Argument Alert: Week of December 1, 2025 (SCOTX)

There is another exciting week of oral arguments ahead. Warm up on Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court with Josh Rosenkranz, Malcolm Stewart, and Paul Clement arguing about ISP’s liability for copyright infringement by their users. But on Tuesday, make sure you turn over to the Texas Supreme Court’s YouTube Channel for some big cases, including a “double fraction” case for all you oil and gas lawyers.

No. 23-0671, Clifton v. Johnson

Reeves County (Eighth Court)

The issues in this case are how to interpret a double fraction in an oil‑and‑gas deed and whether the presumed‑grant doctrine applies.

• COG Operating, LLC; Springwood Minerals 4, LP; and Desert Partners IV, LP: Macey Reasoner Stokes, Baker Botts (Austin) (15 minutes) and Rich Phillips, Holland & Knight (Dallas) (5 minutes)

• Scott W. Johnson; and Florence H. Cummings: Tim Hootman, Tim Hootman Law Firm (Houston)

No. 24-0045, K&K Inez Properties, LLC v. Kolle

Victoria County (Thirteenth Court of Appeals):

This nuisance case concerns an exemplary-damages cap calculation and whether intentional and grossly negligent nuisance are mutually exclusive causes of action when based on the same property damage.

• K & K Inez Properties, LLC, et al: Susan Clouthier, Clouthier Law (The Woodlands)

• Clay Kolle, et al.: Samuel Cole, Cole, Cole, Easley & Sciba (Victoria)

No. 24-0171, Maya Walnut LLC v. Ly,

Dallas County (Fifth Court)

The issue in this case is whether a commercial tenant could justifiably rely on a landlord’s continued negotiations for lease renewal in light of alleged red flags.

• Maya Walnut LLC: Darren McCarty, McCarty Law PLLC (Austin)

• Bryan Ly, et al.: Anne Johnson, Tillotson Johnson & Patton (Dallas)

No. 24-0205, Huffman Asset Management, LLC v. Colter,

Dallas County (Fifth Court)

This case raises multiple issues regarding service of process, including whether a Whitney certificate must show that process documents were forwarded to an entity’s most recent principal address in its filings with the Secretary of State.

• Huffman Asset Management: LLC, et al., Craig Henderson, Wolf & Henderson (Dallas)

• Maurice Colter, et al.: Robert Nunnally, Wisener Nunnally Higgins (Garland)

No. 24-0310, HEB Grocery Co. v. Peterson

Bexar County (Thirteenth Court)

The issue in this slip‑and‑fall case is whether the defendant store was entitled to summary judgment when the plaintiff presented evidence of prior leaks only in other parts of the store.

• HEB Grocery Co: Wallace Jefferson, Alexander Dubose & Jefferson (Austin)

• Marissa Peterson: Jeremy Sloan, Sloan PLLC (Castle Hills)

No. 24-0881, In re K.N.

Gray County (Seventh Court)

Parents challenge the trial court’s jurisdiction and the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the termination of their parental rights.

• C.N. (Mother): Michael Sharpee, Sharpee Law Firm (Amarillo)

• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services: Corey Scanlon, Office of the Attorney General (Austin)

No. 24-0883, In re Bell Helicopter Servs. Inc.

Galveston County (Fourteenth Court)

The issue in this case is whether Bell Helicopter is entitled to mandamus relief after Bell moved for summary judgment based on a federal statute of repose and was denied.

• Bell Helicopter Services, Inc., et al.: Kent Rutter, Haynes & Boone (Houston)

• Barbara Kawamura, et al.: Byron Henry, Henry Hill (Frisco)

No. 24-1062, In re Tafel

Dallas County (Fifth Court)

At issue in this case is whether a qui tam action survives the death of the plaintiff/qui tam relator.

• Dr. Robert Tafel: Jane Webre, Scott Douglass & McConnico (Austin)

• The State of Texas: Jeffrey Stephens, Office of the Attorney General (Austin) (8 minutes); & Lauren Ludlow: Andrew B. Sommerman, Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler (Dallas) (12 minutes)

No. 24-0834, Carden v. Minton, Bassett, Flores & Carsey, P.C.,

Travis County (Third Court)

This case concerns an attorney’s liability for civil wrongs committed during his representation of a criminal defendant.

• Amber Carden, et al.: Gaines West, West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry (College Station)

• Minton, Bassett, Flores & Carsey, P.C.: Elizabeth Brabb, Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons (Austin)

No. 24-0879, In re LaPuerta

Harris County (First Court)

This original proceeding challenges a trial court order granting a new trial based on error in a proximate-cause jury instruction.

• Leo Lapurerta, M.D., et al.: Michelle Robberson, Cooper & Scully (Dallas)

• Jose Torres: Rosalyn Tippett, Tippett Law Office (Flower Mound)

No. 24-1049, Diamond Hydraulics, Inc. v. GAC Equip., LLC

Williamson County (Third Court)

At issue in this case is whether Diamond may offer testimony from an untimely identified expert when its original expert moved and refused to testify shortly before trial.

• Diamond Hydraulics, Inc.: Angie Olalde, Greer, Herz & Adams (Galveston)

• GAC Equipment, LLC: D. Hunter Polvi, Passman & Jones (Dallas)