Case notes
94 notes on Texas anti-SLAPP (TCPA) cases and rulings, newest first. Notes written before September 1, 2019 discuss the earlier version of the statute.
Texas Supreme Court
- Whether And To What Extent May The Court Of Appeals Lift The Statutory Stay During The Appeal In A Texas Anti-SLAPP Case. Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE ANN. § 27.001 et. seq.
- The Texas Supreme Court Rules on a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA Case, While Barely Mentioning the TCPA. The Texas Supreme Court discusses the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law, contracts and the parol evidence rule.
- Texas Supreme Court Discusses Mootness and the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Law If a claim becomes moot, a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, motion to dismiss is frozen in time. If the movant has been denied attorney's fees, they are out of luck.
- Texas Supreme Court Says "Some" Evidence Satisfies the Clear and Specific Requirement in the Texas anti-Slapp law, TCPA. "Some" Evidence Satisfies the Clear and Specific Requirement in the Texas anti-Slapp law, TCPA according to the Texas Supreme Court.
- Anti Slapp Motion Example in Texas An example of a Texas anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss that has been approved by the texas Supreme Court. "This claim should be dismissed because of the TCPA."
- Texas Supreme Court Rules on "Litigation Privilege" or "Attorney Immunity" in an Anti-Slapp Case In Youngkin v. Hines, 546 S.W.3d 675, (Tex. 2018) the Texas Supreme Court decided a case under the Texas Anti-Slapp statute.
- Texas Supreme Court Defines "Matter of Public Concern" in the Anti-Slapp Law In Adams v. Starside Custom Builders LLC, 16-0786, (Tex. April 20, 2018), the Texas Supreme Court reversed the Dallas Court of Appeals, again, when it…
- Texas Supreme Court Defines "commercial-speech exemption" in the Anti-Slapp Law The Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), also know as the Anti-Slapp statute, provides for the expedited dismissal of certain legal actions based on,…
- Attorney's Fees in a Texas Anti-Slapp case The Texas Anti-Slapp statute (TCPA) allows "reasonable" attorney's fees to a person who brings a successful Texas Anti-Slapp motion.
Courts of Appeals
- Attorney's Right to Petition vs. Client's Right to Petition An attorney who represents a client in court, is exercising his own right to petition even though he represents the client.
- Probate, Anti-Slapp and Attorneys Being Sued Attorneys who prepared a will and later filed it for probate were sued by disgruntled heirs. They filed a Anti-Slapp motion which they lost on one part.
- Texas Anti-Slapp appeals - 20 days A notice of appeal in a Texas Anti-Slapp suit must be filed within 20 days whether a party is appealing a denial or granting of the motion,
- Lis Pendens and Texas Anti-Slapp A motion to move and expunge a Lis Pendens is a legal action under the Texas Anti-Slapp (TCPA) statute and can be dismissed on proper proof.
- A remand after finding the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA law applies After finding that the Texas Anti-SLAPP law applied, the appeals court remanded the case to the trial court so the non-movant could put on evidence.
- Can you appeal an oral order denying an anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss? If the trial judge orally denies a motion to dismiss under the Texas Anti-SLAPP law, you may not be able to file an interlocutory appeal.
- Nonsuits and the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA law - not Always? A nonsuit after a motion to dismiss under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA law does not affect the motion to dismiss but it can, in some circumstances.
- A Motion for Sanctions is not a "Legal Action" under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA LAW Seeking sanctions for misconduct in litigation, is not a legal action under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA law since they look at attorney conduct.
- Under the Texas Anti-SLAPP Law, Attorney Immunity Doesn't Apply to Suits by Clients Under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA law, attorney immunity does not apply if the suit is a client suing. Attorney immunity only applies to suits by non-clients.
- Attorney Immunity Under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA Law You can't sue the attorney on the other side for actions that a lawyer normally does in the process of representing his client. TexasAnti-SLAPP.
- Rule 91a Motions and Motions to Transfer are not Legal Actions under the TCPA Court ruled that the Texas Anti-SLAPP statute did not apply to a motion to transfer and a motion to dismiss under Rule 91a they are not legal actions.
- Suit to Remove Trustee as a Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA Claim Even in stodgy old probate and trust law, like a suit to remove a trustee, attorney's might find the need to file or respond to a Texas Anti-Slapp claim.
- Effect of Special Exceptions on Filing Deadlines in a TCPA Claim This article discusses the issue of how sustained special exceptions and factual allegations affect the deadlines in Texas Anti-SLAPP cases.
- Non-monetary sanctions and punitive sanctions are not allowed by the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, statute Plaintiff sued defendant for defamation.
