Weekly Docket

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...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle listener questions, including what recourse a buyer has if a house is discovered to have less square footage after closing, exploring causes of action like DTPA and negligent misrepresentation. They also delve into the ethical debate surrounding the contingency fee model, discussing whether it allows lawyers to "buy claims" and how it provides access to ju...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald. In this episode, we discuss the surprising surge in law school applications and what that might mean for the legal job market. We also dive into a legal question about when you need two companies - a holding company and an operating company - and provide some examples for when this makes sense. Finally, in our "Rant and Rave" segment, we discuss the seri...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald as they discuss a new Texas law, HB 21, that closes the "traveling loophole," which allowed Housing Finance Corporations (HFCs) to grant tax exemptions for properties outside their jurisdiction. They also answer a legal question about how to get an out-of-state guardianship approved in Texas and discuss big law attorney workload and compensation. Finally,...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald as they discuss a new Texas law that expands the definition of telephone solicitors to include text messages, creating a private right of action for consumers. They also provide a rundown on what's required to sell a car to a private person in Texas. Finally, they rant about how AI and services like ChatGPT are destroying the web by discouraging human content ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald as they explore a new Texas law that bans "expressive activities" on public university campuses between 10 PM and 8 AM and the lawsuit challenging it. They also answer a legal question about what to do when a contractor files a lien on a property before closing and won't release it. Finally, they rant about clients who don't listen to legal advi...

This week on the Weekly Docket, Join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald as they discuss what a prenuptial agreement for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce might look like. They also cover the importance of specifying that income from separate property remains separate property. Additionally, they answer a legal question about what to do when you can't find heirs for a probate and the use of private investigators to find them. Finally, ...

This week on the Weekly Docket, Join Phil Silberman and Chris Heald as they discuss the Texas judge's ruling that struck down the law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools. They also answer a legal question about contesting a will based on someone having dementia. This episode features a special interview with US Congressional candidate Jon Bonck, who offers his perspective on housing affordability a...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they break down the legalities of Texas redistricting and gerrymandering, including the "cracking" and "packing" techniques used to influence political power. They also answer legal questions about simultaneously filing for a DBA and a Certificate of Formation for an LLC in Texas, and how to transfer a DBA in a business sale. Plus, the guys rant about parkin...

This week on the Weekly Docket, Phil and Chris weigh in on Texas’ new law banning student phones during class time and the arguments for and against the move. They debate whether trusts really provide asset protection or if LLCs are the better tool for shielding assets. In this week’s Rant & Rave, they examine why homes aren’t selling in the Sunbelt despite the affordability crisis, and whether new proposals like the SUPPLY Act...

This week on the Weekly Docket, Phil and Chris discuss the brewing legal battle over Notorious B.I.G.’s $200 million music catalog and the estate’s dispute with Faith Evans. They break down the often misunderstood legal tool of a “special appearance” and its role in jurisdiction fights. In the Rant & Rave segment, it’s all about TikTok trends - what is aura farming, and can a viral dance be copyrighted? Tune in for legal insigh...

This week on the Weekly Docket, Phil and Chris break down the Supreme Court’s surprising decision to uphold Texas’ age verification law for online adult content and its broader implications for Section 230 and Big Tech. They also explain why “wrap around” transactions are making a comeback in the current real estate market and the serious legal pitfalls investors should know. Finally, a personal twist in this week’s Rant & Rave...

This week on the Weekly Docket, Phil and Chris unpack Lululemon’s lawsuit against Costco for allegedly selling knockoff pants, break down The Mann Act and its role in Diddy's recent conviction, and react to startling CEO predictions about AI wiping out white-collar jobs. They also share how their own firm is using offshore hiring and ChatGPT assistants to reshape operations, and debate whether AI could one day double attorney ...