Casey S. Erick, Partner, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP

05/29/2026

Tennessee enacted a law voiding non-compete agreements against workers earning less than $70,000 in “annualized compensation.”

The law also creates a statutory presumption that noncompete restraints of two years or less in duration are reasonable and expressly authorizes courts to blue-pencil overbroad restrictive covenants.

Effective July 1, 2026.

--See 2025 Tenn. HB 1034--

05/26/2026

Texas Attorneys File Suit in the Southern District of Texas Claiming that a Number of Louisiana Attorneys Hijacked 1,000 Storm Cases In a 'Shakedown" Scheme

In a recent lawsuit filed in the Southern District of Texas, two Louisiana law firms and a group of allegedly politically connected attorneys engaged in what is claimed to be a “shakedown” to steal about 1,000 cases filed by hurricane survivors who had hired and built cases with a different firm.

Texas-based law firm Jason Joy & Associates claimed that, after the collapse of nonparty MMA Law Firm PLLC, the storm victims retained Jason Joseph Joy and his firm to take over their cases. However, he goes on to further allege that Landry Magee LLC, Andrus Boudreaux Landry & Coussan PLC, and various individual attorneys conspired to “exploit” the fall of MMA for their own benefit. And, if you think the cartoon below might seem a little too on the nose, try reading this snippet from the Original Complaint:

"This case involves a shakedown by a cabal of politically powerful South Louisiana lawyers who sought to line their own pockets off the backs of some 1,000 storm client victims. Those clients were already victims three times over: first, they were victims of the historically destructive storm seasons of 2020–2021; then they were victims of their property insurers that unfairly denied, delayed, and/or underpaid their claims; then they were victims of MMA, a Houston-based law firm that signed them and 14,000 others through unethical channels, and then collapsed in disgrace, leaving them without counsel on the eve of impending limitations deadlines."

Among the individual lawyers named in the complaint is Jean-Paul Phillip Coussan, whom Joy describes as his brother-in-law. Other defendants are Ravi K. Sangisetty, Tanner Daniel Magee, William Dow Boyles, Amanda Joy Olmsted, Brooke Bond Long, and Matthew H. Long. Alongside Joy & Associates, Joy and his fellow firm attorney, Colin Gerald Orion Wood, are named plaintiffs in the suit.

Case Title: Jason Joy & Associates, PLLC, et. al. v. Sangisetty, et. al.

Case Number: 4:26-cv-04083

Court: Southern District of Texas

Type of Suit: Racketeer/Corrupt Organization

Date Filed: May 21, 2026

05/22/2026

Memorial Day Weekend 2026 - I joke a lot, but this will be a serious post.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

I do not come from what you would call a traditional military family (although some served in WWII and elsewhere). However, regardless of political affiliation, party, or belief, we should all be able to acknowledge the sacrifice of the men and women who serve, and have served, in our armed forces.

How can I do that, you may ask? Simple.

Here are several locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where you can pay your respects this Memorial Day weekend to those who have paid the highest sacrifice in service of their country.

This will only take a few minutes out of your weekend, and I hope to see you there. Just do a quick search for similar events in your area, and you will find plenty of places or ways we can honor them.

----Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery (13005 Greenville Ave, Dallas, TX 75243)

--Event: 81st Annual Memorial Day Event

-Time: To be held during the holiday weekend (typically late morning, check the Restland Event Page for exact times and updates).

-Details: Hosted by Scott Murray, the event features a performance by the Vocal Majority, a military flyover by The Commemorative Air Force, and speeches by local officials and Gold Star Mothers.

----Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery (2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX)

-Flag Placement: The American Red Cross North Texas Region is coordinating the placement of flags across the grounds, beginning Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

-Memorial Day Observance: The formal government National Cemetery Administration ceremony will be held on Monday, May 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

----Western Heights Cemetery (1617 Fort Worth Ave, Dallas, TX)

-Event: Memorial Day at Western Heights

-Time: Monday, May 25, 2026, starting at 8:30 a.m.

-Details: Gather to honor 31 known veterans interred at the location. The morning begins with a history chat at 8:30 a.m., followed by a flag placement ceremony on veterans' graves at 10:00 a.m.

05/21/2026

https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/georgia-prosecutor-suspended-for-ai-use-by-state-supreme-court

A Georgia prosecutor who repeatedly filed documents with artificial intelligence-generated citations that referenced cases that were wrong or fictitious during a murder trial has been suspended for six months from practicing before the Georgia Supreme Court.

