The Supreme Court of Texas is set to decide whether the 270th Judicial District Court can make a decision to hold a virtual jury trial in a personal injury suit brought against Allied Aviation Fueling Company of Houston Inc. and one of its drivers.

In a petition for writ of mandamus filed on June 8, 2021, Allied Aviation requested the Texas Supreme Court order an in-person jury trial after Harris County District Judge Dedra Davis set the case for a remote jury trial over Zoom for June 9. The Texas Supreme Court granted Allied Aviation’s motion for stay of the remote trial while the petition for writ of mandamus is under consideration.

In its petition for writ of mandamus, Allied Aviation wrote that setting the case for a “full virtual jury trial” would deprive the defendants of the ability to effectively select a jury panel, present evidence, and confront and examine witnesses.

Allied Aviation is represented by Rusty Hardin & Associates LLP and a Jackson Walker team led by S. Brad Brown and including Brett D. Kutnick, Joseph A. “Tré” Fischer, and Justin V. Lee with assistance from Elizabeth W. Pittman.

The case is In re Reginald Willis and Allied Aviation Fueling Company of Houston Inc., case number 21-0472, in the Supreme Court of Texas. For more information, view the Law360 article “Texas Justices Hit Pause On Virtual Jury Trial.”

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