In re Fort Bend County – 1731 S.W.3d 753 – Feb 24, 2026
The court conditionally granted mandamus relief, holding the district court lacked jurisdiction to enjoin an Administrative Law Judge’s subpoena in a contested workers’ compensation case. The court concluded the Division of Workers’ Compensation had exclusive jurisdiction over compensability disputes and related discovery, and the claimant failed to follow statutory procedures for district court intervention. The district court’s orders were void, and the suit was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein PC v. Ace American Insurance Company – 03-25-00215-CV – Sep 4, 2025
The Austin Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of claims by the Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein and Daniel Miramontes seeking to shift attorney’s fees to the workers’ compensation carrier. The court held that because Miramontes did not appeal the December 2022 judgment—which awarded over $80,000 in attorney’s fees to be paid out of his recovery and expressly stated those fees were not taxed against the carrier—that judgment became final. The Division of Workers’ Compensation lacked jurisdiction to revisit or alter the district court’s fee award, and Section 408.147(c) did not apply since it was Miramontes, not the carrier, who disputed the benefits determination.
Law v. Texas Department of Insurance – Division of Workers’ Compensation – 15-24-00097-CV – Aug 29, 2025
The Fifteenth Court of Appeals vacated the district court’s dismissal order and dismissed Randall Law’s claims with prejudice as moot. Law had challenged the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Subsequent Injury Fund for switching from annual written to monthly phone verification of his eligibility. Because the agency later formally adopted a rule authorizing monthly verification, the court held that any alleged ultra vires conduct was cured and no relief could be granted. Thus, the workers’ compensation benefit verification challenge was rendered moot.