TX STATEDispute Resolution

Dispute Resolution in Texas Construction Contracts

168 opinions

Dispute resolution clauses govern how contract disputes are handled, including forum selection, arbitration, and mediation requirements.

The cases below are organized by outcome and significance. Flagship cases represent the most-cited opinions that have shaped how dispute resolution clauses are interpreted in Texas courts.

FLAGSHIP CASES

FEDERALSupreme Court of the United States

2013

Atlantic Marine Constr. Co. v. United States Dist. Court for Western Dist. of Tex.

187 L. Ed. 2d 487 • Supreme Court of the United States • 2013Reversed

Dispute Resolution

Forum-selection clauses in federal contracts are enforced through §1404(a) transfer motions, not §1406(a) dismissals, and must be given controlling weight except in exceptional circumstances.

Cited 3,217 timesFLAGSHIP

TX STATETexas Supreme Court

2002

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission v. IT-Davy

74 S.W.3d 849 • Texas Supreme Court • 2002Voided

Dispute ResolutionChange Order

Sovereign immunity bars a contractor's breach-of-contract suit against a state agency absent express legislative consent; neither the agency's conduct, contract terms, nor general statutes waive immunity from suit.

Cited 1,958 timesFLAGSHIP

FEDERALCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

2004

Martin K. Eby Construction Company, Inc. v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit

369 F.3d 464 • Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit • 2004Enforced

Dispute ResolutionChange Order

A contractor must exhaust administrative remedies established by a regional transportation authority before pursuing breach of contract claims in court, even when the authority lacks governmental immunity from suit.

Cited 1,071 timesFLAGSHIP

ALL OPINIONS

168 opinions sorted by most cited

CASE	CITATION	OUTCOME	CITES
Atlantic Marine Constr. Co. v. United States Dist. Court for Western Dist. of Tex. Supreme Court of the United States	187 L. Ed. 2d 487 (2013)	reversed	3,217
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission v. IT-Davy Texas Supreme Court	74 S.W.3d 849 (2002)	voided	1,958
Martin K. Eby Construction Company, Inc. v. Dallas Area Rapid Transit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit	369 F.3d 464 (2004)	enforced	1,071
General Services Commission v. Little-Tex Insulation Co. Texas Supreme Court	39 S.W.3d 591 (2001)	voided	940
Moncharsh v. Heily & Blase California Supreme Court	832 P.2d 899 (1992)	enforced	746
Rory v. Continental Insurance Michigan Supreme Court	703 N.W.2d 23 (2005)	enforced	740
Italian Cowboy Partners, Ltd. v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America Texas Supreme Court	341 S.W.3d 323 (2011)	remanded	639
Southern Constructors, Inc. v. Loudon County Board of Education Tennessee Supreme Court	58 S.W.3d 706 (2001)	enforced	604
In Re General Motors Corporation Pick-Up Truck Fuel Tank Products Liability Litigation. Jack French, Robert M. West, Charles E. Merritt, Gary Blades, Dawn and Tracey Best, Gary and Jackie Barnes, Betty Marteny, John and Mary Southands, Edmund Berning, Dale W. Plummer, Edmund and Anneta Casey, John and Connie Yonki, Carl and Kathryn Corona, Dallas and Patricia Nelson, Mynard and Mildred Duncan, Kirby L. Stegman, Dewayne Anderson, Morris and Barbara Betzold, in No. 94-1064. Rudolph Jenkins, William D. Cunningham, Mather Johnson, Forrest Charles Ginn, Buren William Jones and Martin D. Parkman, in No. 94-1194. Parish of Jefferson, in No. 94-1195. The State of New York, in No. 94-1198. Elton Wilson, Individually, and Frank I. Owen, Individually and on Behalf of the Residents of the State of Alabama, in No. 94-1202. City of New York, in No. 94-1203. Betty Youngs, Barbara Phillips, Margaret Engel, Larry Swope, Robbin Maxwell and Center for Auto Safety, in No. 94-1207. Betty Youngs, Barbara Phillips, Margaret Engel, Larry Swope, Robbin Maxwell and Center for Auto Safety, in No. 94-1208. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Transportation, in No. 94-1219 Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit	55 F.3d 768 (1995)	remanded	548
Rocor International, Inc. v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh Texas Supreme Court	77 S.W.3d 253 (2002)	modified	422
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. v. J.M. Huber Corp. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit	343 F.3d 719 (2003)	remanded	382
American Family Mutual Insurance v. American Girl, Inc. Wisconsin Supreme Court	2004 WI 2 (2004)	enforced	366
Siebe, Inc. v. Louis M. Gerson Co. Massachusetts Appeals Court	74 Mass. App. Ct. 544 (2009)	remanded	344
Vandenberg v. Superior Court California Supreme Court	982 P.2d 229 (1999)	modified	340
PPG Industries, Inc. v. JMB/Houston Centers Partners Ltd. Partnership Texas Supreme Court	146 S.W.3d 79 (2004)	voided	329
Reflectone, Inc. v. John H. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit	60 F.3d 1572 (1995)	reversed	325
G.T. Leach Builders, LLC v. Sapphire V.P., Lp Texas Supreme Court	458 S.W.3d 502 (2015)	enforced	322
In Re Roman Catholic Archbishop of Portland in Or. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit	661 F.3d 417 (2011)	affirmed	318
Keck, Mahin & Cate v. National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh Texas Supreme Court	20 S.W.3d 692 (2000)	remanded	277
In Re Merrill Lynch Trust Co. FSB Texas Supreme Court	235 S.W.3d 185 (2007)	enforced	269

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