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Articles 241 - 270 of 869

Full-Text Articles in Environmental Law

Legal Ethics In Capital Cases: Looking For Virtue In Roberts V. Dretke And Assessing The Ethical Implications Of The Death Row Volunteer The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Comment., J. Caleb Rackley Jan 2005

Legal Ethics In Capital Cases: Looking For Virtue In Roberts V. Dretke And Assessing The Ethical Implications Of The Death Row Volunteer The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility: Comment., J. Caleb Rackley

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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The First Marketable Product Doctrine: Just What Is The Product., Byron C. Keeling, Karolyn King Gillespie Jan 2005

The First Marketable Product Doctrine: Just What Is The Product., Byron C. Keeling, Karolyn King Gillespie

St. Mary's Law Journal

Oil and gas leases normally do not set a fixed price for calculating royalty payments. Instead, oil and gas leases commonly tie royalty calculations to a more flexible yardstick, including “market value” or “net proceeds”. This flexibility allows the lease relationship to survive any dramatic volatility in oil and gas prices, while the same fixed price may be inadequate in shifting markets. Conversely, the flexibility may place lessors and lessees in a position of inherent conflict. In particular, parties vehemently disagree about the proper location for applying the yardstick. Historically, lessees have enjoyed the better side of the argument; though, …

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The Effect Of A Harmless Error In Executing A Will: Why Texas Should Adopt Section 2-503 Of The Uniform Probate Court., Sean P. Milligan Jan 2005

The Effect Of A Harmless Error In Executing A Will: Why Texas Should Adopt Section 2-503 Of The Uniform Probate Court., Sean P. Milligan

St. Mary's Law Journal

Often, the validity of a will is called into question in situations where the testator failed to execute the will in compliance with statutory formalities, although the intent to create a will was present. In Texas, harmless errors in the execution of a will are not excused, and the testator must comply with the statutory formalities set out in the Probate Code. Strict judicial adherence to statutory formalities leads to unjust results in situations where it is relatively clear that the testator intended to create a will but failed to comply with the execution requirements. The failure to comply with …

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Leveling The Legal Malpractice Playing Field: Reverse Bifurcation Of Trials The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Dwayne J. Hermes, Jeffrey W. Kemp, Paul B. Moore Jan 2005

Leveling The Legal Malpractice Playing Field: Reverse Bifurcation Of Trials The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Dwayne J. Hermes, Jeffrey W. Kemp, Paul B. Moore

St. Mary's Law Journal

The growing public demand for perfect results is shifting the time-tested obligation of lawyers to meet the standard of care. The general public no longer deems the advice and performance of professionals as beyond reproach. While this is probably a positive development, it appears that a number of clients (and patients) are raising the bar too high by expecting and demanding a perfect result. The legal malpractice suit is in vogue, and juries are increasingly holding attorneys to be guarantors of a favorable outcome for their clients. A significant portion of legal malpractice suits are merely thinly veiled claims for …

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Securing One's Fourth Amendment Rights Through Issue Preclusion: Assessing Texas's Application Of Collateral Estoppel To Multiple Suppression Motions Filed In Separate Courts., Garrett T. Reece Jan 2005

Securing One's Fourth Amendment Rights Through Issue Preclusion: Assessing Texas's Application Of Collateral Estoppel To Multiple Suppression Motions Filed In Separate Courts., Garrett T. Reece

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Comment will assess the split in Texas courts over the issue of collateral estoppel’s application in different motion to suppress hearings. By placing collateral estoppel within the confines of the Double Jeopardy Clause, federal law essentially extinguished one form of collateral estoppel and invented another form of the doctrine. Remnants of both forms are still alive, however, and Texas is one state in which both forms of collateral estoppel may be invoked in a criminal proceeding. Part II provides a historical analysis of the exclusionary rule, Double Jeopardy Clause, and collateral estoppel’s rise in criminal court. Part III addresses …

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Much Ado About Nothing - Why Desert Palace Neither Murdered Mcdonnell Douglas Nor Transformed All Employment Discrimination Cases To Mixed-Motive Essay., Matthew R. Scott, Russell D. Chapman Jan 2005

Much Ado About Nothing - Why Desert Palace Neither Murdered Mcdonnell Douglas Nor Transformed All Employment Discrimination Cases To Mixed-Motive Essay., Matthew R. Scott, Russell D. Chapman

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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Mind The Gap: Expansion Of Texas Governmental Immunity Between Takings And Tort., Jadd F. Masso Jan 2005

