Since Texas business courts opened in September, lawyers have filed more than 50 cases using a system designed to streamline complex and expensive litigation and attract businesses.
The kinks are still being worked out. The Houston department has received more cases than Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Fort Worth combined.
There also remains the question of whether the court can accept cases filed in other courts before the business court opens. Seven of the 10 judges said that could not be done, sparking an undecided appeal.
Here are three notable cases pending in business courts.
ohio contractors
Texas-based Linbeck Group LLC has partnered with Wisconsin-based Bolt to build a $200 million cancer treatment facility at Ohio State University.
Mr. Linbeck alleges that Mr. Bolt failed to provide qualified staff, failed to meet deadlines and generally performed substandard work. Limbeck says in his lawsuit that these defects have resulted in losses of more than $5 million, and also seeks to dissolve the company the parties formed for the project.
The project is a proton beam therapy facility and will be completed in April 2023.
Linbeck filed the lawsuit in Houston because the parties allegedly entered into an agreement there.
Kokinos Young represents Linbeck. Bolt, who does not list an attorney in court records, did not respond to the Oct. 15 lawsuit.
The case is Linbeck Grp., LLC v. Boldt Co., No. 24-BC-11B-0014.
Immigrant bus profit sharing
Wynn Transportation LLC, a Texas charter bus company, owes Goetz Transport Solutions LLC $32.8 million after being severed from a profit-sharing agreement with bus migrants from Texas to left-leaning cities. The arbitrator ruled that he owed the company, and the judge approved it.
But Goetz alleges that Wein is moving assets to a private equity firm to avoid paying, a claim the bus company denies.
The conflict plays out against a backdrop of broader issues of immigration and border security. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) used these companies to evacuate immigrants to free cities such as Washington, New York and Chicago. The move is seen as politically driven by some, but Abbott defended it as necessary to keep Texas taxpayers from evacuation costs.
Together, the two transit companies billed the state $200 million for bus rides.
Burford Perry LLP represents GETZ. Andrews Myers PC represents Wynn.
The case is GETZ Transp. Sols., LLC v. Wynne Transp., No. 24-BC01A-0008.
Meat processing dispute
A Colorado man named John Maloof paid $800,000 for a quarter ownership interest in a meat processing plant, but three other investors only paid $10 each. He said he was locked out of the company’s finances.
In his lawsuit, Mr. Malouf alleges that a company called Republic Foods was found to have failed to comply with food health and safety regulations, resulting in the revocation of its license to sell beef on interstate highways. claims to have recently discovered.
Before filing the lawsuit in October, Malouf said he had made a $9.5 million buyout offer and separately sought a review of its financial records, but neither request was met.
Republic Foods said in its response that Malouf’s claims for unpaid amounts related to “an agreement that did not exist between the parties.”
Malouf, who runs a separate livestock company, claims he owes Republic Foods and other investors $1.6 million for Angus beef he supplied to processing plants.
Cokinos Young PC represents M&M Livestock. Hendershot Cowart PC is a representative of Republic Foods.
The case is M&M Livestock, LLC v. Republic Foods, No. 24-BC08B-0003.
