TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF DEFENSE COUNSEL An Association of Civil Trial, Commercial Litigation & Personal Injury Defense Attorneys - Est. 1960 SPRING/SUMMER 2017 IN THIS ISSUE: The Shifting Sands Regarding Burdens of Proof 2017 TADC ANNUAL MEETING in Coverage Cases REGISTRATION ENCLOSED Pg 16 Mediation As Process Not Ritual, In Business Disputes pg 34 A thousand things can go wrong out here. We can tell you which one actually did. S-E-A has been investigating, researching, revealing relative concept. While we aren’t capable of changing and replicating the cause of accidents and failures on that, we do have the expertise, experience and ability to land and sea for over 40 years. fin , illuminate and preserve the facts. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a cargo ship, an offshore oil platform or a dockside loading For more information please visit us at machine, the harsh realities are the same. SEAlimited.com or call Wade Wilson In the marine environment, permanence is a or Dan Orlich at 800-880-7324. ™ 800-880-7324 Scientific Expert Analysis™™ www.SEAlimited.com © 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS TADC Calendar of Events .................................................................................................................................................. 4 President’s Message ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 TADC 85th Legislative Wrap-Up ...................................................................................................................................... 7 The Shifting Sands Regarding Burdens of Proof in Coverage Cases .......................................................................... 16 I Back the PAC ..................................................................................................................................................................... 20 TADC PAC Report .............................................................................................................................................................. 21 Lien Foreclosures & Oil & Gas Leases .............................................................................................................................. 22 Amicus Curiae Committee News ...................................................................................................................................... 26 TADC 2017 Spring Meeting .............................................................................................................................................. 28 A Past President’s Perspective ............................................................................................................................................ 31 El Paso Baseball & CLE ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 Mediation As Process Not Ritual, In Business Disputes ................................................................................................ 34 Nominations of Offic s and Directors for 2018 ............................................................................................................. 39 2017 TADC Awards Nominations .................................................................................................................................... 40 Common Issues with Additional Insured Coverage ....................................................................................................... 41 Cases and Courtrooms Remembered ............................................................................................................................... 49 Member News ...................................................................................................................................................................... 53 TADC 2017 Winter Seminar ............................................................................................................................................. 54 2017 Annual Meeting Registration ................................................................................................................................... 56 Welcome New Members ..................................................................................................................................................... 58 Membership Application .................................................................................................................................................... 61 Papers Available ................................................................................................................................................................... 63 2017 West Texas/NMDLA Seminar Registration............................................................................................................ 66 Expert Witness Research Service ...................................................................................................................................... 68 Expert Witness Library ....................................................................................................................................................... 70 The TADC Magazine is a publication of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. Gayla Corley, Langley & Banack, Inc., Editor. 210-736-6600 [email protected] 2017 Calendar of Events July 12-16, 2017 TADC SUMMER SEMINAR Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Orlando, Florida Keith O’Connell & Elizabeth O’Connell Perez, Program Co-Chairs August 4-5, 2017 TADC NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEETING The Houstonian – Houston, Texas August 11-12, 2017 WEST TEXAS SEMINAR WITH NMDLA Inn of the Mountain Gods Ruidoso, New Mexico Bud Grossman, Rachel Moreno & William R. Anderson, Program Co-Chairs September 20-24, 2017 TADC ANNUAL MEETING Fairmont Olympic Hotel Seattle, Washington Don & Jarad Kent, Program Co-Chairs January 31-February 4, 2018 TADC WINTER SEMINAR Hotel Madeline Telluride, Colorado 4 Texas Association of Defense Counsel | Spring/Summer 2017 PPRESIDENTRESIDENT’’SS MESSAGE MESSAGE MikeBy Mike Hendryx Hendryx, Chairman StrongStrong Pipkin Pipkin Bissell Bissell & Ledyard,& Ledyard, L.L.P., L.L.P, Houston Houston A Aprofessional professional organization organization of of civilcivil trialtrial attorneys dedicateddedicated toto promoting promoting excellence excellence in in its its 2017 Calendar of Events members,members, fairnessfairness inin ourour judicial judicial system,system, andand preservingpreserving thethe rightright toto juryjury trialtrial forfor allall citizens.citizens. ~ TADC MISSION STATEMENT ~ -TADC Mission Statement When I explain to younger members with and communicating with the court and of our profession what the TADC does and all parties.” what it stands for, I often refer to our These actions are important for us Mission Statement. While it embodies our individually, and as a profession. They not goals as an organization, it also addresses only serve as aspirations, but also remind us what we strive for every day….excellence of the important roles lawyers play in our personally, and excellence as lawyers. communities. As leaders, our behavior is We continue as a group to understand seen and modeled by others. Hopefully in the critical importance lawyers play in this time of polarization in politics and in American society. It was not long ago that our society, our example of integrity and the term “Rambo Lawyer” entered our civility will be noted and followed. vocabulary. The TADC, working with As I sat down to consider and draft others, pushed back and refused to accept this column, I saw a piece of paper that I had that behavior. placed under the glass of my desk some In 1989, a declaration of years ago. It is a listing of ten rules of how professionalism and civility, known as the to get along with others. My mother’s cousin Texas Lawyer’s Creed, was issued by the was one of the first female deans at a major Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the university. Her area was human resources. Texas Supreme Court. We as a group After she died, I found a yellowed, worn welcomed that statement by the judiciary sheet of paper entitled “The Art of Getting and made sure that it became a part of our Along With People” among her documents. ethical discussions at meetings. It was something she had typed and kept under the glass of her desk during her many Then in 2015, with strong support by years of teaching and working as an the TADC, the Texas Legislature passed and administrator in academia. I would like to Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 534. It share it with you: amended the Texas Lawyer’s Oath to require the pledging attorney to “conduct oneself with integrity and civility in dealing Texas Association of Defense Counsel | Spring/Summer 2017 5 The Art of Getting Along With again, the solution may be People obvious. Here are ten simple rules for keeping out of, 8. Ask yourself, “What are the forces or getting out of, trouble – distilled for all of acting upon the other person? us mortals, from the rich mesh of collective Why does he behave as he does?” experiences: 9. Diagnosis must come before 1. Learn all about the problem action. Use the Doctor’s before trying to solve it. Listen a approach. Don’t prescribe until lot, Talk a little. you’re sure what is wrong. 2. See the total situation. Don’t act 10. Easy does it. Quick solutions are on just a part of it. often the quick route to trouble.