CIVIL/FAMILY

CAUSE NO: D-1-FM-22-005482; IN THE INTEREST OF L.P., A CHILD

JUDGE: CATHERINE MAUZY

DATES: June 2-6, 2025              

ATTORNEYS:   

Petitioner: Gracie Wood Shepherd, Friday Milner Lambert Turner [Austin]

Respondent:   Rob Frazer, Goranson Bain Ausley, PLLC [Austin]

SUMMARY: Petitioner Erikka Walor filed a motion to modify the parent-child relationship, requesting that she be appointed sole managing conservator. Respondent Frederick Pevar, filed a counter-petition to modify the parent-child relationship. A jury of 10 found that the joint managing conservatorship should be replaced by a sole managing conservatorship and awarded the sole managing conservator of L.P. to Petitioner Erikka Walor.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-21-004840; JOHN LEWIS MCCARDLE v. JOSEPH JEFFERSON JOHNSON

JUDGE: CORY LIU

DATES: June 3-4, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: Price Ainsworth, Lorenz and Lorenz PLLC [Austin]

Defendants: Lauren Lewis, Mehaffy Weber, P.C. [Beaumont]

SUMMARY: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle driven by the defendant. Plaintiff claimed Defendant was the cause of the accident, which occurred in October 2019. A jury of nine found Defendant 60 percent and Plaintiff 40 percent responsible. Damages awarded: Past physical pain and mental anguish - $0; future physical pain and mental anguish - $0; past physical impairment - $15,000; past reasonable medical care expenses - $7,000; past loss wages - $5,000; past disfigurement - $30,000; and future disfigurement - $30,000.

CAUSE NO.: C-1-CV-20-005096; MERLE DAPITON FRIZELL v. ALFONSO J. CALVEART HERNANDEZ

JUDGE: ERIC SHEPPERD

DATES: June 10, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: Thomas Pronske, Lorenz and Lorenz, LLP [Austin]

Defendant: Jenny Forehand, Meynier, Liber, Matte, Hofland & Del Valle [San Antonio]

SUMMARY: Plaintiff claimed she was injured when she entered the intersection after stopping at a flashing red light in March 2019. A jury of five found the plaintiff responsible for the accident.

CAUSE NO: D-1-GN-22-003511; JOHNSON-POWER CONSTRUCTION, INC. v. PAIGE MYCOSKIE

JUDGE: JAN SOIFER

DATES: June 24 - 26, 2025     

ATTORNEYS:   

Plaintiff: Brian Bishop, Law office of Brian W. Bishop [Austin]

Defendant: Brian Buster, Hajjar Peters, LLP [Austin]

SUMMARY: Plaintiff sued the defendant due to a dispute over payments for residential construction and remodel of the plaintiff’s home in Austin, Texas. A unanimous jury found that the defendant failed to pay the plaintiff promptly for properly performing construction work, services, and/or materials. The jury awarded money to the plaintiff to fairly and reasonably compensate for the unpaid amount - $213,358.01. The jury also found that the plaintiff performed compensable work for which the plaintiff was not compensated in the amount of $304,797.16. The jury then awarded attorney’s fees: Representation through trial and completion of proceedings in the trial court - $193,208.00; in the court of appeals - $50,000; in the Supreme Court of Texas - $25,000.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-000923; DAMARIS PAYNE v. ISABELLE MARIE WILLI

JUDGE: DANIELLA DESETA LYTTLE

DATES: June 24 - 27, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: Nathan Kennedy/Alexander Maxwell Caruso, The Carlson Law Firm PC [Austin]

Defendant: David Plaut/Scot Talbot, Hanna and Plaut, LLP [Austin]

SUMMARY: Plaintiff was traveling in Buda, Hays County, Texas, and the defendant was coming out of a parking lot when the accident occurred in June 2022. A unanimous jury found that Defendant 95 percent and Plaintiff five percent responsible. Damages awarded: Past physical pain and mental anguish - $120,000; future physical pain and mental anguish - $15,000; past physical impairment - $30,000.00; future physical impairment - $30,000; necessary medical care expenses - $263,512.98.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-003243; DESTINY MAYFIELD v. GITONGA BUNDI

JUDGE: CATHERINE MAUZY

DATES: June 23-26, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: C, Brooks Schuelke, Schuelke Law Firm, PLLC [Austin]

Defendants: Sean Hoffman, Skelton & Woody, PLLC [Austin]

SUMMARY: Plaintiff claimed she was injured due to Defendant’s negligence in 2022. A unanimous jury awarded the following damages: Past physical pain - $1,000; past mental anguish - $2,000; past physical impairment - $1,000; past medical care expenses - $11,000.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-22-006523; MARSH DEEPAK THANKIAH, VINCENT, BEENA LAL BABU JAMAL

LAL and ARUL MICHAEL v. JOSEPH CROSS RAJA and RASHITHA RAJA.