- Only communications by the movant are protected by the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, statute The communication that is protected by the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, statute is the movant's communication, not the non-movant's communication. In this suit,…
- Filing a Texas anti-SLAPP motion after an injunction hearing is frivolous Trade secrets, non-compete, etc.
- A Texas anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss based on "a matter of public concern" must contain evidence of that concern Clearview sued Stroud for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of non-compete agreement.
- Texas anti-SLAPP does not encompass a motion for sanctions alleging discovery abuse A motion for sanctions, can it be dismissed under the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA? The law was amended by the 2019 legislature effective Sept. 1, 2019. The new…
- How Much Discovery Is Too Much Discovery In A Texas anti-SLAPP Case When a Texas anti-SLAPP motion to dismiss has been filed, all proceedings in the trial court, including discovery, or stayed. The trial court can allow…
- When The Judge Fails To Rule - Contrast Between Rule 91a And The Texas anti-Slapp Statute When the judge fails to rule on a motion to dismiss under the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, statute, the results are different from a failure rule on a Rule 91a…
- All Causes Of Action Pleaded In A Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case Must Be Addressed Statute
- In A Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case, If The Non-Movant Raises The Commercial Speech Exemption, You Must Address It Or You May Lose Suit over violation of employment agreement.
- The Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Law Applies to Lawyer Discipline Disciplinary proceeding against attorney.
- Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Does Not Apply to 3rd Party Subpoenas The Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law may not apply to discovery motions. It does not apply to 3rd party subpoenas according to the Dallas Court of Appeals
- Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Doesn't Apply If It Would Be "Illogical" Or If It Would Cause "Absurd Result" The Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law may not apply to stealing trade secrets althought other Texas courts have determined that it does apply to those claims.
- Evidence in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case The Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law requires evidence but what evidence. This article discusses what evidence is required and what is not required.
- Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Attorney Immunity, Commercial Speech and Rule 202 Pre-suit Depositions Rule 202 pre-suit deposition
- The Right of Association Requires More Than Two People in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Claim (1) breach of fiduciary duty, (2) money had and received, (3) declaratory judgment, (4) attorney's fees, and (5) exemplary and punitive damages.
- Denial of Attorney's Fees in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case - Interlocutory Appeal If a trial court grants a motion to dismiss under the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, but denies attorney's fees, you can only file a regular appeal, not an…
- Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Hospital Liens and Declaratory Judgments The Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law is involked when a patient files a declaratory judgment action in a suit where a hospital has filed a lien.
- Examples of Sanctions in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, CASE These are examples of mandatory sanctions that have been awarded or upheld by the courts in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, case.
- Under the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Attorney's Fees Cannot be Overruled by Operation of Law If a trial court grants a motion to dismiss under the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, but doesn't award attorney's fees immediately, the award is not overruled by…
- Are You Entitled to Pro Bono Attorney's Fees in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case? In a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, case, if the attorneys for the movant are working pro bono or working without a contract, does the movant "incur" attorney's fees?
- In a Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Motion to Dismiss, General Allegations that Merely Recite the Elements of a Cause of Action are not Clear and Specific Evidence General Allegations that Merely Recite the Elements of a Cause of Action are not Clear and Specific Evidence
- If a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Motion to Dismiss Could Have Been Filed but was not, do the Courts Lack Subject Matter Jurisdiction? Failing to file a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, motion to dismiss does not deprive the court of subject matter jurisdiction. A motion must be filed.
- In a Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case, Should the Court Consider Evidence in a Light Most Favorable to the Nonmovant Lindamood sued Mogged, et al. for defamation
- Failing to Respond Under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA, may be Fatal Failing to Respond Completely Under the Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA, may be Fatal. This is a suit between attorneys over splitting contingency fees.
- Under the TCPA, Conditional Appellate Attorney's Fees are Required The trial court must award conditional awards of attorney's fees for appeals in a Texas Anti-Slapp case if a motion to dismiss is granted.
