignacio G. & Myra A. Gonzales Trust, a couple formed a trust and named their daughter as the trustee. No. 06-19-00014-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 4648 (Tex. App.—Texarkana June 6, 2019, no pet. history)....more
In Bombardier Aero. Corp. v. Spep Aircraft Holdings, a plaintiff who had purchased an aircraft sued the defendant for fraud associated with representations regarding whether the aircraft was new or used. No. 17-0578, 2019...more
4/4/2019
/ Appeals ,
Breach of Contract ,
Damages ,
Duty of Confidentiality ,
Duty to Disclose ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Fraud ,
Petition For Rehearing ,
Punitive Damages ,
Restatement of Torts ,
TX Supreme Court
David F. Johnson, leader writer for the Texas Fiduciary Litigator blog, presented his paper on “Saving Your Damages Award Via Temporary Injunctive Relief” to the State Bar of Texas’s Damages in Civil Litigation Course in...more
One of the most important aspects of protecting a client’s rights is obtaining temporary injunctive relief from a court. This relief usually takes the form of an order precluding a defendant from closing a deal, selling real...more
Today, the Texas Supreme Court denied review in Wells Fargo v. Militello, No. 05-15-01252-CV, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 5640 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 20, 2017, pet. denied). In Militello, the court of appeals affirmed a trial...more
In Samuel D. Orbison & Am. Piping Inspection v. Ma-Tex Rope Co., a jury found that a former employee breached fiduciary duties by working for a competitor while being employed by the plaintiff. No. 06-17-00112-CV, 2018 Tex....more
In Harun v. Rashid, two individuals started a restaurant business; one operated the business and the other financed it. No. 05-16-00584-CV, 2018 Tex. App. LEXIS 231 (Tex. App.—Dallas January 9, 2018, no pet. history)....more
2/12/2018
/ Actual Damages ,
Appeals ,
Attorney's Fees ,
Breach of Contract ,
Breach of Duty ,
Damages ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Oral Contracts ,
Partnership Interests ,
Partnerships ,
Resorts & Restaurants
On October 11, 2017, the Texas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Anderson v. Archer, No. 03-13-00790-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2165 (Tex. App.—Austin March 2, 2016, pet. filed). In Anderson, the trial court’s judgment...more
In Wells Fargo v. Militello, a trustee appealed a judgment from a bench trial regarding a beneficiary’s claims for breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and fraud. No. 05-15-01252-CV, 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 5640 (Tex....more
In Anderson v. Archer, the trial court’s judgment awarded the plaintiffs $2.5 million in damages based on a tortious interference with inheritance claim. No. 03-13-00790-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2165 (Tex. App.—Austin March...more
In E&E Serv. & Supply v. Ruddick, a corporation sued a former employee who formed a competing business. No. 11-14-00055-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 7514 (Tex. App.—Eastland July 14, 2016, no pet. history). The trial court...more
In Anderson v. Archer, the trial court’s judgment awarded the plaintiffs $2.5 million in damages based on a tortious interference with inheritance claim. No. 03-13-00790-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 2165 (Tex. App.—Austin March...more
In Fitts v. Richards-Smith, three brothers were riding in a car when the car hit another vehicle properly stopped in the road. 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 1542 (Tex. App.—Texarkana February 17, 2016, no pet. history). The driver was...more