05/20/2026

News Release - US Department of Labor announces amendment to regulations on exemptions for executive, administrative, and professional employees

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a technical amendment vacating the 2024 final rule that increased the FLSA exemption salary thresholds, restoring the pre-2024 regulations, including the $684-per-week standard salary level and the $107,432 threshold for highly compensated employees.

05/18/2026

No Duh - But AI is Why Pro Se Employee Lawsuits Are On The Rise

A key factor in the rise of self-represented litigants is the growing availability of artificial intelligence and online information. Many individuals rely on AI for initial legal guidance, often leading to overly simplistic or optimistic views about their cases, which could prompt them to initiate litigation without sound legal advice. This gives them a false sense of confidence that they can manage the process on their own and forgo legal representation. While tools like Google and AI can assist with basic tasks, they cannot replace the instinct and judgment of an experienced lawyer.

Ultimately, while access to information empowers individuals to navigate legal matters, many pro se plaintiffs are filing lawsuits after doing their own AI "research," which usually gives them a false sense of confidence that they will succeed on the merits. The worst-case scenario is that the advice they get leads to them incurring court costs or attorney's fees they would have otherwise known about had they consulted with counsel.

05/15/2026

Federal Court Enforces Texas’s 3% Ownership Requirement for Derivative Claims

Last summer, Texas updated its Business Organizations Code (TBOC) to modernize and clarify corporate law with Senate Bill 29 (S.B. 29).

A key change: corporations can now require shareholders to own up to 3% of stock to file derivative lawsuits, ensuring only those with significant stakes can sue.

This threshold was upheld in Gusinsky v. Reynolds, where a federal court dismissed a case against Southwest Airlines’ board because the plaintiff didn’t meet the 3% requirement.

The plaintiff owned only 100 shares, far below the threshold. He claimed the policy change breached fiduciary duty, but the court ruled S.B. 29 validly barred his suit.

Gusinsky challenged the rule’s validity, alleging improper motives and legal violations. The court rejected all arguments, reaffirming that such claims must be brought by the corporation.

05/14/2026

Back to Florida and Its New Local Ban on DEI Initiatives

For the three to four people who may read my posts, you know I have a special place in my heart for Florida, since my family has spent many Spring Break vacations there. Let's just say that we would never live there, but we get you, Florida.

Florida has enacted a law (CS/CS/SB 1134) banning counties and municipalities from funding or promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, effective January 1, 2027.

Starting then, organizations seeking public contracts or grants must certify they will not use funds for DEI-related training or activities. DEI is defined as efforts to influence employee composition or provide preferential treatment based on race, gender, or other characteristics. Compliance-oriented anti-discrimination training is still allowed.

Residents can sue local governments for violations, with courts able to award damages and costs.

05/11/2026

NJ Adopts New Regulations for Determining Independent Contractor Status

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has adopted new regulations that will impact the “ABC test” used to determine independent contractor status. These regulations will take effect on October 1, 2026, and will apply to New Jersey’s Unemployment Compensation Law, Wage Payment Law, and Wage and Hour Law, among other statutes.

Employers are encouraged to evaluate their current worker classifications against the prongs of the ABC test to mitigate potential liability issues or the risk of an NJDOL audit.

05/08/2026

Wrong Court, Right City? -- Texas Business Court and the Dallas Sports Case

On April 2, 2026, Judge Whitehill of the Texas Business Court made a pivotal ruling in Dallas Sports Group, LLC v. DSE Hockey Club, L.P. The case involved a dispute between the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars regarding their co-ownership of the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks successfully redeemed the Stars’ 50% ownership interest for just $110, citing a breach of the Location Commitments stemming from the Stars' move of their offices to Frisco in 2003.

Both teams co-owned two entities that managed the arena and held equal stakes, established to support Dallas’s bond financing for the venue's construction. They were also bound by franchise agreements that required them to maintain their principal offices in Dallas. The company agreements included “Relocation Events” clauses that allowed the non-breaching party to redeem the breaching party’s ownership interests for nominal amounts if Location Commitments were violated before 2031.

In October 2024, the Mavericks sent a redemption notice, claiming a breach due to the Stars moving their offices to Frisco in 2003. The Stars rejected the notice, leading to the current legal confrontation.