Mind The Gap: Expansion Of Texas Governmental Immunity Between Takings And Tort., Jadd F. Masso

St. Mary's Law Journal

In Jennings v. City of Dallas, the city’s wastewater collection division was dispatched to unstop a clogged sewer main but instead caused sewage to spew into the Jennings’ home with dramatic force, causing extensive damage. The Jennings subsequently filed suit against the city, alleging its actions constituted an unconstitutional taking, damaging, or destruction of their property for public use without adequate compensation in violation of Article I, § 17 of the Texas Constitution. The issue presented from the case was whether an individual citizen should be liable for such losses when the damage—as an incident to governmental action—in effect benefits …

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Good Cause In The Texas Rules Of Civil Procedure., Naomi Mccuistion Jan 2005

Good Cause In The Texas Rules Of Civil Procedure., Naomi Mccuistion

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Texas judiciary should give “good cause” a single meaning. Ambiguity exists concerning the phrase “good cause” amongst Texas courts. Three different standards of “good cause” currently exist in Texas including: the Stelly/Craddock standard, the Alvarado standard, and the Remington Arms standard. Under the Stelly/Craddock standard—if withdrawal of deemed admissions is requested—“good cause” is required showing the failure was unintentional as a result of an accident or mistake. Under the Alvarado standard—if the request is to offer testimony of a witness who was not timely identified—the court requires a more strict showing of “good cause” not satisfied by an attorney’s …

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Unconstitutional Delegation Of Prosecutorial Discretion In Texas: The Pollution Of Environmental Violation Deterrents., Suzanne M. Jost Jan 2005

Unconstitutional Delegation Of Prosecutorial Discretion In Texas: The Pollution Of Environmental Violation Deterrents., Suzanne M. Jost

St. Mary's Law Journal

The split amongst Texas officials regarding how to address the growing problem of enforcing environmental laws can most clearly be seen in the legislation surrounding environmental crimes. The most notable aspect of the 2003 amendment to the Texas Water Code (TWC) requires permission from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) before criminal charges may be brought against permit holders for criminal violations. The purpose of TCEQ’s administrative penalties is to focus primarily on pushing companies into compliance with the code. Yet, the TWC amendment brings the entire spectrum of polluters, from corporate dumpers to individual litterbugs, under its primary …

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Backdoor Non-Competes In Texas: Trade Secrets., Ted Lee, Leila Ben Debba Jan 2005

Backdoor Non-Competes In Texas: Trade Secrets., Ted Lee, Leila Ben Debba

St. Mary's Law Journal

The unpredictability of court decisions on covenants not to compete is an attorney’s nightmare in Texas. The Texas Supreme Court's decision in Light v. Centel Cellular (Light II), holding that trade secrets may serve as independent consideration for a valid covenant not to compete, has only exacerbated the situation. Currently, attorneys and clients alike are at the mercy of judicial unpredictability. Texas courts have managed to muddle their own underlying public policy on covenants not to compete with trade secrets. During the years preceding Light II, Texas courts consistently struck a balance between the legitimate rights of employers to protect …

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Kelo V. City Of New London, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District V. United States, And Washoe County V. United States: A Fifth Amendment Takings Primer., Christopher L. Harris, Daniel J. Lowenberg Jan 2005

Kelo V. City Of New London, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District V. United States, And Washoe County V. United States: A Fifth Amendment Takings Primer., Christopher L. Harris, Daniel J. Lowenberg

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment is a remedy available to citizens for the government's undue interference with private property rights. It operates similarly to an affirmative defense as it entitles citizens to “just compensation” when the government “takes” private property for “public use.” The Takings Clause thus embodies the idea that society values the protection of private property. The Supreme Court of the United States stated the purpose of the Takings Clause is “to bar Government from forcing citizens from bearing public burdens which, in all fairness, should be borne by the public as a whole.” Kelo v. …

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Utter Excitement About Nothing: Why Domestic Violence Evidence-Based Prosecution Will Survive Crawford V. Washington., Donna D. Bloom Jan 2005

Utter Excitement About Nothing: Why Domestic Violence Evidence-Based Prosecution Will Survive Crawford V. Washington., Donna D. Bloom

St. Mary's Law Journal

In response to domestic violence involving victims who do not wish to cooperate in the prosecution of their abuser, prosecutors endeavor to frame cases around other evidence establishing a defendant’s guilt regardless of the victim’s testimony. Domestic violence cases set for trial are being thrown out of Texas courts because of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that reasserts a defendant’s right to confront his accuser in court. Prosecutors believe that strong legal arguments exist to continue successfully prosecuting abusers without the cooperation of the victim at trial. This is through the continued admission of certain hearsay statements, despite Crawford …