- An Interlocutory Appeal Under the Texas anti-SLAPP Law, Tolls the Deadlines in a Separate anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss Filed by a Third Party in the Same Case. After a motion to dismiss under the Texas anti-SLAPP law was denied, the movant filed an interlocutory appeal. Sullo v. Kubosh, 01-18-00418-CV, (Tex. App. -…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP Motion and Subject Matter Jurisdiction In Offshore Express, Inc. v. Klein Investigations and Consulting, 09-17-00333-CV, (Tex. App. - Beaumont December 13, 2018), the trial court had entered…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP, Non-Suit and Proof of Damages In Barker v. Hurst, No. 01-17-00838-CV, 2018 WL 3059795, at 8 (Tex. App.-Houston [1st Dist.] June 21, 2018, no pet.) (mem. op.), a school principal,…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP Law, TCPA, Facebook and Flyers In Minett v. Snowden, 05-18-00003-CV, (Tex. App. Dallas June 12, 2018) (mem. op) (pet. denied), a candidate for school board, Snowden, filed suit against a…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP law (TCPA) and Home Owner's Associations (HOA) Does the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) often referred to as the Texas Anti-Slapp law, apply to a Home Owner's Association or HOA suing a home…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP, SAPCR and Prima Facie Case by Nonmovant Who Filed No Evidence In Smith v. Malone, 05-18-00216-CV, (Tex. App. - Dallas November 27, 2018), a suit affecting the parent child relationship (SAPCR), an unmarried couple had…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP law, the Singer Salena and Declaratory Judgments "Deleb” is a term used by the entertainment industry for a deceased celebrity whose estate continues to generate substantial revenues after the death of the…
- What is the Triggering Document for Deadline Purposes in a Texas Anti-SLAPP case In Mancilla v. Taxfree Shopping, LTD, 05-18-00136-CV, (Tex. App. - Dallas, November 16, 2018) the court had to decide what filing was the triggering…
- Texas Anti-SLAPP Law, Veterinarians and Commercial Speech In Giri v. Estep, 03-17-00759-CV, (Tex. App.-Austin May 4, 2018) (mem. op.), the appeals court had to decide if the commercial-speech exemption of the Texas…
- Interplay Between the Texas Anti-SLAPP Statute and the Principle of "Law Of The Case" In Cummins v. Lollar, 07-16-00337-CV, Tex. App. - Fort Worth May 3, 2018, pet. denied) the court determined that the facts in a new lawsuit were…
- Texas anti-SLAPP Law and Nonsuit, Breach of Contract, Waiver and Oil and Gas In Lona Hills Ranch, LLC v. Creative Oil & Gas Operating, LLC, No. 03-17-00743-CV, (Tex. App. - Austin April 19, 2018) the appeals court had to determine if…
- Can Trial Court Deny A Texas Anti-Slapp Motion Without Following The Framework Of The Statute In Reeves v. Harbor Am. Cent., Inc., 14-17-00518-CV (Tex. App. - Houston [14th] June 27, 2018), an employee sued his former company for failing to pay…
- Under The Texas Anti-Slapp Law, Can The Non-Movant Recover Attorney's Fees In Sullivan v. Tex. Ethics Comm'n, 03-17-00392-CV, (Tex. App. - Austin May 17, 2018), the appeals court had to decide whether the winning non-movant in a…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law And Hospital Liens In East Texas Medical Center, Athens v. Hernandez, 12-17-00333-CV, (Tex. App. - Tyler May 31, 2018 pet. denied) (mem. op.) the plaintiff was injured in a…
- The Texas Anti-Slapp Interlocutory Appeal Time limit Is Not Extended By A Motion For New Trial In McCormick v. Connor, 03-18-00031-CV, (Tex. App. - Austin, May 2, 2018) (mem. op), an interlocutory appeal was filed under the Texas Anti-Slapp or TCPA…
- Doctors Fighting and the Texas Anti-Slapp Law In Price v. Buschemeyer, 12-17-00180-CV, (Tex. App - Tyler, March 29, 2018)(mem. op.), the court had to decide if and how the Texas Anti-Slapp or TCPA…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law And Breach Of Contract In Toth v. SEARS HOME IMPROVEMENT PRODUCTS, INC., 14-17-00615-CV, (Tex. App. - Houston [14th] May 10, 2018) the court had to decide if the commercial speech…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law's Right To Associate Has To Be Your Right Not Other's Right In LFMC Enters., LLC v. Baker, 01-17-00558-CV (Tex. App. - Houston [1st] March 27 2018) a bar patron was injured in a fight at a bar.
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law and Divorce In Collins v. Collins, No. 01-17-00817-CV, (Tex. App. - Houston[1st Dist.], March 15, 2018) (mem. op.) Corinna Collins, the former wife of Bryant Collins,…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law and Interlocutory Appeals In Cavin v. Eagle Radiology, PLLC, No. 03-18-00073-CV, (Tex. App. - Austin April 30, 2018), the central issue was whether or not a party can appeal the…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law and Quasi-Judicial Immunity In COMAL AG OPERATIONS, LLC v. Kelley, No. 04-17-00692-CV (Tex.App. - San Antonio February 15, 2018) Comal Ag sued two individuals for defamation. The…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law and Actionable Words versus Opinions In Garcia v. Seguy, No. 13-16-00616-CV, (Tex. App. - Corpus Christi February 15, 2018), the appeals court had to decide if under the Texas Citizens…
- Texas Citizen's Participation Law and "Equitable and Just" Attorney's Fees Anti-Slapp in Texas
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law Appeal Before Hearing Anti-Slapp in Texas
- When is Speech a "Bodily Injury" Which is Exempted Under the Texas Anti-Slapp Law Anti-Slapp in Texas
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law and Cease and Desist Letters Morales is an attorney. He sued Barnes on behalf of Barnes ex-wife alleging assault. During the litigation, Morales sent two letters to Barnes employers.
