On March 18, 2016, the Texas Supreme Court considered whether a murder-suicide triggered a “common-disaster” provision in two spouse’s mirror wills in Stephens v. Beard, — S.W.3d —, 2016 WL 1069089 (Tex. Mar. 18, 2016) (per curiam). The undisputed facts show that Vencie Beard shot and killed his wife, Melba, shortly before…(Read More)
Shareholder Jed Williams was a presenter at the Real Estate, Oil and Gas Conference hosted by the Wealth Management Division of the Texas Bankers Association held on March 24, 2016 in San Antonio. Williams spoke on “Fiduciary Issues in Mineral Management” and provided insights to trust department managers of oil and gas interests regarding their…(Read More)
In Anderson v. Archer, 03-13-00790-CV, 2016 WL 589017 (Tex. App.—Austin Mar. 2, 2016, no pet. h.), the Austin Court of Appeals flatly rejected the existence of a Texas common-law cause of action for tortious interference with inheritance. After the jury awarded $2.5 million in damages based on a finding…(Read More)