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The Austin Bar is co-sponsoring a CLE on practicing in Texas' major urban counties. 201st District Court Judge Amy Clark Meachum will be one of the panelists.

This event is held in conjunction with the Tarrant County, Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio bar associations and is free for all members of each organization.

Date: June 10, 2025

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Cost: Free for bar members

Credit: 1.00 CLE

Register here.

In the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Pete Gallego, former U.S. Congressman.

Watch on YouTube.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Listen on Spotify.

Posted by: Billy Huntsman

CIVIL/FAMILY

CAUSE NO.: C-1-CV-24-000300; SAMER CHABAN VS. KATHY MOBARRA, ARMAN ESHRAGHI

JUDGE: TODD WONG

DATES: April 22, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: Michael Navarre, Law Office of Thomas J. Henry

Defendants: Brian McGiverin, Austin Community Law Center (Austin)

SUMMARY: The defendants appealed the eviction judgment entered on Jan. 8, 2024. A unanimous jury found that the plaintiff was entitled to possession of the home as of Nov. 30, 2023. Reasonable and necessary legal fees awarded as follows: Representation in justice of the peace court and county court at law – $65,000; court of appeals – $15,000; petition for review with the Supreme Court of Texas – $0; merits briefing stage with the Supreme Court of Texas – $2,500; representation through oral argument and the completion of proceedings with Supreme Court of Texas – $5,000.

CAUSE NO.: D-1-GN-23-001795; MICHAEL CODA v. PAUL LIST and TEMPERATURE PRO AUSTIN

JUDGE: CATHERINE MAUZY

DATES: April 22 – 24, 2025

ATTORNEYS:     

Plaintiff: Joseph Barrientos, Thomas J. Henry Injury Attorneys (San Antonio)

Defendants: Andrew Neal/Tabor Dorsey, Skelton & Woody, PLLC (Austin)

SUMMARY: The plaintiff claims injury because of a vehicular accident in Oct. 2021.  A jury of 10 found Michael Coda and Paul List each 50 percent negligent. Jury awarded: Past medical care expenses – $17,765; past physical pain and mental anguish – $7,500; future physical pain and mental anguish – $2,500; future physical pain and mental anguish – $2,500.

CAUSE NO: D-1-FM-23-008164; IN THE MATTER OF THE MARRIAGE OF ERIKA MARIE SOTO VS. JORGE ADRIAN SOTO AND IN THE INTEREST OF O.S., A CHILD

JUDGE: DANIELLA DESETA LYTTLE

DATES: April 22-28, 2025    

ATTORNEYS: 

Petitioner: Slave Talavera/Valeria Lozano-Muncy, Slav Law PC (Austin)

Respondent: Marshall Sales/John Hennan, Hennan/Culp PLLC (Austin)

SUMMARY: Petitioner filed for divorce, requesting a disproportionate share of the parties’ estate due to various reasons, including fault in the breakup of the marriage. Respondent filed a counter-petition. A jury of 10 named Erika Soto as the joint managing conservator with exclusive right to designate the primary residence of the child with a geographic restriction of Travis County.

CRIMINAL

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-23-302250; 302260; STATE OF TEXAS v. JAVONTE DAVIS

JUDGE: KAREN SAGE

DATES: April 7-9, 2025         

ATTORNEYS: 

State of Texas: Katherine West, Assistant District Attorney

Defendant: Raymond M. Espersen (Austin)

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that occurred in July 2023. The jury found the defendant guilty and confined to 14 years in TDCJ prison.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-24-202066; STATE OF TEXAS v. ADAM RAY BROWN

JUDGE: SELENA ALVARENGA

DATES: April 7-17, 2025

ATTORNEYS: 

State of Texas: Jacob Salinas, Asst. District Attorney

Defendant: Charles Baird (Austin)

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for a murder that occurred on or about March 23, 2024. The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in TDCJ by the jury.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-24-904076; STATE OF TEXAS v. OMAR CORTES-CASTILLO

JUDGE: BRAD URRUTIA

DATES: April 14-16, 2025      

ATTORNEYS:

State of Texas: Kathyrn Moynahan Hall, Assistant District Attorney

Defendant: Gilbert Martinez (Austin)

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted on two counts of sexual assault and attempt to commit sexual assault in October 2022. The defendant was found guilty on all counts. His confinement of 10 years was suspended, and the jury ordered him to serve eight years of probation.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-25-904008; STATE OF TEXAS v. JUVENTINO LOPEZ-DOLORES

JUDGE: MIKE DENTON

DATES: April 21-25, 2025      

ATTORNEYS: 

State of Texas: Tamara Marshall, Asst. District Attorney

Defendant: Brian Burns, (Conroe) and Christopher Warren, Cowboy Law Group, PLLC (Woodlands)

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and indecency with a child. A mistrial was declared after an Allen charge. Case reset for jury trial on May 28, 2025.

CAUSE NO: D-1-DC-20-900078; STATE OF TEXAS v. JERRIS HARRIS

JUDGE: P. DAVID WAHLBERG

DATES: April 21-24, 2025      

ATTORNEYS: 

State of Texas: TJ Harris, Asst. District Attorney

Defendant: Jessica Shaye Freud/Michael Watson (Austin)

SUMMARY: Defendant was indicted for aggravated sexual assault on or about Aug. 18, 2018. The jury found the defendant guilty of aggravated sexual assault but did not find that the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon. The court sentenced the defendant to 25 years in TDCJ.

