Aditi Deal, Dana Levy Speak at HYLA ‘Summer Associate Bootcamp’
Durham, Pittard & Spalding is proud to support the next generation of lawyers, including the great work of organizations like the Houston Young Lawyers Association. As co-chair of the HYLA’s Law Student Engagement Committee, our own Aditi Deal played a key role in organizing the HYLA’s recent “Summer Associate Bootcamp.” Read more.

Dana Levy and Trial Attorney Scott West Secure Key Governmental Immunity Appellate Ruling for Injured Plaintiff
The Houston First Court of Appeals affirmed a significant ruling for an injured motorist, holding that Harris County cannot avoid accountability by asserting governmental immunity in a collision involving a county patrol vehicle.

CPM Texas LLC, v. Harper, No. 13-24-00072-CV, 2024 WL 4379259 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Oct. 3, 2024, no pet. h.) (mem. op.)
Successfully affirmed the denial of an unlicensed builder’s motion to dismiss for failure to provide a certificate of merit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 150.002. The Court of Appeals held that Chapter 150’s certificate of merit requirement does not apply to claims against defendants who are not building professionals as defined by the Act.

Olivares v. Chevron Phillips Chem. Co. LP, No. 05-22-00057-CV, 2023 WL 2494533 (Tex. App.—Dallas Mar. 14, 2023, no pet. h.) (mem. op.)
Successfully reversed trial court’s order granting a plea to the jurisdiction in suit to recover personal injury damages against Chevron, holding that Chevron was not entitled to the worker’s compensation exclusive remedy defense because the injured worker, who was an employee of a subsidiary company, was not a deemed employee under Chevron’s OCIP policy.
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Envision Radiology Tex. LP v. Trader, No. 05-20-00529-CV, 2022 WL 2826896 (Tex. App.—Dallas July 20, 2022, no pet.) (mem. op.)
Successfully convinced court of appeals to dismiss medical provider’s interlocutory appeal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction where trial court granted the statutorily-provided 30-day extension to cure alleged deficiencies in the plaintiff’s Ch. 74 expert report.
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Dana’s Significant Victories ⤏

DP&S’s Dana Levy and Trial Attorney Scott West Secure Key Governmental Immunity Appellate Ruling for Injured Plaintiff
The Houston First Court of Appeals affirmed a significant ruling for an injured motorist, holding that Harris County cannot avoid accountability by asserting governmental immunity in a collision involving a county patrol vehicle. Read more.

Dana Levy wins medical malpractice expert report appeal in the Amarillo Court of Appeals!
Congratulations to Dana Levy and trial counsel, Scott Hendler and Grayson McDaniel, who successfully defended a challenge to their nursing administrator and forensic pathology expert reports. In this nursing-home negligence case in which a resident died of hypothermia during Winter Storm Uri, the defendants objected that licensed nursing home administrators and a forensic pathologist were unqualified to provide preliminary expert reports under Chapter 74 because the administrators were not medical providers who treat patients, and the pathologist had never treated seniors.

Back-to-Back Wins in the Texas Supreme Court!
On May 6, 2022, Dana Levy successfully reversed a court of appeals’ opinion that the plaintiff’s expert report failed to satisfy Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code. The following week, Kirk Pittard successfully reversed a court of appeals’ opinion dismissing an appeal on jurisdiction grounds.

Dana Levy defends responsible third party ruling in the Texas Supreme Court!
DP&S’s Houston partner, Dana Levy, was in the Texas Supreme Court again on a case involving responsible third party practice. Dana argued in defense of the trial court’s order, and a Dallas Court of Appeals opinion letting that order stand, which struck a responsible third party designation by the owner of a gas facility of the former minority-interest owner and contract-operator.

Dana Levy wins in the El Paso Court of Appeals!
Congratulations to Dana Levy who convinced the El Paso Court of Appeals to reverse a summary judgment granted in favor of an oil well services company and against our injured client. The court found fact issues as to the company’s liability for a collision caused by one of its workers, who was returning to remote well site after purchasing necessary supplies. Specifically, the court found that the existence of an employment relationship and whether the worker was acting in the course and scope of his employment were questions that needed to be answered by a jury.

Dana Levy wins in the Dallas Court of Appeals!
Congratulations to Dana Levy who successfully convinced the Dallas Court of Appeals to reinstate a medical malpractice case that had been dismissed. On appeal, Dana convinced the court that a cardiologist with hospital administration experience was qualified to opine as to a hospital’s policies and procedures for providing cardiac care.

More News Stories ⤏

Tyler Skaggs Litigation Team Reunites to Share Strategy with TACTAS Members

Members of the Tyler Skaggs wrongful death litigation team—including Durham, Pittard & Spalding partners Lara Hollingsworth and Dana Levy—reunited for a special presentation to the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS). Read more.

Aditi Deal, Dana Levy Speak at HYLA ‘Summer Associate Bootcamp’
Durham, Pittard & Spalding is proud to support the next generation of lawyers, including the great work of organizations like the Houston Young Lawyers Association. As co-chair of the HYLA’s Law Student Engagement Committee, our own Aditi Deal played a key role in organizing the HYLA’s recent “Summer Associate Bootcamp.” Read more.

Lara Hollingsworth, Dana Levy Present: Exxon v. Brown: What you need to know right now
Within weeks of a closely watched and important appellate ruling by Houston’s Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Exxon v. Brown, DP&S Houston partners Lara Hollingsworth and Dana Levy offered Texas trial lawyers key takeaways on what the decision means to their practice. Read more.