NewsWire

Lessons from Rangers' Handling of Washington Situation
The way the Texas Rangers handled manager Ron Washington's positive drug test is something all companies can learn from, says Dallas employment attorney Mark Shank of Gruber Hurst Johansen & Hail. "Many organizations have the attitude that someone who is a leader simply should not engage in this type of activity, and you're out after one strike," he says. "Any company has the right to hold leaders to a higher standard of conduct, but you still need to look at your written policy. That will dictate how you can respond." Shank says reports that the test results were leaked by a disgruntled former employee are troubling. "A company has an obligation to maintain confidentiality and information should be closely guarded less it fall into the wrong hands." To interview Mr. Shank, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.

Toyota's Problems Require Restraint by Lawyers, Drivers
As news reports of unintended acceleration and faulty electronics continue to mount against Toyota, Houston attorney Mark Lanier urges Toyota drivers, as well as lawyers, to not automatically assume the need to file a lawsuit. "Our own investigations have shown that some folks claiming their Toyotas sped out of control actually just stepped on the gas instead of the brakes," says Lanier, whose office has reviewed hundreds of potential Toyota claims, many of which will never be filed. "Now is the time for lawyers to practice restraint, and not rush every case to the steps of the courthouse." On March 25, Mr. Lanier will join dozens of other attorneys in San Diego as the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation holds its first hearing on consolidating Toyota cases. To interview Mr. Lanier, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Next Trouble Spot for Greece Could Be Foreign Investors
Foreign investors are no doubt watching the deteriorating financial situation in Greece. "In the past, other countries have reacted to economic challenges by taking actions that directly or indirectly crippled investments made by foreign investors," says Richard D. Deutsch of Andrews Kurth LLP. Government actions can be more subtle than nationalizations or outright discrimination, warns Deutsch, who teaches a course on international arbitration at the University of Texas School of Law. The most obvious example, he says, is the Argentine government's reaction to the country's 2002 economic collapse. Its actions led more than 40 international arbitration claims against the government for violations of investment treaties. Today's foreign investors are keenly aware of their legal options, so any similar moves by the Greek government could spark a plethora of arbitration claims. To interview Mr. Deutsch, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Rising Supply and Demand for Shale
Energy suppliers and consumers are facing a glut of alternative sources as the output of unconventional fuels is set to rise by more than 70 percent during the next 20 years. Market demand is already slowly shifting as shale gas production and supplies increase, and power generators switch from coal to the cleaner-burning and ultimately less-expensive fuel. "Falling prices won't necessarily mean a decrease in production or falling rig count," says Arthur Wright of the Dallas office of Thompson & Knight. "Producers will have to drill to hold their leases. Meanwhile, new technologies will likely allow for greater production at lower costs, plus we'll see new uses for the differing qualities of some shale gas." The firm recently represented EQT Corporation in the $280 million purchase of 58,000 acres in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale. To interview Mr. Wright, contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or bruce@androvett.com.

VirnetX Scores $105 Million Verdict against Microsoft
A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas-Tyler Division this week awarded VirnetX Holding Corporation $105.75 million after finding that Microsoft Corp. willfully infringed two VirnetX patents related to virtual private networks. VirnetX was represented by attorneys with the national trial law firm McKool Smith. "We hope this decision sends a clear message to patent infringers everywhere that they will be held responsible for wrongly profiting off the hard work of others," says Douglas Cawley, who led McKool Smith's trial team. This verdict continues an impressive week for the firm, which also was highlighted in The National Law Journal for securing four of the top 100 verdicts of 2009, more than any other firm in the country for the second consecutive year. For more information, contact Bruce Vincent at 800-559-4534 or bruce@androvett.com.