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law and Trade Secrets This case seemed like a run of the mill trade secret and "confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information" case. The defendants were former…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Law Motion to Dismiss and a Timely Hearing The Texas anti-SLAPP law, TCPA, requires a timely hearing before a party can appeal. The record must show that a party requested a hearing.
- Texas Anti-Slapp Statute or TCPA, and Declaratory Judgments In Dolcefino v. Cypres Creek EMS, No. 01-17-00254-CV, (Tex. App. - Houston [1], December 19, 2017,Dolcefino, a journalist, asked for information from CCEMS…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Statute or TCPA and the Defamation Mitigation Act (DMA) In Hearst Newspapers, et. al. v. Status Lounge Incorporated, No. 14-17-00310-CV, (Tex. App. - Houston [14th], December 19, 2017, the court discussed the…
- Under the Texas Anti-Slapp law is saying "I won't do it again" Sufficient to Avoid Mandatory Sanctions The Texas Anti-Slapp statute provides that the trial court shall award sanctions to a person who brings a successful Texas Anti-Slapp motion. The Fort Worth…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Statute And Defamation Per Se In Van Der Linden, v. Khan, No. 02-16-00374-CV (Tex. App. – Fort Worth, November 9, 2017), the court had a good discussion on defamation per se in the…
- Texas Anti-Slapp And Pre-Suit Depositions Under Rule 202 In Puig et. al. v. Hejtmancik,,(Tex. App. – Houston [14th] November 14, 2017), the court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction because there was no record…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Motion Survives A Motion To Nonsuit In DUCHOUQUETTE v. PRESTIGIOUS PETS, LLC, No. 05-16-01163-CV (Tex. App. - Dallas, November 6, 2017), a husband and wife left their pets, including their…
- Texas Anti-Slapp Deadlines Are Not Optional The deadlines in the Texas anti-SLAPP law, TCPA, must be followed. There must be information in the record that the timelimits were met.
- Texas Anti-Slapp Appeal Rights Without A Hearing The Texas anti-SLAPP law, TCPA, requires a timely hearing. If the trial court will not set a hearing, the record must show that a hearing was requested.
- Texas Anti-Slapp Motion Against An Anti-Slapp Motion In PAULSEN v. YARRELL, No. 01-16-00061-CV, (Tex. App. Houston[1st] October 12, 2017) the Houston court was asked to decide if the Texas Anti-Slapp statute,…
- Texas Anti-Slapp And Routine Collection Suit This case began as a routine collections suit. It turned into a Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA) case. MVS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, et al v.…
Federal courts
Legislature
- Rep. Leach Tones Down His Amendment To The Texas anti-SLAPP Statute And It Becomes Law Rep. Jeff Leach, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence (Chair), had introduced HB 2730 which makes major changes to the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law. The bill as…
- Deadlines in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Case The deadlines in a Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, case are set out in the statute. Knowing those deadlines can mean the difference between winning and losing.
- Is Texans for Lawsuit Reform behind the Attempt to Reform the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Law Who giains by weakening the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA? Individuals who get sued in a SLAPP suit or those who would have their suits dismissed by anti-SLAP law?
- Sen. Paxton Introduces Bill To Amend Texas Anti-SLAPP, TCPA, LAW Sen. Paxton has introduced a bill that would make major changes in the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law.
- Representative Moody Introduces Bill to Amend Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Law Representative Joe Moody has introduced HB 3547, a bill to amend the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, law. Moody from El Paso currently serves as Speaker Pro Tempore…
- Rep. Leach Introduces Amendment to the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA, Law A bill (HB2730) to modify the Texas anti-SLAPP, TCPA law has been introduced in the 2019 Texas legislative session. It was introduced by Rep. Leach.
Notes
- Change of direction I am changing this blog to focus on the average attorney handling average cases that might occasionally file or encounter a Texas anti-slap motion.
- I Have Been Appointed as a Delegate to the State Bar Resolutions Committee at the Annual Meeting The committee is part of the State Bar of Texas Annual Meeting in Austin and considers resolutions submitted for review and approval. "Any resolutions…
