Unlike some of her colleagues on the Houston Court of Appeals, Justice Laura Carter Higley was not initially appointed to a vacancy, but ran for an open seat on the First Court of Appeals in 2002. She did not draw a challenger in the primary or in the general election later that year, and was sworn in on Jan. 1, 2003. Her first term ended in 2008. Higley was up for reelection in 2008. Republican Justice Higley drew a Democratic Challenger this time: Attorney Leslie C. Taylor. Higley won the 2008 general election. Judge Higley is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned a master's degree in Latin American Studies from UT. She received her JD from the University of Houston in 1989. In private practice, Attorney Laura C. Higley worked at Baker Botts LLC. In Fiscal Year 2008-09 Justice Higley wrote 124 opinions, 63 of which were signed opinions on the merits. Justice Higley issued no dissenting or concurring opinions. Find more judge and court information at the Houston-Opinions Home Page |
2010 Opinions in Civil Appeals Authored by Justice Laura Higley Also see ---> 2009 Civil Appellate Opinions by Justice Higley Eastern Bloc Entertainment, Ltd. v. ABCO Properties, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Mar. 11, 2010) (Higley) (appeal of turnover order) Appellants, Eastern Bloc Entertainment, Ltd., Altar Boys Management Company, L.L.C., Robert W. Thomas, and John S. “Skip” Woods (collectively, “Eastern”), appeal from a turnover order granted in favor of appellee, Abco Properties, Inc., Trustee. In three issues, Eastern contends that the trial court abused its discretion because (1) there was no evidence to support the order, (2) the judgment has been satisfied, and (3) the order violates public policy. AFFIRM TRIAL COURT JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley 01-08-00238-CV Eastern Bloc Entertainment, Ltd., Altar Boys Management Company, L.L.C., Robert W. Thomas and John S. "Skip" Woods v. ABCO Properties, Inc., Trustee Appeal from 152nd District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Kenneth P. Wise Hatler v. Moore Wallace North America, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 4, 2010)(Higley) (21 days vs 24 days notice prior to summary judgment hearing depending on method of service; requirement for preservation of complaint about inadequate notice in the trial court) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley 01-07-00181-CV Paul Hatler v. Moore Wallace North America, Inc. Appeal from 268th District Court of Fort Bend County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Brady G. Elliott DP v. State of Texas (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 4, 2010)(Higley) (mental health civil commitment order affirmed, mediation order) We affirm the trial court's order of commitment for temporary in-patient mental health services (appellate cause no. 01-09- 00097-CV) and the trial court's order to administer psychoactive medication (appellate cause no. 01-10-00002-CV). AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Laura Carter Higley Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley 01-09-00097-CV David S. Petersen III v. The State of Texas Appeal from Probate Court No 3 of Harris County Trial Court Judge: The Honorable Georgia Akers Ashkar Engineering Corp. v. Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corp. (pdf) (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 4, 2010)(interlocutory appeal in an industrial construction design defect suit, claim against a licensed professional engineering firm, failure to file a certificate of merit required by statute) We conclude that the substance of GCMC’s claims constitute negligence claims because the acts or omissions complained of amount to a claimed departure from accepted standards of the practice of engineering. As such, all of GCMC’s claims, without regard to their titles, are subject to the requirements of Chapter 150. Because, as we concluded above, GCMC failed to timely comply with Section 150.002, the trial court was required, on Ashkar’s motion, to dismiss the suit. We hold that the trial court erred by denying Ashkar’s motion to dismiss GCMC’s claims.We reverse the order of the trial court and remand for entry of judgment dismissing GCMC’s claims. REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND REMAND CASE TO TC FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS: Opinion by Justice Higley Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley 01-09-00855-CV Ashkar Engineering Corporation v. Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corporation Appeal from 215th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Steven E. Kirkland Seiflein v. City of Houston (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 4, 2010)(Higley) (ad valorem tax delinquency suit judgment affirmed) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley 01-09-00361-CV Phil Seiflein v. City of Houston Appeal from 164th District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon Alexandra Smoots-Hogan Aeternia Enterprises, U.S.A., Ltd. v. Magnitogorsk Steel and Wire Works (pdf) (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jan. 7, 2009)(Opinion on motion for rehearing by Higley)(suit dismissed in deference to arbitration, preclusive effect of arbitration in foreign jurisdiction that had already taken place, arbitration not compelled in Texas; dismissal of suit affirmed on appeal, not all grounds for dismissal were challenged on appeal) AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Higley Before Justices Jennings, Higley and Sharp 01-05-00964-CV Aeternia Enterprises, U.S.A., Ltd. v. Magnitogorsk Steel and Wire Works Appeal from 133rd District Court of Harris County Trial Court Judge: Hon. Lamar McCorkle Also see --> 2009 Civil Appellate Opinions Written by Justice Laura Higley Also see --> 2008 Opinions in Civil Appeals Authored by Justice Laura Higley Also see --> 2007 Appellate Opinions in Civil Appeals Justice Laura Higley |
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