Texas Tribune Daily Brief
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| Supreme Court Says Binding Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts Trump CA Law |  | CA consumers who are angry about being hit with unexpected fees can be forced to air their complaints individually before an arbitrator rather than in a class-action lawsuit, under a decision handed down Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices by a 6-3 vote overturned a state ruling and threw out a class-action lawsuit against DirecTV over its termination fees for customers who canceled its service. The high court said the Federal Arbitration Act calls for honoring arbitration agreements that are written into company contracts, regardless of whether there are more consumer-friendly protections set by states such as CA.
David G. Savage, LA Times 12/15/2015    | | Read Article: LA Times |
| U.S. Top Court Leaves Intact Jury Award in Police Shooting | | The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by the city of Los Angeles and two policemen on Monday, leaving in place a $5.7 million judgment a jury awarded to a man left paralyzed from the waist down after the officers shot him in the back four times.
LAWRENCE HURLEY, Reuters 12/15/2015 | | Read Article: Reuters |
| Allen ISD to Receive $1.7M Settlement Related to Stadium Problems | | Allen ISD approved $1.7 million settlement with the companies that designed and built the flawed venue. Pogue Construction and architectural firm PBK have agreed to collectively pay the district $500,000 by the end of the year. As part of the agreement, Allen ISD officials will release the companies from any claims or allegations related to the stadium. Pogue and PBK had already paid a combined $2.5 million to the district to cover the loss of rental revenue, attorneys fees and the work of Nelson and Datum, two firms that designed and supervised repairs. Despite the payouts, neither Pogue nor PBK is claiming responsibility for the stadium problems, according to the agreement.
Julieta Chiquillo , The Dallas Morning News 12/15/2015 | | Read Article: The Dallas Morning News |
| Texas Plumber Sues Car Dealer After His Truck Ends Up on Syria's Front Lines | | A Texas plumber has filed a lawsuit against a car dealership after a used truck he sold showed up on the front lines in Syria being used by Islamist fighters. The logo and phone number of his company, Mark-1 Plumbing, were still visible on the doors. After images of the truck appeared online, the plumber, Mark Oberholtzer of Galveston County, claims he lost business and received hundreds of threats that accused him of being a terrorist sympathizer. Mr. Oberholtzer is seeking more than $1 million in damages, in a lawsuit filed last week.
CHRISTINE HAUSER, The New York Times 12/15/2015 | | Read Article: The New York Times |
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