Contractual Clauses That Impact Disputes
David F. Johnson
Winstead PC
300 Throckmorton, Suite 1700
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 420-8223
dfjohnson@winstead.com
Texas Association of Bank Counsel
40th Annual Convention
September 22-23, 2016
Austin, Texas
DAVID FOWLER JOHNSON
DFJOHNSON@WINSTEAD.COM
Managing Shareholder of Winstead PC's Fort Worth Office
300 Throckmorton, Suite 1700
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 420-8223
dfjohnson@winstead.com
David maintains an active trial and appellate practice for the financial
services industry. David's financial institution experience includes (but is
not limited to): breach of contract, special servicer litigation, foreclosure
litigation, lender liability, receivership and injunction remedies upon default,
non-recourse and other real estate lending, class action, RICO actions, usury,
various tort causes of action, preference, and other related claims.
David has also specialized in fiduciary litigation including: breach of
fiduciary duty claims, aiding-and-abetting breach of fiduciary duty claims,
trustee resignation/removal, will contests, mental competency issues, undue
influence, trust modification/clarification, and accountings. David is the
primary author of a blog that reports on recent developments in the fiduciary
field in Texas: txfiduciarylitigator.com.
David is one of twenty attorneys in the state (of the 84,000 licensed) that has
the triple Board Certification in Civil Trial Law, Civil Appellate and
Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
David is a graduate of Baylor University School of Law, Magna Cum
Laude, and Baylor University, B.B.A. in Accounting.
David has published over twenty (20) law review articles on various
litigation topics. David's articles have been cited as authority by federal
courts, the Texas Supreme Court (three times), the Texas courts of appeals
located in Waco, Texarkana, Tyler, Beaumont, and Houston, and cited by
McDonald and Carlson in their Texas Civil Practice treatise, William V.
Dorsaneo in the Texas Litigation Guide, in the Baylor Law Review, South
Texas Law Review, and the Tennessee Law Review. David has presented
and/or prepared written materials for over hundred and twenty-five (125)
continuing legal education courses.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1
II. Arbitration Clauses ............................................................................................................. 1
A. Enforcement Of Arbitration Clauses ..................................................................... 1
B. Conspicuousness Requirement .............................................................................. 2
C. Direct-Benefits Estoppel Theory ........................................................................... 2
D. Parties Can Draft Clause To Allow For Appellate Review ................................... 3
E. Conclusion On Arbitration Clauses ....................................................................... 4
III. Forum-Selection Clauses .................................................................................................... 4
A. Historic Enforcement Of Forum-Selection Clauses In Texas ............................... 5
B. Current Test For Enforcement Of Forum-Selection Clause .................................. 6
C. Conspicuousness Requirement ............................................................................ 10
D. Direct-Benefits Estoppel ..................................................................................... 11
E. Conclusion On Forum-Selection Clauses ............................................................ 12
IV. Venue-Selection Clause ................................................................................................... 12
V. Contractual Jury Waivers ................................................................................................. 13
A. The Texas Supreme Court Affirms Use Of Jury Waivers ................................... 14
B. Some Texas Intermediate Appellate Courts View Jury Waivers
Differently From Arbitration Clauses ................................................................. 16
C. Texas Supreme Court Addresses Which Party Has Burden To Establish
Knowing and Voluntary Waiver ......................................................................... 19
D. Should The Enforcement Of A Jury-Waiver Clause Differ From An
Arbitration Clause And A Forum-Selection Clause? .......................................... 22
VI. Choice-Of-Law Clause ..................................................................................................... 24
A. General Law ........................................................................................................ 24
B. Choice-Of-Law Clause May Impact Other Dispute Clauses............................... 28
VII. Indemnity Clauses ............................................................................................................ 30
A. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 30
