Bad Faith Insurance Claims

There are times when even seemingly minor storms can produce wind and rain strong enough to cause heavy damage to homes and property.  One recent example involves storms with high winds in East Texas.  Fortunately, there were no personal injuries reported; however, it does appear that many people will need to file insurance claims…

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Clarity for Austin Business Defense for Misappropriation of Trade Secrets

On March 4, 2013, Val Perkins, a Gardere Wynne Sewell partner, reported that Senator John Carona, R-Dallas, was authoring S.B. 953, a bill seeking adoption of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, codifying and modernizing existing Texas common law as it relates to misappropriation of trade secrets, while enhancing available remedies to aggrieved businesses.   Perkins…

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Land Ownership Involving Surface Rights and Mineral Rights

It is not unusual for land ownership in Texas to be split up into separate sets of estates, or land ownership rights.  This simply means that while a landowner may purchase the surface rights to a property, someone other than the landowner may own the mineral rights below the surface.  If a company has…

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Child’s Defective Product Update

In January, 2013, Sassy and Carter toy manufacturers voluntarily recalled a line of defective toys, the Hug N’ Tug Puppies and Monkeys. These products were designed to distract and entertain young children while they are confined to a stroller or car seat. Both lines of cloth-based toys have a plastic ball with small beads…

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