Texas Supreme Court
HOUSTON — The Texas Supreme Court has denied a petition of review from a law firm challenging a trial court order imposing sanctions and awarding $69,861.19 in attorney’s fees to ExxonMobil.
The challenge was brought by Dr. Robert Corwin, attorney Richard Brualdi and The Brualdi Law Firm.
Court records show that on Oct. 11, 2023, Exxon announced a merger with Pioneer Natural Resources, an oil and gas exploration and production company valued at $59.5 million. Pioneer’s shareholders were scheduled to vote on the proposed merger at a special meeting on Feb. 7, 2024. On Jan. 17, 2024, however, Corwin, a Pioneer shareholder, sued to enjoin the closing of the vote on the merger.
Corwin, who was represented by Brualdi, accused Exxon of negligent misrepresentation and violating the Texas Securities Act. He sought an emergency temporary injunction against the closing of the shareholder vote on the merger. The hearing was set for Feb. 2, 2024, five days before the scheduled shareholder vote. Following the hearing, the trial court denied the request for injunctive relief.
The trial court found that Brualdi had consciously filed a groundless request for a temporary injunction to annoy, alarm, and abuse Exxon. Ten days later, Corwin filed a notice of non-suit and the trial court dismissed his claims.
On March 31, the First Court of Appeals concluded that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by imposing sanctions on Brualdi, finding that the trial court did not sanction Brualdi for actions he took in unrelated matters, but instead considered the actions he had taken in previous cases in other courts only as evidence of his motive in the current case.
Court records show Brualdi filed a petition for review with the Supreme Court, which was denied on Aug. 14, court records show.
Appeals case No. 01-24-00207-CV and Supreme Court case No. 26-0488
