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On January 1, 2024, an important change in the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) took effect. This change created ownership reporting requirements for private companies. Specifically, all entities, except sole proprietorships, some general partnerships, wealth planning trusts, unincorporated entities, and foreign entities not registered to do business in the United States, have to report to the federal government who the beneficial owners of the entity are. A beneficial owner includes anyone who exercises substantial control over the entity or owns or controls twenty-five percent or more

The Supreme Court of Texas issued two important opinions in December 2023: One of which dealing with a savings statute for the statute of limitations and another regarding the applicability of “but for” causation in adverse employment actions. Sanders, et al. v. The Boeing Company, et al. In a personal injury suit involving a couple of flight attendants for a major airline, the Supreme Court of Texas answered a certified question from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit concerning the breadth of a savings statute that tolls statutes of limitations. Lee Marvin Sanders and Matthe

Texas law has recently changed regarding the notices a homeowners association (HOA) must provide to its member homeowners of a lien relating to unpaid assessments. Find out how the law has changed and how those changes may impact the timing of HOAs contracting with design professionals and contractors for property improvements. Most everyone has dealt with a HOAs in one way or another. HOAs often deliver services that are commonly reserved for local government entities like trash pickup, street paving, and lighting. Depending on the community, an HOA may also maintain swimming pools, tennis co

On the heels of many tech industry leaders voicing concern about the increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence (AI) and the singularity of AI, President Biden recently signed an Executive Order creating some ground rules for the development, testing and use of AI. The October 30, 2023, Executive Order creates reporting requirements, seeks to protect Americans’ privacy, and seeks to prevent AI from being used for discriminatory purposes. On the reporting side, for example, the Order requires American companies developing any foundation model that poses a serious risk to national se

Is a city liable for destroying a private residence in the process of releasing a hostage and preventing her captor from inflicting harm to others?  Citing case law from 1788, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently held, no. On July 25, 2020, Deanna Cook, was staying at house of her mother, Vicki Baker, in McKinney, Texas, preparing the house for sale.  Baker’s dog was also present at the home. That morning, Cook saw a Facebook post that Wesley Little was on the run with a 15-year-old female “runaway.” Cook recognized Little because he has worked on Baker’s