Texas Fiduciary Litigator

The Intersection of Texas Courts and the Fiduciary field

Subscribe
Visit Blog
By: Winstead PC

Blog Authors

David Fowler Johnson
Joseph Regan
Winstead

Latest from Texas Fiduciary Litigator

In Milligan v. Salamone, the Greenberg Taurig lawfirm represented the bankrupt company when it sued a president and board member. No. 1:18-CV-327-RP, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 41009 (W.D. Tex. March 14, 2019). Greenberg drafted an agreement that would cancel the president’s employment contract, release him from his non-competition and non-solicitation obligations, and promise to pay him any accrued obligations (the “Cancellation Agreement”). A bankruptcy trustee later asserted claims against Greenberg for (1) breach of fiduciary…
In Ferreira v. Butler, a husband and wife divorced, and the husband married a second wife. No. 17-0901, 2019 Tex. LEXIS 375 (Tex. April 12, 2019). The second wife died, and the husband never probated her will, which left everything to him. Nine years later, the husband died and his will left most of his estate to his first wife. The first wife was the executor of his estate, and she then attempted to probate…
Joint liability for breach of fiduciary duty claims is a rather confusing area of law in Texas. Texas courts have discussed three different theories that allow for joint liability: knowing participation in breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy. There is a claim for knowing participation in Texas. See Kinzbach Tool Co. v. Corbett-Wallace Corp., 138 Tex. 565, 160 S.W.2d 509, 514 (1942). The general elements for a knowing-participation…
David F. Johnson, lead writer for the Texas Fiduciary Litigator blog, has been recognized as a top author by JDSupra in the 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards. JD Supra’s Readers’ Choice Awards encompasses 26 different categories. From a pool of more than 800 authors, David’s insightful commentary was ranked fourth in the wealth management readership category. This category covers estate and gift tax, trusts, trustees, wills, closely held businesses, and fiduciary duty among other…
In Bombardier Aero. Corp. v. Spep Aircraft Holdings, a plaintiff who had purchased an aircraft sued the defendant for fraud associated with representations regarding whether the aircraft was new or used. No. 17-0578, 2019 Tex. LEXIS 101 (Tex. February 1, 2019). The plaintiff later found that parts of the aircraft were used, and sued for breach of contract and fraud. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded actual damages and punitive damages. The court…
In Estate of Keener, two heirs of a trust settlor filed an application to declare heirship. No. 13-18-00007-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 1222 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi February 21, 2019, no pet. history). The beneficiary of the trust filed a plea in intervention in the heirship proceeding, but the trial court denied his intervention. The trust beneficiary filed an appeal of that order. The trust was styled a “gun trust.” The attorney who drafted the trust…
David F. Johnson, lead writer for the Texas Fiduciary Litigator blog, discusses the great transfer of wealth from the baby boomer generation, elder abuse and financial exploitation. Undue influence often arises out of seemingly kind individuals who ingratiate themselves to an elderly person, inserting themselves between the person and relatives, and obtaining the person’s bounty due to deceit.  This webinar will discuss the standards for undue influence, factors involved in recognizing that behavior, and a financial institutions…
In McDaniel v. Meador, parties sued for declaratory relief regarding whether a granddaughter was a beneficiary of a will. No. 01-18-00041-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 1315 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] February 21, 2019, no pet. history). The will stated that the testator left her estate: “(a) To those of my children (JASPER “LEE” MCDANIEL, JR., AND ANDREW DOUGLAS MCDANIEL) who survive me and to the issue who survive me of those of my children who…
In Fletcher v. Edward Jones Trust Co., a party sued a trust company for inappropriately distributing funds from an account, and the trial court granted the trust company’s motion to compel the dispute to arbitration. No. 11-19-00017-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS 1280 (Tex. App.—Eastland February 21, 2019, Decided; February 21, 2019, no pet. history). The plaintiff attempted to appeal the order granting the motion to compel arbitration. The court of appeals requested briefing from the…
With the great transfer of wealth from the baby boomer generation, elder abuse and financial exploitation is a very timely and important topic. Undue influence often arises out of seemingly kind individuals who ingratiate themselves to an elderly person, inserting themselves between the person and relatives, and obtaining the person’s bounty due to deceit. This webinar will discuss the standards for undue influence, factors involved in recognizing that behavior, and a financial institutions duties to…