JUDGE: JESSICA MANGRUM

DATES: June 24-30, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiffs: Dov Preminger, Preminger PLLC [Austin]

Defendants: Jason Sheffield, Naman Howell Smith and Lee, PLLC [Austin]

SUMMARY: Plaintiffs claimed that Defendants made fraudulent representations regarding a restaurant investment. On June 27, 2025, the jury returned a verdict finding that both Defendants Joseph and Rashitha Raja failed to comply with a material term of their agreement with Plaintiffs Marsh and Beena. Ex. 1. The jury also found that Plaintiffs substantially relied to their detriment on Defendants’ promise, and that the reliance was foreseeable. The jury further found that Defendants committed fraud against Plaintiffs. The jury awarded restitution damages of $70,000 for breach of contract. The jury did not award damages for promissory estoppel or fraud, and did not award exemplary damages. The jury further awarded Plaintiffs $63,000 in attorney’s fees as well as conditional fees in case of appeal. With respect to Plaintiff Arul Michael, the jury found that Joseph Raja failed to comply with a material term of his agreements with Michael with respect to the restaurant Kitchen Del Mar and the property at Newberry Drive. The jury did not find Raja liable for personal loans. The jury did not find Rashitha Raja liable to Plaintiff Michael on any claims. The jury found that Plaintiff Michael substantially relied to his detriment on Raja’s promise, and that the reliance was foreseeable. The jury did not find that Defendants committed fraud against Michael. On the breach of contract claim, the jury awarded Michael the sum of $293,000 in damages for loss of the benefit of the bargain; $15,000 in damages for reliance; and $54,000 in damages for restitution, for a total of $362,000 in actual damages. The jury did not award damages for promissory estoppel and did not award exemplary damages. The jury further awarded Michael $73,000 in attorney’s fees, as well as conditional fees in case of appeal.

CRIMINAL

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-25-904036; STATE OF TEXAS v. MAURYS MADRUGA-MESA

JUDGE: BRAD URRUTIA

DATES: June 20-25, 2025        

ATTORNEYS:   

State of Texas: Kate Hall

Defendant: Raymond Espersen

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse, which allegedly occurred in May 2024. The jury found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to five years community supervision. In addition, he was required to register as a sex offender. [Note: A previous jury trial was declared a mistrial on June 2, 2025].

CAUSE NO: C-1-CR-23-211904; STATE OF TEXAS v. ANTHONY THOMPSON

JUDGE: MARY ANN ESPIRITU

DATES: June 23-24, 2025

ATTORNEYS:   

State of Texas: Brooks Lachowsk

Defendant: Robin Baessler

SUMMARY: A complaint was filed against the defendant for operating a vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. The jury acquitted the defendant.

ADDITIONAL MAY CASES:

 CAUSE NO.: C-1-CV-23-004014; ADONIS ADRANA v. BRIAN ALEXUS AVILA-VELAZQUEZ

JUDGE: TODD WONG

DATES: May 19-21, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: Carolyn Brown, Lorenz and Lorenz, PLLC [Austin]

Defendant: Danny Barber, Keramidas Law Firm [Richardson]

SUMMARY: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle and claims the defendant’s negligence caused her injury in November 2022. A jury of five found that the defendant was responsible for the accident. The jury awarded the following damages: Past physical pain and mental anguish - $650; past physical impairment - $650; reasonable expenses of necessary medical care - $8,209.80; and past loss of earning capacity - $0.

CAUSE NO: C-1-CR-24-211242/211243; STATE OF TEXAS v. SAMUEL PERKINS

JUDGE: BIANCA GARCIA

DATES: May 13-14, 2025

ATTORNEYS:   

State of Texas: Trevor Mathes

Defendant: Miguel Aguilera

SUMMARY: Defendant was allegedly charged with criminal trespass as of Oct. 2024. The jury found the defendant guilty of trespass but not guilty of evading arrest.