The Austin Bar is excited to invite you to join our new Insurance Section!

The Insurance Section will have a kick-off mixer and CLE at Hilgers House on May 29. Everyone is invited!

Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025

Time: 4 - 6:30 p.m.

Location: Hilgers House, 712 W. 16th St. (may relocate depending on attendance)

Cost: FREE for members

Register here.

This is the Austin Bar's 28th section and is for policyholder/carrier-side/first-party/ liability counsel; defense counsel; plaintiff's counsel; and mediators.

The section's regular meeting time is currently being decided.

Annual dues are $35.

CLE topics and events will be decided at a meeting in the fall.

Chair: Melissa Carr, DuBois Bryant & Campbell

Chair-Elect: Andrew Van Osselaer, Haynes Boone

Attorneys in their first 10 years of practice are invited to attend a mentorship lunch with U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman. Limited to the first 10 attorneys to RSVP.

Date: May 30, 2025

Time: 12 - 1 p.m.

Location: Federal Courthouse, 501 W. 5th St.

RSVP here.

Samantha McCoy, Jillian French, Ryan Pitts, and Abigail Ventress have been elected to the AYLA Board of Directors. Their terms will start on July 1, 2025, and will run until June 30, 2027. Congratulations!

Blair Leake, Will Hailey, Kara O'Shaughnessy, and Brian Levy have been elected to serve on the Austin Bar Board of Directors. Their terms will start on July 1, 2025, and will run until June 30, 2027. Congratulations!

The Austin chapters of American Inns of Court are accepting applications for the 2025-2026 terms. The American Inns of Court are designed to improve the skills, professionalism and ethics of the bench and bar. Information about the American Inns of Court can be found at www.innsofcourt.org. Each Inn meets monthly. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2025. Interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, a current resume, and two letters of recommendation to the membership chairs below.

Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court

The Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court is the first Inn established in Austin has been awarded Platinum recognition by the American Inns of Court. Applications are welcome from any practicing attorney or judge in Travis County and contiguous counties Membership is open to all Licensed Texas attorneys without regard to area of practice or trial experience. Contact Kevin Terrazas (kterrazas@terrazaspllc.com) or Shelby O'Brien (shelby.obrien@butlersnow.com) for more information.

Barbara Jordan Inn of Court

The Barbara Jordan Inn of Court is accepting applications from any practicing litigation attorney, government attorney, judicial law clerk/staff attorney, in-house counsel, or judge from Travis County or the contiguous counties. The Barbara Jordan Inn enjoys an enthusiastic and diverse community of members committed to honor Barbara Jordan's legacy of collegiality, professionalism, and integrity. The Inn has received Platinum recognition by the American Inns of Court. Membership is open to all licensed Texas attorneys, and graduating 3Ls awaiting bar results, without regard to practice area or years of experience. Contact Pam Deitchle (pam@dstexaslaw.com) for more information.

Lloyd Lochridge Inn of Court

The Lloyd C. Lochridge American Inn of Court is dedicated to the promotion of excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills within the Austin litigation community. Applications are welcome from any practicing litigation attorney or judge. Membership is limited to the number of available openings. Contact Jacob Scheick (jacob@pilothouselitigation.com) and copy Christina Eischens (christina@pilothouselitigation.com) for more information.

The Honorable Lee Yeakel Intellectual Property Inn of Court.
The Honorable Lee Yeakel Intellectual Property Inn of Court focuses on intellectual property law. The Inn’s membership includes judges, judicial clerks, special masters, in-house counsel, litigators, IP prosecution attorneys, transactional attorneys, professors, and law students. The Yeakel IP Inn accepts membership applications during the entire month of May each year. Contact Brian Nash (bnash@mofo.com) or Travis Wimberly (twimberly@pinkeybarber.com), and visit https://inns.innsofcourt.org/for-members/inns/the-honorable-lee-yeakel-intellectual-property-american-inn-of-court/application-information/, for more information. 

Larry E. Kelly American Bankruptcy Inn of Court

The Larry E. Kelly American Bankruptcy Inn of Court is an organization of judges, lawyers, legal educators, and law students dedicated to promoting excellence in legal advocacy in all areas of bankruptcy practice. The LEK Inn has been awarded Platinum recognition by the American Inns of Court. Membership is available to practicing attorneys, bankruptcy judges and their law clerks, as well as law students interested in the practice of bankruptcy law. Contact Rhonda Mates (mates@slollp.com) for more information. 

The Austin Bar is in the process of updating its 100 Club membership. This exclusive group is for firms that have four or more attorneys, all of whom are members of the Austin Bar.

Firms enrolled in this Club will receive social media shoutouts, recognition in the weekly Bar Code e-newsletter, and will be featured in the September issue of Austin Lawyer.

To join the Club, firms need to submit the names of their Austin-office lawyers to the Austin Bar. We will then compare your list with the members we have on record for your firm. Once confirmed, you will automatically be enrolled in the 100 Club. If there are lawyers at your firm who are not members, we will provide you with a list of who needs to join the Austin Bar before you can enroll in the 100 Club.

Please email the names of your Austin-office lawyers to billy@austinbar.org.

The Austin Bar is in the process of updating its Travis County Court Resource Guide.

If you are a judge in Travis County and would like to submit responses to be included, please contact billy@austinbar.org. The deadline to submit responses is May 16. 


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