Business Litigation

• Author: Cindy Stormer
• Pages: 455-538

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BUSINESS

LITIGATION

CHAPTER 4

BUSINESS LITIGATION

I. General Points

§4:01 Litigation Issues Unique to Businesses

§4:02 Foreign Corporations

II. Initiating Business Litigation

A. Tolling the Limitations Period

1. General Points

§4:10 Tolling Provisions Must Be Pleaded

§4:11 Tolling Despite Commencement of Suit

§4:12 Statutes of Repose (Persons Protected)

2. Defendant’s Absence

§4:20 Defendant’s Absence From State

§4:21 Absence Does Not Toll With Real Estate

§4:22 Tolling for Absence Applicable Only to Individuals

3. Disability and Minority

§4:30 Minority and Unsoundness of Mind

§4:31 Married Minors

§4:32 Disability Must Exist at Accrual of Action

4. Other Bases for Tolling

§4:40 Fraud

§4:41 Death

§4:42 Filing in Wrong Court

§4:43 Agreement of the Parties

§4:44 Related Counterclaims and Cross-Claims

B. Selecting the Court

§4:50 Corporations

§4:51 Partnerships

§4:52 A Business’s “Principal Office”

§4:53 Tort and Contract Actions

§4:54 Long-Arm Jurisdiction

C. Identifying the Business

§4:60 Assumed Names

§4:61 Suing a Corporation

§4:62 Suing a Partnership

§4:63 Misnomer

§4:64 Relation Back When a Party Is Misidentified

§4:65 Capacity

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D. Serving a Corporation

§4:70 Whom to Serve

§4:71 Substituted Service on the Secretary of State

§4:72 Service by Publication or Posting

E. Other Issues

§4:80 Corporation Must Be Represented by an Attorney

§4:81 Failure to Pay Franchise Taxes

§4:82 Personal Liability When the Franchise Tax Is Not Paid

§4:83 Suing a Dissolved Corporation

§4:84 Spoliation

§4:85 Shareholders

§4:86 Investigating the Defendant’s Finances

§4:87 Discovery

§4:88 Right to Repair

III. Typical Business Litigation Actions

A. Notes & Leases

§4:90 Promissory Notes

§4:91 Leases

B. Mechanic’s, Contractor’s, and Materialman’s Liens

1. General Points

§4:100 Authority and Construction

§4:101 Obtaining a Mechanic’s Lien

§4:102 Perfecting the Mechanic’s Lien

§4:103 Notice of the Lien

§4:104 Necessity of Dealing With the Owner (Quantum Meruit)

§4:105 Foreclosing on a Lien

§4:106 Sham Contracts to Prevent a Lien

§4:107 Releasing a Lien

2. Specific Types of Property

§4:110 Abandoned Property

§4:111 Liens on Homesteads

§4:112 The Affidavit for a Homestead Lien

§4:113 Liens on Vehicles

§4:114 Liens on Fixtures

§4:115 Liens on Services to Horse Owners

C. Contracts

§4:120 Statutes of Limitations

§4:121 Changing the Limitation Period

§4:122 Contracts to Arbitrate a Dispute

§4:123 Contracts Affecting Jurisdiction

§4:124 Elements for a Breach of Contract Action

§4:125 Installment Contracts

§4:126 Assignment of Contract Claims

§4:127 Attorney Fees

§4:128 Artistic Work

§4:129 Workers’ Compensation

D. Torts

1. General Points

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§4:130 Statute of Limitations

§4:131 Fraudulent Concealment

§4:132 Insurance Coverage

§4:133 Mental Anguish

§4:134 Keep Tort Issues in Mind in Business Litigation

2. Defamation

§4:140 Definitions

§4:141 Slander Per Se

§4:142 Publication

§4:143 Defenses

§4:144 Privileged Matters

§4:145 Business Disparagement

3. Negligence

§4:150 Gross Negligence

§4:151 Negligent Misrepresentation

§4:152 Damage, Loss or Delay of Property Transported Interstate

4. Other Torts

§4:160 Fraud

§4:161 Civil Conspiracy

§4:162 Conversion

§4:163 Malicious Prosecution and Abuse of Process

§4:164 Nuisance

§4:165 Tortious Interference With Business Relations

§4:166 Tortious Interference With a Contract

§4:167 Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

§4:168 Continuing Torts

E. Bankruptcy

§4:170 Types of Bankruptcy

§4:171 Bankruptcy Documents

§4:172 Exempt Property Alternatives

§4:173 Texas Exemptions

§4:174 Initial Bankruptcy Interview

§4:175 Representing a Creditor

§4:176 Electronic Filing

§4:177 Motion to Lift Stay

§4:178 Debts Not Dischargeable

F. Copyright, Patents, and Trademarks

§4:180 Distinguishing Copyrights, Patents, and Trademarks

§4:181 Copyrights

§4:182 Copyright Notice

§4:183 The Application

G. Oil and Gas

§4:190 The Surface Lease

IV. Pleadings and Judgments

§4:200 Estoppel

§4:201 Attaching Documents to the Pleadings

§4:202 Declaratory Judgments

§4:203 Summary Judgments

§4:204 Motion for JNOV