Category Archives: Legal matters

Amicus briefs filed in Galveston beach case

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good for you, Vince Ryan. Harris County today joined other public agencies and activists in urging the Texas Supreme Court to reconsider a recent opinion that critics contend blocks public access to most beaches on Galveston island. County Attorney Vince … Continue reading →

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Patterson on the Open Beaches ruling

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I must say, I enjoyed Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson’s op-ed on the recent Open Beaches ruling by the State Supreme Court. The man can bring the snark, I’ll give him that. Two points of interest besides that: Texans, you see, … Continue reading →

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Abbott wants to block Austin gay divorce

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Attorney General Greg Abbott is once again fighting to protect the sanctity of divorce in Texas. Texas law not only limits marriage to opposite-sex couples, it forbids any action — including divorce — that recognizes or validates a same-sex marriage … Continue reading →

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State Supreme Court asked to reconsider open beaches verdict

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good luck with that. Galveston has joined key state agencies in pleading with the court to reconsider a ruling that favors private property rights over public access to Texas shores. “I think the Supreme Court really needs to understand the … Continue reading →

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The cost of closing the beaches

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The recent Supreme Court ruling predictably leads to the enrichment of a lucky few. Although Carol Severance’s lawsuit killed the largest beach resanding project in Texas history, her four Galveston beach properties won’t suffer. Instead, she could walk away with … Continue reading →

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Is this the end for truly open beaches?

Posted on November 14, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

From last week: The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday the state cannot take private property for a public beach when a storm moves the vegetation line landward — a decision that may lead to restricted access along the coast. Texas … Continue reading →

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Transgender golfer sues LPGA

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

This lawsuit against the LPGA filed by a transgender woman will be worth watching. Lana Lawless, a 57-year-old retired police officer who had gender-reassignment surgery in 2005, made her name as an athlete in 2008 after winning the women’s world … Continue reading →

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Another lawsuit relating to voter registration in Harris County

Posted on October 7, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

As we know, the TDP is suing the Harris County Tax Assessor’s office (again) over allegations that they are still not properly handling voter registrations. That suit followed the ugly accusations Tax Assessor Leo Vasquez and his radical buddies the … Continue reading →

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Appeals court overrules gay divorce ruling

Posted on September 1, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Gay couples who got married outside of Texas can’t get a divorce inside Texas, according to the 5th Court of Appeals in Dallas. Two men won’t be able to turn their Massachusetts marriage into a Texas divorce, the Dallas Court … Continue reading →

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Abbott declines to offer transgender marriage opinion

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Remember this, from back in May? The El Paso County attorney wants the state’s top lawyer to tell her whether she can issue a marriage certificate to a woman and a biological male who had a sex change operation to … Continue reading →

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Prop 8 overturned

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. In a major victory for gay rights advocates, a federal judge on Wednesday struck down a California ban on same-sex marriage. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision to overturn the voter-approved ban, known as Proposition 8, came in … Continue reading →

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Nikki Araguz

Posted on July 25, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

I support Nikki Araguz. The wife of a Wharton firefighter who died in a massive July 4 blaze decried allegations lodged by her late husband’s family that she is a fraud because she was born a man. “Really, all I … Continue reading →

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Radnofsky urges Abbott to sue Wall Street

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Interesting. Texas should file a sweeping lawsuit against Wall Street firms similar to the ones that led to the multibillion-dollar tobacco settlements of the 1990s, Democratic attorney general candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky argued Monday. Shortly after she launched her appeal, … Continue reading →

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If you thought gay marriage was contentious

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

The Attorney General is being asked for an opinion on transgender marriage. The El Paso County attorney wants the state’s top lawyer to tell her whether she can issue a marriage certificate to a woman and a biological male who … Continue reading →

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Gay divorce lawsuit update

Posted on April 23, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all a little surreal. A man seeking to end his same-sex marriage in Dallas County is arguing an ironic point in a state that doesn’t recognize his nuptials: Grant the divorce and there will be one less gay marriage … Continue reading →

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Bob Perry loses lawsuit to homeowners he’s screwed

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Good. By now, surely you know the story of Bob and Jane Cull, which has been around for a decade — when the twosome sued Perry Homes, claiming their house in Mansfield went to hell shortly after they bought it … Continue reading →

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No texting while deliberating

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

If you get called in for jury duty in Harris County, you can now get free WiFi in the Jury Assembly Room. But once you get into a courtroom, and especially if you get empaneled, you should expect to have … Continue reading →

