Civil

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-16-002071; ROBERT LINDSAY DUNCAN and MOLLY DUNCAN v.

ESTATE OF CHERYL WHEELER SANDERS and ESTATE OF ROBERT REED SANDERS

JUDGE: AMY CLARK MEACHUM

DATES: September 9 - 13, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

Plaintiffs: Cory W. Smith, Cory W. Smith, PLLC

Defendants: Damon A. Goff, Goff Law Firm, PLLC

SUMMARY: Plaintiffs claim that the Defendant, Cheryl Sanders wrote a malicious letter that stated the Plaintiffs committed corporate fraud and sent the correspondence to various persons/organizations. The petition further claims after an investigation, Defendant, Cheryl Sanders recanted her story. Both Defendants tried to extort money from the Plaintiffs. Sometime during the pendency of the lawsuit, both Defendants died. A unanimous jury found that the Defendants committed an assault against the Plaintiffs. The jury further found that the Defendant, Cheryl Wheeler Sanders did not maliciously prosecute the Plaintiff, Robert Lindsay Duncan. The damages awarded: [Cheryl Wheeler Sanders] Robert Lindsay Duncan – Past physical pain and mental anguish - $2,000,000; Future physical pain and mental anguish - $450,000; Molly Duncan – Past physical pain and mental anguish - $3,000,000; Future physical pain and mental anguish - $600,000; [Robert Reed Sanders] Robert Lindsay Duncan – Past physical pain and mental anguish - $1,500,000; Future physical pain and mental anguish - $300,000; Molly Duncan – Past physical pain and mental anguish - $3,000,000; Future physical pain and mental anguish - $1,000,000.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-22-001344; OVERLOOK AT LEWIS MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY, INC. v. JOHN SPEER and SARA SOUERBRY

JUDGE: JAN SOIFER

DATES: September 9 - 13, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

Plaintiff: Gregory Cagle, Cagle Pugh

Defendants: John G. Lione, The Fowler Law Firm, PC

SUMMARY: Plaintiffs claim that Defendants fence as constructed deviated materially from the location and design as approved by the Architectural Committee. A jury of 10 found that the Defendants Speer/Souerbry did not fail to comply with the declaration by construction a fence on the Defendants property without the prior written approval of the Architectural committee. The jury further found that the architectural committee did not determine that the fence at the Defendants property material deviated from the fence as approved by the architectural committee.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-24-002137; MARGARET LISCHKA v. JOEL SALINAS and MV TRANSPORTATION

JUDGE: MAYA GUERRA GAMBLE

DATES: September 10 - 13, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

Plaintiff: Nick Wooten, DJC Law, PLLC

Defendants: Jacqueline A. Gerber, Mayer LLP

SUMMARY: This case was transferred from County Court to District Court. The Plaintiff claims that on or about Feb. 2020, she was driving in downtown Austin when the Defendant Joe Salinas driving a Capital Metro bus rear-ended the Plaintiff. Unanimous jury found that the Defendant, MV Transportation employee Joel Salinas was negligent. Damages awarded: Past physical pain - $50,000.00; Future physical pain - $0; Past mental anguish - $90,000.00; Future mental anguish - $10,000.00; Past physical impairment - $50,000.00; Future physical impairment - $0.00; Past disfigurement - $0.00; Future disfigurement - $0.00.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-22-003133; RODRIGO LOPEZ V. ALTHEA SIMON, IND. and MV TRANSPORTATION

JUDGE: JESSICA MANGRUM

DATES: September 23 - 27, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

Plaintiff: Nicholas Wooten, DJC Law, PLLC

Defendants: Jacqueline A. Gerber, Mayer LLP

SUMMARY: Plaintiff claims he was a passenger in a Capital Metro bus and was injured when the driver failed to stop at a red light and hit another vehicle. A jury of 10 found that the Defendants were negligent. They awarded the following damages: Past physical pain - $25,000; Future physical pain - $0,00; Past mental anguish - $25,000.00; Future mental anguish - $0.00; Past physical impairment - $25,000; Future physical impairment - $0.00; Past medical care expenses - $50,000; Future medical care expenses - $0.00. The jury did not find gross negligence.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-FM-24-000594; IN THE INTEREST OF C.A.G., A CHILD

JUDGE: DANIELLA DYSETTA LYTTLE

DATES: September 24 - 27, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

Petitioner: Perry Minton, Minton, Bassett, Flores and Carsey, P.C.

