Weekly Docket

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they discuss the legal and ethical fallout of a business owner who gambled company funds in a desperate attempt to meet payroll. They explore the thin line between a failing business and a breach of fiduciary duty, explaining when investor losses cross the line into criminal fraud and self-enrichment. Get practical legal advice on navigating a commercial lockout, including the ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they analyze the "Big Tobacco" moment for tech giants like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube. They explore the landmark bellwether trials targeting addictive product designs and the shifting legal landscape as judges rule that Section 230 might no longer shield platforms from claims of predatory engineering. The duo also provides practical real estate advice on drafting contr...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle a high-stakes probate battle involving allegations of a forged will and the race to save family land. They explore the legal complexities of solar panel financing, explaining how UCC-1 filings can cloud your property title even without a formal real estate lien. The duo answers critical legal questions on "handshake" property purchases, detailing the risks...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they dive into the controversial world of civil asset forfeiture and why law enforcement can keep your cash without a criminal conviction. Explore the major 2026 updates to Texas eviction laws, including the new "Pay or Cure" notice to vacate requirements. They also discuss Texas’ adoption of the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (UIDDA), which streamli...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they expose the rising threat of Texas deed fraud and how scammers use "dormant" properties and shell companies to steal home equity. They detail the critical legal process under the Texas Government Code for using an expedited, ex parte judicial review to void fraudulent filings without a lengthy quiet title lawsuit. They also dive into the "Resort Property"...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they use the viral comments about NFL legend Michael Irvin as a case study on defamation. They explore the thin line between protected satire and actionable assertions of fact in the age of social media. The guys also tackle a complex real estate dilemma: how to sell land while preserving family occupancy rights through the use of life estates and remainder interests. Finally, ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they navigate the stresses of New Year tax compliance, from 1099s to closing out the books. They dive into a critical lesson on Texas contract law, explaining why written words legally override numerical digits when terms contradict, as outlined in the Texas Business and Commerce Code. Finally, they rant about the legality of kids on motorized bikes terrorizing public streets a...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they break down the major Texas eviction reforms taking effect January 1, 2026. Explore how Senate Bill 38 streamlines the legal process by barring unrelated tenant counterclaims and authorizes the use of email notices for the first time. They also provide an in-depth look at the brand-new summary disposition procedure that allows landlords to evict tenants without a trial. Fin...

Join Phil and Chris in Episode 102 of the ‘Weekly Docket’ as they break down a significant legal development regarding a judge blocking a Texas law designed to restrict minor access to app stores. The guys also discuss the various ways to secure money for buying a business and explain how Large Language Models (LLMs) really work. Finally, they discuss whether using ChatGPT violates confidentiality under the lawyer rules for profess...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they analyze President Trump’s executive order to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III and what this federal shift specifically means for state law enforcement and doctors in Texas. They also provide a critical update on the significant 2026 increases to taxable estate thresholds and gift tax exclusions following the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ detailing exactly what individu...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris in the 100th episode as they discuss the legal implications of Texas Senate Bill 8, which mandates the use of public restrooms in state buildings based on the gender on a person's birth certificate. They also answer practical legal questions, including an explanation of a deed without warranty and how it differs from a quitclaim deed. Finally, get insights on how much cities ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they dive into the complex world of trial law and evidence. They discuss the critical steps for getting evidence admitted in court, when attorneys should object to hearsay, and the rules surrounding the hearsay exception. The hosts explain how to lay the business records predicate to get documents into evidence and explore how trial attorneys are fighting deepfakes in the court...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they discuss what public schools in Texas can expel a student for, focusing on mandatory expellable offenses like weapons, drugs, and felonies, and discretionary ones like retaliation and computer crimes. They answer a listener's question about maintaining a property inherited from a grandfather and the protection offered by the Texas Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Ac...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they dive into the most typical reason for amending LLC documents (usually for ownership changes) and why it doesn't always require changing the Certificate of Formation. They explain why a commercial lease lockout works well in Texas under Property Code 93.002, but does not make sense for residential tenancies. Finally, they engage in a lively Rant and Rave about the Rest...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle listener questions on landlord-tenant law and estate planning. They discuss the legal options for a landlord owed over $20,000 in back rent who needs to evict a tenant. They also delve into will essentials, explaining what a residuary clause is and offering tips on navigating heirs at law. Plus, they answer the common question: should you answer a lawsuit if you hav...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle listener questions on the cost to review a commercial sales contract and what value an attorney adds to the review. They also break down title insurance, explaining what it covers, why it's necessary, and how it differs from standard casualty insurance. Finally, in their Rant and Rave segment, they discuss the growing problem of receiving AI-generated emails fr...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they discuss strategies for collecting small debts, such as $5,500 owed by a General Contractor, exploring the "small dollar demand letter bluff" and the option of DIY JP Court actions. They also address a critical real estate legal question: what a buyer should do when there are liens on Schedule C of the Title Commitment for a home purchase, including the right to o...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they dive into the lawsuit between Baylor University and Boston University over their interlocking "BU" logos, including a 1988 agreement and color differences. They also address listener questions on whether to hire an attorney to review a standard residential home purchase contract and the legal considerations for forming a Texas LLC with foreign investors.

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Patrick as they discuss the requirement to include a driver's license or social security number in an application to probate a will in Texas. They also dive into the process of appointing receivers under the Texas Turnover Statute for collecting on judgments and how a receiver operates. Additionally, they explain how to tell if a property has been foreclosed on by looking for a tru...