Texas

Blank Rome adds to attorney roster in Houston with acquisition of Bell Ryniker maritime firm

Three years ago, Blank Rome established a foothold in the hot Houston market by hiring Joseph F. Speelman as a partner. He initially worked out of his home, but then the Philadelphia-based law firm acquired Abrams Scott & Bickley, a 10-attorney firm known for its litigation work. Now the attorney…

Aug 6, 2013 1:36 PM CDT

Tow driver takes car with kids inside; father is charged and jailed

A father accused of briefly leaving his car illegally parked with his two young daughters inside while he unloaded groceries at an apartment complex in Houston was jailed and charged with child abandonment after a tow truck driver whisked the vehicle away, along with the kids. At least one neighbor…

Jul 29, 2013 10:50 PM CDT

Ginsburg calls Southern states’ actions in wake of Voting Rights decision ‘predictable’

The efforts of Southern states to forge ahead with tough voter identification laws come as no surprise to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg cited Texas’ decision to implement its voter ID law hours after the court struck down a key provision of the act as a predictable…

Jul 26, 2013 8:02 PM CDT

Stalkers steer sex-seeking strangers to victims’ homes through false online ads

About 100 men showed up at a Virginia women’s home expecting sex after her vengeful ex-boyfriend duplicitously solicited them using her identity. Frightened by her unwanted and in some cases aggressive visitors (one came with a crowbar and another rammed her security gate), the woman is one of a growing…

Jul 15, 2013 9:15 PM CDT

Donor pays $500K bond for teen jailed for months over ‘kidding’ Facebook post about school shooting

Bailed out by an anonymous donor, after spending months in jail in lieu of posting $500,000 bond over a comment he posted on Facebook about a school shooting, a Texas teenager says he has learned his lesson. In an interview with CNN published Friday, Justin Carter, 19, said that he…

Jul 12, 2013 4:30 PM CDT

Decades after ex-attorney killed 2 lawyers, shot judges in Texas courtroom, fatal conflicts continue

A fatal attack in a Texas appellate courtroom almost exactly 21 years ago is remembered as a milestone in Tarrant County history that led to a new focus on keeping lawyers, judges and litigants safe. Yet such conflicts continue today, there and elsewhere, despite the increased awareness and new security…

Jul 11, 2013 4:40 PM CDT

‘Collaborative divorce’ lawyer shot her husband, then killed herself, authorities say

A Texas matrimonial lawyer who specialized in “collaborative divorce” is accused of shooting her estranged husband Tuesday night outside their Tarrant County home. She then apparently committed suicide a short time later. Brandon Spencer, an off-duty Irving police officer, was shot twice but survived. Authorities said attorney Tiffany Spencer, 41,…

Jul 11, 2013 2:24 PM CDT

Judge texted during trial to help state, says ex-prosecutor

A former prosecutor who is now a Texas judge has admitted in a letter that she aided another judge who, it is claimed, sent texts during a 2012 trial in an effort to help the state with its case. Kaycee L. Jones, who is now a 411th Judicial District judge…

Jul 9, 2013 11:00 AM CDT

Attorneys wonder if law firm break-in was politically motivated

Attorneys at a Texas law firm are wondering if a recent break-in could have been politically motivated. Hence, the partners of Schulman & Mathias have contacted not only Dallas police about the burglary at their firm but also the FBI, according to a Fox 4 News video and the Raw…

Jul 8, 2013 4:05 PM CDT

23 lawyers from Patton Boggs will staff new Dallas office of Holland & Knight

After advance word that a number of partners planned to exit Patton Boggs in order to establish a Holland & Knight office in Dallas, their new firm has made an official announcement. In a Monday press release, Holland & Knight says a total of 23 lawyers—including 12 partners, 10 associates…

Jul 3, 2013 6:20 PM CDT

Woman charged along with husband in prosecutor slayings seeks a divorce

A woman indicted along with her husband in the slayings of two Texas prosecutors is seeking a divorce. Former Justice of the Peace Eric Lyle Williams and his wife, Kim Lene Williams, were indicted last week on charges of capital murder in the deaths of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike…

Jul 2, 2013 11:15 AM CDT

City sues both owner and supplier of fertilizer plant that exploded

The city of West, Texas, has filed a product liability lawsuit against both the owner of a fertilizer plant where a fiery explosion detonated with the force of an earthquake in April and the chemical company that supplied it with ammonium nitrate, Courthouse News reports. Defendant CF Industries and two…

Jun 26, 2013 7:30 PM CDT

Lawyer faces bar and criminal cases over claimed thefts from firm, is also charged with burglary

A Texas lawyer is facing a triple whammy, simultaneously defending legal ethics and criminal cases over claimed thefts from his former firm, as well as an apparently unrelated burglary charge. The state bar filed a disciplinary petition against Alto Watson III at the end of May, alleging that he had…

Jun 19, 2013 2:00 PM CDT

New legal battle for ex-prisoner awarded $6M: Ex-wife who he divorced in 1992 wants a share

An exonerated former inmate who was awarded a $6 million compensation package after serving 24 years for rapes committed by another man is still racking up big legal bills. First Steven Phillips did battle with the lawyer who represented him in the compensation case, contending that the $1 million fee…

Jun 17, 2013 8:00 PM CDT

Valedictorian gets legal counsel after high school turns off mic during his commencement speech

A high school valedictorian has gotten legal counsel after a Texas high school reportedly made good on a threat to turn off the microphone if he deviated from a preapproved commencement speech. Remington Reimer, 19, who expects to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, also contends that the principal of Joshua…

Jun 14, 2013 11:15 AM CDT