Texas

Former Texas Judge Pleads Guilty in Car Keying Incident

A former Texas judge accused of keying his neighbor’s car has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief and fined $1,500. The former Harris County judge, Woody Densen, was originally charged with felony criminal mischief for the incident that was caught on surveillance tape, the Houston Chronicle reports.…

Apr 8, 2010 3:50 PM CDT

How Many Lawyers Does Constitution Allow? Onetime Billionaire Allen Stanford May Find Out

Just how many times does the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution allow a defendant the right to counsel of his own selection? It appears that onetime billionaire R. Allen Stanford could be on the verge of testing that question, although a federal judge in Texas is allowing him one…

Apr 6, 2010 7:47 PM CDT

81-Year-Old Woman Sues for Back Child Support

There is no statute of limitations on child support, and an 81-year-old woman hopes she will be able to use the law to settle an old score. Rosemary Douglas is asking a Los Angeles court to order Urban Joseph Grass to pay $57,000 in unpaid support payments for a child…

Apr 5, 2010 3:36 PM CDT

Prominent Houston Lawyer Apparently Killed by Burglar, Police Say

A prominent Houston lawyer who worked at Fulbright & Jaworski and Weil Gotshal & Manges before forming his own law firm was apparently murdered by a burglar, police say. Scott Lassetter was shot more than two weeks ago at a home where he sometimes stayed with his ex-wife and children,…

Apr 2, 2010 11:43 AM CDT

Judge Nixes Texas AG’s Effort to Intervene in Same-Sex Divorce Case

A Texas judge has nixed the state attorney general’s petition to intervene in a same-sex divorce case, finding that another case already on appeal is positioned to address the legal issues raised by Attorney General Greg Abbott. Plus, delaying the divorce already granted to Angelique Naylor, 39, and Sabina Daly,…

Apr 1, 2010 5:46 PM CDT

Body of Judicial Primary Winner Is Found After Fishing Boat Accident

Less than three weeks ago, Tom Zachry won the Republican primary for a seat on the Texas bench, in a Tarrant County race in which there was no Democratic nominee. But just as the Fort Worth lawyer seemed virtually certain of achieving a lifelong dream of being a judge, he…

Mar 24, 2010 5:25 PM CDT

Scheduled to Die Today, Inmate Seeks DNA Tests Shunned by His Trial Lawyer

A Texas death row inmate is seeking an 11th-hour reprieve from the governor or the U.S. Supreme Court so he can get DNA tests that had been shunned by his original lawyer. Hank Skinner is scheduled to be executed today, the Associated Press reports. He admits he was in the…

Mar 24, 2010 12:49 PM CDT

Dallas PI Lawyer Indicted in Murder of Law Firm Partner’s Ex-Wife

Dallas personal injury lawyer Scott Marshall has been indicted on a charge of murder in the December shooting death of the ex-wife of his former law partner. According to the Dallas County District Attorney’s office, Marshall was indicted last week, according to the Dallas Morning News Crime Blog and the…

Mar 23, 2010 11:52 AM CDT

Angry Lawyers Say Online Defendant List Gave Impression They Also Were Charged

Some Texas lawyers are worried that a list recently published by a Lubbock TV station will give potential clients the wrong impression when they search for attorney names online. The lawyers say the list of misdemeanor defendants included the names of about 25 lawyers, but it didn’t make clear they…

Mar 23, 2010 11:00 AM CDT

Winning Judicial Candidate, Missing After Boating Accident, Is Presumed Dead

A little over two weeks ago, Tom Zachry won the Republican judicial primary in a race for the 432nd District Court bench in Tarrant County, Texas. There is no Democratic opposition. Now the 66-year-old Fort Worth attorney is missing, after his bass fishing boat capsized Friday in Aquilla Lake in…

Mar 22, 2010 6:41 PM CDT

Ex-Employee Gets Probation in Law Firm Theft

A Texas woman who was accused of stealing more than $30,000 from the law firm for which she worked has pleaded guilty to theft. However, 24-year-old Christina Coronado won’t have to serve any time. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation for stealing from the Zimmerman Law Firm in…

Mar 22, 2010 5:24 PM CDT

9th Cir.: Anna Nicole Smith Gets Zip, Zero, Zilch of Texas Billionaire’s Estate

A hard-fought 15-year court battle by the late celebrity model Anna Nicole Smith and her heirs over the estate of the Texas oil billionaire she married when she was 26 and he was 89 may have finally ended in complete defeat of her claims. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of…

Mar 19, 2010 8:29 PM CDT

Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Beats Barratry Rap

A grand jury has refused to indict a Houston, Texas, criminal defense attorney accused of working with a homeless man to recruit potential clients as they departed the Harris County Jail. The no-bill ends a potential barratry case against Lloyd Oliver; the crime involves splitting fees with a non-lawyer. His…

Mar 19, 2010 6:18 PM CDT

Rogue Repo Man Allegedly Disabled 100 Cars Remotely in Hack Attack

A laid-off employee of a Texas auto dealership is accused of using another worker’s computer password to remotely disable more than 100 vehicles. The dealership initially attributed complaints of honking horns and nonstarting cars to mechanical failure. It sells vehicles to customers who otherwise would not qualify for credit in…

Mar 18, 2010 5:18 PM CDT

2 Attorneys Among 40 Defendants in $20M Texas Mortgage Fraud Case

Updated: Add at least two more lawyers to the ever-lengthening list of real estate attorneys criminally charged over their alleged participation in mortgage fraud schemes. Among 40 defendants charged by a federal grand jury indictment (PDF) announced this week in a Texas case are Daniel Ayers and Anthony Flores, reports…

Mar 17, 2010 5:24 PM CDT