Weekly Docket

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they use the viral comments about NFL legend Michael Irvin as a case study on defamation. They explore the thin line between protected satire and actionable assertions of fact in the age of social media. The guys also tackle a complex real estate dilemma: how to sell land while preserving family occupancy rights through the use of life estates...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they navigate the stresses of New Year tax compliance, from 1099s to closing out the books. They dive into a critical lesson on Texas contract law, explaining why written words legally override numerical digits when terms contradict, as outlined in the Texas Business and Commerce Code. Finally, they rant about the legality of kids on motorized...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they break down the major Texas eviction reforms taking effect January 1, 2026. Explore how Senate Bill 38 streamlines the legal process by barring unrelated tenant counterclaims and authorizes the use of email notices for the first time. They also provide an in-depth look at the brand-new summary disposition procedure that allows landlords to...

Join Phil and Chris in Episode 102 of the ‘Weekly Docket’ as they break down a significant legal development regarding a judge blocking a Texas law designed to restrict minor access to app stores. The guys also discuss the various ways to secure money for buying a business and explain how Large Language Models (LLMs) really work. Finally, they discuss whether using ChatGPT violates confidentiality...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they analyze President Trump’s executive order to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III and what this federal shift specifically means for state law enforcement and doctors in Texas. They also provide a critical update on the significant 2026 increases to taxable estate thresholds and gift tax exclusions following the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Ac...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris in the 100th episode as they discuss the legal implications of Texas Senate Bill 8, which mandates the use of public restrooms in state buildings based on the gender on a person's birth certificate. They also answer practical legal questions, including an explanation of a deed without warranty and how it differs from a quitclaim deed. Finall...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they dive into the complex world of trial law and evidence. They discuss the critical steps for getting evidence admitted in court, when attorneys should object to hearsay, and the rules surrounding the hearsay exception. The hosts explain how to lay the business records predicate to get documents into evidence and explore how trial attorneys...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they discuss what public schools in Texas can expel a student for, focusing on mandatory expellable offenses like weapons, drugs, and felonies, and discretionary ones like retaliation and computer crimes. They answer a listener's question about maintaining a property inherited from a grandfather and the protection offered by the Texas Uni...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they dive into the most typical reason for amending LLC documents (usually for ownership changes) and why it doesn't always require changing the Certificate of Formation. They explain why a commercial lease lockout works well in Texas under Property Code 93.002, but does not make sense for residential tenancies. Finally, they engage in a...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle listener questions on landlord-tenant law and estate planning. They discuss the legal options for a landlord owed over $20,000 in back rent who needs to evict a tenant. They also delve into will essentials, explaining what a residuary clause is and offering tips on navigating heirs at law . Plus, they answer the common question: sh...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they tackle listener questions on the cost to review a commercial sales contract and what value an attorney adds to the review. They also break down title insurance, explaining what it covers, why it's necessary, and how it differs from standard casualty insurance. Finally, in their Rant and Rave segment, they discuss the growing problem...

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they discuss strategies for collecting small debts, such as $5,500 owed by a General Contractor, exploring the "small dollar demand letter bluff" and the option of DIY JP Court actions. They also address a critical real estate legal question: what a buyer should do when there are liens on Schedule C of the Title Commitment for a home...

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 L...

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...

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&quo...

In Episode 90, Phil and Chris take a break from the usual format to dig into their legal inbox. Topics include the pros and cons of boat clubs, licensing questions from a large apartment manager, and a deep dive into trademark registration costs and timelines. They also discuss managing offshore staff in the Philippines and touch on a criminal lawyer's brush with an ineffective counsel claim....

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 in...

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 per...

This week on the Weekly Docket,  Phil and Chris unpack Texas’ new law requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms and the constitutional battles it’s facing. They explore civil legal options when property is stolen, from conversion claims to the Texas Civil Theft Liability Act, and dive into a fiery rant and rave on why lawyers can’t threaten criminal charges in civil disputes under professional...

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 sal...

On Episode 81 of the Weekly Docket, Phil and Chris dive into the shocking discovery of a secret FBI room filled with documents tied to a possible government conspiracy. Then, they tackle a common legal myth—can forming a nonprofit help you avoid taxes? Finally, they expose a growing attorney-targeted scam fueled by AI. Don't miss this week's blend of legal news, practical advice, and eye...