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Houston’s hotel occupany tax lawsuit tossed

Posted on January 26, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Back in 2006, the city of San Antonio filed a lawsuit against online hotel room bookers such as Expedia and Travelocity on the grounds that they were largely avoiding their hotel occupancy tax. The city of Houston did the same … Continue reading →

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RIP, William Wayne Justice

Posted on October 14, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

One of the great protectors of civil rights has passed away. U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice — beloved by some, loathed by others — changed Texas civil and inmate rights in ways few political figures have over the past … Continue reading →

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You can’t get gay married in Texas, but you can get gay divorced

Posted on October 2, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

At least, according to a Dallas judge’s ruling, you can. Although the case is far from settled, and the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage is a long way from being thrown out, Dallas state District Judge Tena Callahan’s ruling … Continue reading →

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My kind of judge

Posted on September 9, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

This guy is my new hero. The judge, Arthur M. Schack, 64, fashions himself a judicial Don Quixote, tilting at the phalanxes of bankers, foreclosure facilitators and lawyers who file motions by the bale. While national debate focuses on bank … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS upholds Voting Rights Act

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

For now, anyway. The Supreme Court ruled narrowly today in a challenge to the landmark Voting Rights Act, siding with a small Texas governing authority but sidestepping the larger constitutional issue. The court, with only one justice in dissent, avoided … Continue reading →

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Impeach Jay Bybee

Posted on April 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The only thing more revolting than the just-declassified torture memos is the realization that one of their authors is now a federal judge with lifetime tenure. I have to believe that if we knew then what we know now, this … Continue reading →

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Impeach Jay Bybee

Posted on April 19, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

The only thing more revolting than the just-declassified torture memos is the realization that one of their authors is now a federal judge with lifetime tenure. I have to believe that if we knew then what we know now, this … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Johnny Sutton resigns

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As is the norm when a new President is inaugurated, US Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western Judicial District of Texas has resigned his position. Sutton’s resignation was voluntary, [spokeswoman Shana] Jones said, and his future plans were not immediately … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Johnny Sutton resigns

Posted on April 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

As is the norm when a new President is inaugurated, US Attorney Johnny Sutton of the Western Judicial District of Texas has resigned his position. Sutton’s resignation was voluntary, [spokeswoman Shana] Jones said, and his future plans were not immediately … Continue reading →

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The next US Attorney in Houston

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Now that we finally have an Attorney General, we also have a lot of people who would like to work for him. The U.S. attorney wannabes who confirmed for the Houston Chronicle that they are interested are Harris County District … Continue reading →

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The next US Attorney in Houston

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Greg Wythe

Now that we finally have an Attorney General, we also have a lot of people who would like to work for him. The U.S. attorney wannabes who confirmed for the Houston Chronicle that they are interested are Harris County District … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Supreme Court declines to hear TDP’s appeal in voting machine suit

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise. The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to revive the Texas Democratic Party’s lawsuit complaining that eSlate voting machines widely used in the state don’t properly record straight-party votes. The court declined without comment to hear the case. Democrats … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Utah AG wants to sue BCS

Posted on January 8, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose this was just a matter of time. Utah’s attorney general is investigating the Bowl Championship Series for a possible violation of federal antitrust laws after an undefeated Utes team was left out of the national title game for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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From the Department of Bad Ideas

Posted on December 19, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think this will end well. Convicted last year of intoxication manslaughter for the death of her boyfriend, the 21-year-old daughter of a state district judge is suing the truck driver she ran into during a drunken driving crash. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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The Third Court soap opera

Posted on October 15, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

Just keeps getting weirder. A 3rd Court of Appeals justice is accusing Chief Justice Ken Law of refusing to file her dissent in a politically charged case involving two associates of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Justice Jan … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Tort reform for me, but not for thee

Posted on August 23, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

I just don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I see a headline like Doctors: Lawsuits help guarantee drug safety. Top doctors who run one of the most influential U.S. medical journals are giving the U.S. Supreme Court some … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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“Hiding in the bushes” might have been a sign this was not a good thing to do

Posted on August 17, 2008 by Charles Kuffner

It’s clear that this guy is a creep. It’s somewhat less clear that he’s a criminal. From the perspective of park rangers, Phu V. Nguyen was obviously violating the state’s improper photography statute when he was arrested at Hippie Hollow … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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