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Unlicensed To Drill: Proposed Renovations To The Texas Residential Construction Commission Act., Justin M. Jackson Jan 2005

Unlicensed To Drill: Proposed Renovations To The Texas Residential Construction Commission Act., Justin M. Jackson

St. Mary's Law Journal

Construction is the largest industry in the United States, and some regard the industry as the engine of the nation’s economy. Only the unavailability of unskilled labor can slow the growth of the construction industry in Texas. As such, Texas has welcomed the construction boom and has enacted statutes to accommodate further industry growth. Texas’ first legislative response came in the form of the Residential Construction Liability Act (RCLA). The RCLA alleviated liability for builders incurred under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA). In 2003, the Texas Legislature continued to legislate in favor of builders by passing the Texas Residential …

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Even Judges Don't Know Everything: A Call For A Presumption Of Admissibility For Expert Witness Testimony In Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Timothy P. Chinaris Jan 2005

Even Judges Don't Know Everything: A Call For A Presumption Of Admissibility For Expert Witness Testimony In Lawyer Disciplinary Proceedings The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Timothy P. Chinaris

St. Mary's Law Journal

Today's practice environment is full of potential ethical pitfalls for even the most conscientious lawyer. The consequences of being found guilty of misconduct can include suspension or disbarment from practicing as a lawyer. Added to these concerns is the fact that the judge or hearing panel before whom the case is tried may not be intimately familiar with the particular ethics rules or how they are interpreted in different areas of practice. In order to mount an effective defense against the disciplinary charges, an accused lawyer may want to introduce expert testimony on his or her behalf. Unfortunately for the …

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Unresolved Problems In Texas Legal Malpractice Law The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Stephen E. Mcconnico, Jennifer Knauth, Robyn Bigelow Jan 2005

Unresolved Problems In Texas Legal Malpractice Law The Fourth Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice And Professional Responsibility., Stephen E. Mcconnico, Jennifer Knauth, Robyn Bigelow

St. Mary's Law Journal

Legal malpractice jurisprudence is a dynamic and evolving area of Texas law. In its evolution, many issues have arisen regarding potential areas for attorney liability and discipline. The Texas Supreme Court opinion in Alexander v. Turtur & Associates, Inc. discusses the “suit within the suit” requirement for causation in litigation malpractice cases. The case also raised an important question—whether and in what circumstances causation should be treated as a question of law for the trial judge in the malpractice case, rather than as a question of fact for the jury. The Alexander opinion suggests that both the jury submission issues …

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Electronic Discovery: Not Your Father's Discovery., Howard L. Speight, Lisa C. Kelly Jan 2005

Electronic Discovery: Not Your Father's Discovery., Howard L. Speight, Lisa C. Kelly

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Article examines recent developments in several areas of electronic discovery. It discusses spoliation, cost shifting, form of production, and recent developments in the case law. Additionally, this Article discusses the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, revisions to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and local rules, as well as recommendations of the American Bar Association (ABA) regarding electronic discovery. In Zubulake v. UBS Warburg LLC, I-VI, Judge Scheindlin of the Southern District of New York, set out her vision for the management of electronic discovery. It is a sobering vision, with clarified responsibilities for counsel. Increasing the role of …

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Reeves V. Sanderson Plumbing Products: The Emperor Has No Clothes - Pretext Plus Is Alive And Kicking., Matthew R. Scott, Russell D. Chapman Jan 2005

Reeves V. Sanderson Plumbing Products: The Emperor Has No Clothes - Pretext Plus Is Alive And Kicking., Matthew R. Scott, Russell D. Chapman

St. Mary's Law Journal

Before the Supreme Court’s decision in Reeves v. Sanderson Plumbing Products, Inc., the Fifth Circuit’s en banc decision in Rhodes v. Guiberson Oil Tools established the proper standard of causation in employment discrimination cases. The plaintiff must prove his or her protected trait was the “determinative reason” for the challenged employment action. Following Reeves, which appeared to overrule Rhodes and the doctrine of pretext plus, the Fifth Circuit struggled with the causation question. Despite the apparent confusion, the Fifth Circuit has largely reaffirmed not only its commitment to the Rhodes pretext-plus analysis, but also the determinative-reason standard for pretext cases. …

