Texas litigators have long relied on established methods of service such as personal delivery, certified mail, substituted service at a residence or workplace and, when those efforts fail, service by publication. As defendants have become increasingly difficult to locate through traditional means, however, many nonetheless maintain an active online presence. In response to this shift
This year, Texas enacted a procedural change with notable consequences for companies and individuals affected by litigation beyond the state’s borders. Effective August 31, 2025, the Texas Supreme Court adopted the Uniform Interstate Depositions and Discovery Act (“UIDDA”), bringing Texas in alignment with the procedural framework already used by the vast majority of U.S. jurisdictions.
On May 1, 2024, the U.S. 5th Circuit reversed an Eastern District of Louisiana decision based on a differing interpretation and application of the Supreme Court’s Lauritzen-Rhoditis factors; holding that the law of the flag state governed the injured mariner’s maritime law claims against the vessel operator.
In Ganpat v. Eastern Pacific Shipping PTE, Ltd.