"The Supreme Court's Two Trips to the Beach" By Evan A. Young

Virtually everyone has heard about the Texas Supreme Court’s recent decision concerning beach use and ownership.  Hurricane Rita claimed a lot of dry beach (literally, a lot—along with various other lots—that is now covered by the Gulf of Mexico), and left Carol Severance’s recently purchased home on the new dry beach. 

"Temporary Injunctions and Temporary Restraining Orders- A Focus on Trade Secrets" By Tom Fulkerson and Ethan Gibson

This article focuses on the significance of injunctive relief in trade secrets cases, identifies trends in appellate law dealing with trade secret protection, focusing on the law post-Hyde Corp. v. Huffines, and reports the results of an informal survey of state and federal district judges on best practices when addressing requests for injunctive relief.

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"Ten Things You Need to Know about the Texas Fair Defense law" By Jim Bethke

This year marks the ten year anniversary of the passage of the Fair Defense Law. This law established the Texas Task Force on Indigent Defense (Task Force) as a permanent standing committee of the Texas Judicial Council, staffed as a component of the Office of Court Administration. A primary purpose of the Task Force is to assist local government to develop cost-effective indigent defense that meets the needs of the local community and complies with State and constitutional law. 

What's Left of Loser Pays? By Randall L. Sarosdy

On May 30, 2011, Governor Rick Perry signed HB 274 into law, effective September 1, 2011.   Although the new law was touted in the Wall Street Journal and the National Review as a significant continuation of the tort reform measures enacted in 2003, the final bill was a substantially watered down version of the “loser pay” bill originally passed by the House.   

Conference Wrap-Ups

A summary of this years Texas judicial conferences.