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Is Sue And Be Sued Language A Clear And Unambiguous Waiver Of Immunity., A. Craig Carter Jan 2004

Is Sue And Be Sued Language A Clear And Unambiguous Waiver Of Immunity., A. Craig Carter

St. Mary's Law Journal

Because “sue and be sued” language is ambiguous at best, courts should not find that this language is a waiver of immunity. Under Texas law, governmental entities—including the state, its agencies, and political subdivisions—are entitled to sovereign immunity from both suit and liability. For sovereign immunity to be applicable to governmental entities, sovereign immunity applies unless the legislature has clearly and unambiguously waived it. Although numerous Texas appellate courts have held that “sue and be sued” language is a waiver of sovereign immunity, the Texas Supreme Court has squarely addressed the issue only once, in Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. …

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School Voucher Programs: Has The Supreme Court Pulled Up The Gangplank To Establishment Clause Challenges., Cecil C. Kuhne Iii Jan 2004

School Voucher Programs: Has The Supreme Court Pulled Up The Gangplank To Establishment Clause Challenges., Cecil C. Kuhne Iii

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Establishment Clause is not violated when a program is neutral toward religion and provides assistance directly to a broad class of citizens, who in turn voluntarily direct the aid to religious schools. A program containing these features permits government aid to reach religious institutions only thru the deliberate choices of individuals. Any incidental advancement or endorsement of religion is attributable to the individual recipient—not the government, which simply acts as a disburser. In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, the Supreme Court reiterated this rationale from a twenty-year line of cases. Zelman is a death knell for Establishment Clause challenges to carefully …

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Aboilishing The Texas Jury Shuffle., Michael M. Gallgher Jan 2004

Aboilishing The Texas Jury Shuffle., Michael M. Gallgher

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Article argues that the Texas Legislature should abolish the jury shuffle and join the other forty-nine states who have already done so. The jury shuffle, when requested, is a procedure which results in a random shuffling of the names of the jury pool members. Texas attorneys currently possess an entirely cost and risk free procedure through which they can discriminate against potential jurors on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, or anything else that suits their fancy. An attorney can request a jury shuffle without stating a reason and a judge cannot ask why a shuffle was requested or …

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The Texas Courts' Adventures In Locating Texas Coastal Boundaries: Redrawing A Line In The Sand: Kenedy Memorial Foundation V. Dewhurst Defining An Exception To Luttes V. State., Thomas M. Murray Jan 2004

The Texas Courts' Adventures In Locating Texas Coastal Boundaries: Redrawing A Line In The Sand: Kenedy Memorial Foundation V. Dewhurst Defining An Exception To Luttes V. State., Thomas M. Murray

St. Mary's Law Journal

Kenedy Memorial Foundation v. Dewhurst determined the boundary of the Laguna Madre by narrowing the scope of the exception found in Luttes v. State. Luttes established the “mean high tide” test (MHHT), which governs lands controlled by civil law. The MHHT determines a boundary by the mean of the high tide without regard to a summer or winter tide. The exception, however, does not require the application of the MHHT in areas in which tidal gauges could not be used accurately. The Laguna Madre is a shallow strip of water, ranging between three and five miles in width, running between …

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Predatory Paternity Establishment: A Critical Analysis Of The Acknowledgment Of Paternity Process In Texas., Anne Greenwood Jan 2004

Predatory Paternity Establishment: A Critical Analysis Of The Acknowledgment Of Paternity Process In Texas., Anne Greenwood

St. Mary's Law Journal

Child support programs across the nation are struggling to achieve even meager recovery of the financial support children need from their parents. Obtaining child support payments from men who are not fathers and who unknowingly signed their rights away is not a sound long-term policy. States must ensure that children are supported and their custodial mothers receive assistance from non-custodial fathers. Logically, the law should only compel a man to support a child he fathered. If a man chooses to assume not only the financial obligation but also the relationship which belongs to the biological father; then such agreement must …

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United States V. Bean: Shoveling After The Elephant., Pannal Alan Sanders Jan 2004

United States V. Bean: Shoveling After The Elephant., Pannal Alan Sanders

St. Mary's Law Journal

Over the years Congress has enacted and amended several versions of the United States Code (U.S.C) § 925(c). Several reported cases illustrate the courts’ early efforts to develop a coherent body of jurisprudence with respect to the procedural and substantive aspects of U.S.C. § 925(c) judicial review. Specifically, the § 925(c) denials of relief by the Director before the congressional appropriations ban commenced in 1993. Although the methodology and reasoning behind these decisions differ in their details, several themes are discernable. First, even without the express provisions for judicial review added by the Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA), courts consistently …

