Attorneys have filed more than 50 cases in Texas business courts since it opened in September, using a system designed to attract businesses by streamlining complex, expensive litigation.
Kinks are still being ironed out. Houston’s division has received more cases than Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth combined.
It too The question remains whether the courts can accept cases filed in other courts before the business courts opened. Seven out of ten judges have said this is not possible, prompting appeals that have not yet been decided.
Of the pending cases in the business courts, there are three to keep an eye on.
Ohio State Contractors
Linbeck Group LLC, of Texas, partnered with Boldt Company, of Wisconsin, to build a $200 million cancer care facility at Ohio State University.
Linbeck alleges that Boldt failed to provide competent staff, missed deadlines and generally performed substandard work. These deficiencies resulted in losses of more than $5 million, Linbeck said in a court casewhich also aims to dissolve the company, the entities formed for the project.
The project, a proton therapy facility, was completed in April 2023.
Linbeck filed the suit in Houston, because that’s where it says the parties entered into the agreement.
Cokinos Young represents Linbeck. Boldt, who does not list an attorney in the lawsuits, did not respond to the Oct. 15 lawsuit.
The case is Linbeck Grp., LLC v. Boldt Co., No. 24-BC-11B-0014.
Profit sharing by migrants
Wynne Transportation LLC, a Texas charter bus company, owes GETZ Transport Solutions LLC $32.8 million for cutting off a profit-sharing deal to transport Texas migrants to left-leaning cities, an arbitrator ruled and a judge affirmed.
But Getz claims Wynne is moving assets to a private equity firm to avoid paying them, an allegation the bus company denies.
The dispute plays out against the backdrop of the broader issue of immigration and border security. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) enlisted the companies to evacuate migrants to liberal cities including Washington, New York and Chicago, a move that some saw as politically driven but that Abbott has defended as necessary to reduce costs of Texas taxpayers for shelter. migrants.
Together, the two transportation companies billed the state $200 million for the bus rides.
Burford Perry LLP represents GETZ. Andrews Myers PC represents Wynne.
The case is GETZ Transp. Sols., LLC v. Wynne Transp., No. 24-BC01A-0008.
Dispute over meat processing
John Malouff, a Colorado man, says he paid $800,000 to acquire a one-fourth stake in a meatpacking plant, while three other investors who paid just $10 each cut him out of the company’s finances.
Malouff claims in the court case that he recently discovered that the company, Republic Foods, was hit with convictions for non-compliance with food health and safety regulations, resulting in the forfeiture of its license to sell beef interstate.
Before filing the lawsuit in October, Malouff said he made a $9.5 million buyout offer and separately tried to review the company’s financials, but neither request led to anything.
Republic Foods in one answer said Malouff’s claims for amounts owed relate “to an agreement that did not exist between the parties.”
Malouff, who separately owns a cattle ranch, claims Republic Foods and the other investors owe him $1.6 million for Angus beef he supplied to the processing plant.
Cokinos Young PC represents M&M Livestock. Hendershot Cowart PC represents Republic Foods.
The case is M&M Livestock, LLC v. Republic Foods, No. 24-BC08B-0003.