Angela Morris is ALM Media's Texas litigation reporter. She covers lawsuits in all levels of Texas state and federal courts. Based in Austin, Morris earned journalism and government degrees from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006, and since then, has worked primarily as a reporter and writer, but also has skills in videography, photography and podcasts. Follow her on Twitter at @AMorrisReports.
June 23, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
Lewis Brisbois Partner Sanctioned for Showing Jury Inadmissible Evidence. Was It Deliberate?The sanction fight is salacious since one side claimed in court documents that the evidence in question was a $2,300 credit card charge for oral sex from a Houston strip club, which is something the other side denies.
By Angela Morris
4 minute read
June 22, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
How Might Work Change for 750 Assistant AGs if Eva Guzman Unseats Ken Paxton?The attorney general must set broad priorities and define a vision for the office, which can redirect resources and impact rank-and-file government lawyers.
By Angela Morris
4 minute read
June 21, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
While Others Struggle, Austin's District Courts Have Mastered Remote TrialsHow has Travis County held 10 virtual jury trials where jurors paid full attention without issues that plagued other courts—like jurors who slept, worked out, or applied makeup?
By Angela Morris
6 minute read
June 21, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
Jurors Are Vaping, Eating, Sleeping on Zoom: Incidents Spotted Across the CountryMishaps in a Houston virtual jury selection are not unique. In cases from Texas to California, litigants and lawyers are crying foul because on Zoom, some court participants are doing just about anything except for paying full attention.
By Angela Morris
7 minute read
June 21, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
Employment Lawyers Slammed as Workers Return to Offices"Workplace policies continue to be a hot topic for employers, especially questions related to mask mandates and vaccination policies," said attorney Nikki Chriesman-Green.
By Angela Morris
5 minute read
June 18, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
Judge Jim Johnson's Main Street Upbringing Steered Him to 3 Careers. Law Was His Stop SignJudge Jim Johnson of Denton County's 431st District Court had three careers—as an accountant, business executive and practicing attorney—before winning his bench in November 2020.
By Angela Morris
4 minute read
June 17, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
Appeals Court Pauses Jury Trial As Michaels Stores Fights Spoliation SanctionMichaels Stores argued that it never destroyed or disposed of the shopping cart, but it was likely the cart was mixed in with 25 to 30 others in use at the store at the time.
By Angela Morris
4 minute read
June 16, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
'Put Up or Shut Up': Lawyers Push Back Against Measure Governing Client Complaints"I was taught that doing what is right is not always popular, and doing what is popular is not always right," said Mike Fields, chairman of a bar task force that reviewed the grievance system. "Chilling the public's ability to make complaints against lawyers will be the death knell for the bar."
By Angela Morris
5 minute read
June 15, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
How I Won the Case: Houston Lawyer's Path to Nearly $114M Verdict and $1.6M in FeesSmiling jurors who posed with lawyer John Black and his trial team said to the attorneys they wanted their nearly $114 million verdict to send a strong message to defendant United Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co.
By Angela Morris
5 minute read
June 15, 2021 | Texas Lawyer
Judge Fears COVID-19 Delays Might Steal Some Litigants' Day in Court"During COVID, the postponement of jury trials has prevented some of these parties getting that day or days, literally. In these cases, the old adage 'justice delayed is justice denied' is real. This is concerning," said 237th District Judge Les Hatch.
By Angela Morris
4 minute read