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Confidentiality, Corporate Counsel, And Competition Law: Representing Multi-National Corporations In The European Union Third Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & Professional Responsibility: Symposium Presentations., Sue Bentch Jan 2004

Confidentiality, Corporate Counsel, And Competition Law: Representing Multi-National Corporations In The European Union Third Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & Professional Responsibility: Symposium Presentations., Sue Bentch

St. Mary's Law Journal

Professional ethics for corporate counsel in the European Union (EU) differs from the standards required in the United States. Consequently, conflicts may arise when US corporations deal with EU countries. For instance, if an issue regarding confidentiality emerges, the company bears the burden to prove to the European Commission that a particular document is protected from disclosure. Under EU’s Regulation 17, the European Commissioner has broad powers to investigate and adjudicate suspected violations of EU competition law. The Commissioner is the equivalent of an investigator, prosecutor, judge, and jury, all rolled into one. If a communication from a company was …

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Playing The Probate Card: A Plaintiff's Guide To Transfer To Statutory Probate Court., Joseph R. Marrs Jan 2004

Playing The Probate Card: A Plaintiff's Guide To Transfer To Statutory Probate Court., Joseph R. Marrs

St. Mary's Law Journal

Plaintiffs and defendants in tort litigation by or against a probate estate can be better-litigated in statutory probate court. Since the 1970s, Texas probate courts have steadily risen to power. The Texas Supreme Court attempted to curtail this practice in Seay v. Hall. The Texas legislature overruled Seay and continued to expanded the jurisdiction of statutory probate courts. Despite the continuing “merry dance” between the legislation and judicial review, the legitimate purpose of expanding lawsuits to probate court remains that of efficiently resolving lawsuits linked to guardianship or decedents’ estates while preserving all parties’ interests. The author uses an example …

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Civillity In The Legal Profession: A Survey Of The Texas Judiciary., Catherine M. Stone, Kimberlyl S. Keller, Shane J. Stolarczyk Jan 2004

Civillity In The Legal Profession: A Survey Of The Texas Judiciary., Catherine M. Stone, Kimberlyl S. Keller, Shane J. Stolarczyk

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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A National Tax Bar: An End To The Attorney-Accountant Tax Turf War., Katherine D. Black, Stephen T. Black Jan 2004

A National Tax Bar: An End To The Attorney-Accountant Tax Turf War., Katherine D. Black, Stephen T. Black

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

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The Charity Oversight Authority Of The Texas Attorney General., John W. Vinson Jan 2004

The Charity Oversight Authority Of The Texas Attorney General., John W. Vinson

St. Mary's Law Journal

The Attorney General of Texas is the only elected official charged with regulating the state’s charitable interest. This duty and authority over charitable assets and entities are comprehensive and unique in themselves. Although the broader state representation role of American attorneys general has evolved considerably and been substantively codified in the statutory law, the area of charity regulations has remained remarkably true to its common law root. This Article will briefly examine the early roots of charity regulation and then discuss the authority and duties of the Attorney General of Texas in the modern context of charity regulation. In Texas, …

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Punishment Evidence: Grunsfeld Ten Years Later., Edward L. Wilkinson Jan 2004

Punishment Evidence: Grunsfeld Ten Years Later., Edward L. Wilkinson

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Article deals with the admissible evidence during the punishment phase of a non-capital trial in Texas. In 1989, the Texas Legislature amended Article 37.07, Section 3(a) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to widen the scope of evidence admissible during the punishment phase of a non-capital trial. Grunsfel v. State, the leading case, the Court of Criminal Appeals interpreted the statute so narrowly as to render the changes meaningless. In 1993, the legislature amended the statute a second time; it provided for a more expansive range of evidence to be introduced, but deleted a critical definition of what …

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The Seat Belt Defense In Texas., Brian T. Bagley Jan 2004

The Seat Belt Defense In Texas., Brian T. Bagley

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Comment calls upon Texas courts to recognize the seat belt defense as a form of comparative responsibility. It has become standard procedure for Americans riding in motor vehicles to “buckle up.” Seat belt usage has risen since 1994, steadily increasing to seventy-five percent in 2002, with an increase of two percent in the last year alone. Many American jurisdictions, however, still refuse to allow evidence of seat belt use or nonuse to be considered in civil suits. Courts do not allow the failure to wear a safety belt in violation of the mandatory seat belt usage statute to be …

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