Respondent: Rob Frasier, Goranson, Bain, Ausley, PLLC

SUMMARY: Petitioner father filed the Original Petition in Suit affecting the parent-child relationship. Respondent mother filed counter-petition. A jury of 11 awarded exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child to the Respondent's mother.

Criminal

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-24-904077; STATE OF TEXAS v. FRANK ESTRADA, III

JUDGE: KAREN SAGE

DATES: Aug. 27 - Sept. 3, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Katherine West

Defendant: Shara McDonald Dixon

SUMMARY: In 1997, the Defendant was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of the victim in concert with 2 other individuals. The jury found the Defendant guilty of Violation of Protective Order. [This case consolidated 3 separate felony cases and 1 misdemeanor case]

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-19-301573; STATE OF TEXAS v. DAVERNE FOY

JUDGE: JON WISSER

DATES: Sept. 9 - 11, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Kate Hall

Defendant: Jason Katims, Law Office of Jason Katims, PLLC

SUMMARY: In 1997, the Defendant was indicted for aggravated sexual assault of the victim in concert with 2 other individuals. The jury found the Defendant not guilty of the offense of Aggravated Sexual Assault.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-22-301556; STATE OF TEXAS v. MONTAVIAN CARLYSLE

JUDGE: BRENDA KENNEDY

DATES: Sept. 16 – 19, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Jason Rew-Hunter

Defendant: Bristol Myers

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for shooting the victim in the head with a firearm. Jury convicted Defendant of Aggravated Assault with Serious Bodily Injury with a Deadly Weapon. The jury sentenced the Defendant to 4 years in prison and declined to place him on community service.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-24-904004; STATE OF TEXAS v. DAVID POLONIA TRINIDAD

JUDGE: MIKE DENTON

DATES: Sept. 16 – 20, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: John D. Castro

Defendant: Luis Ortiz, Travis County Public Defender’s Office

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for causing serious bodily injury to a child. The Defendant pled out after the jury informed the Court that they hit an impasse, 8 – 4 and did not believe they could reach a unanimous decision. The Court convicted the Defendant of 5 years at TDCJ.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-22-500412; STATE OF TEXAS v. JASON LISS

JUDGE: CHANTAL ELDRIDGE

DATES: Sept. 16 – 19, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Misa Mujevic Dzodic

Defendant: Kleon Constatine Andreadis

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for causing bodily injury to a member of the Defendant’s family. He was convicted of Assault family violence and was sentenced to 20 years in TDCJ.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-22-202634; STATE OF TEXAS v. DAVID ONTIVEROS

JUDGE: SELENA ALVARENGA

DATES: Sept. 16 – 24, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Jazmine Smith

Defendant: Krista Chacona

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for shooting his wife and step-son. Mr. Ontivero claimed self-defense. He was convicted of Capital Murder of Multiple Persons and was sentenced to a life sentence in TDCJ.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-23-302899; STATE OF TEXAS v. DUBLAIS VASQUEZ

JUDGE: MELISSA GOODWIN

DATES: Sept. 24 - 26, 2024

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Robb Sheperd

Defendant: Kate Hall

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for kidnapping an individual, hiding her then inflicting bodily injury on the individual. Defendant was convicted of Aggravated Kidnapping and 2 counts of Sexual Assault. Defendant was sentenced to at least 60 years in TDCJ.