Joe, Joey, Joe-Baby, Sexist: Where’s Your Imposter Syndrome?

JOANNA L. GROSSMAN

SMU Dedman School of Law professor Joanna L. Grossman responds to a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed criticizing soon-to-be First Lady Jill Biden for using the academic title she earned. Professor Grossman dissects the op-ed, penned by a retired lecturer at Northwestern University, and explains the deep and pervasive sexism behind it.

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Endeavor Energy Resources, LP v. Energen Resources Corp.

Docket: 18-1187

Opinion Date: December 18, 2020

Judge: Blacklock

Areas of Law: Contracts, Energy, Oil & Gas Law, Real Estate & Property Law

In this dispute over the meaning of an oil and gas lease covering an 11,300-acre tract in Howard County, the Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeals affirming the trial court's grant of summary judgment for Energen Resources Corp. and John Quinn, holding that the contested provision of the lease in this case was ambiguous. The lease at issue allowed Endeavor Energy Resources, L.P. to retain its leasehold interest in the parcel only by drilling a new well every 150 days, with the exception that Endeavor could "accumulate unused days in any 150-day term...in order to extend the next allowed 150-day term between the completion of one well and the drilling of a subsequent well." At issue on appeal was how to calculate the number of "unused days." Energen and Quinn argued that the contested provision unambiguously allowed unused days earned in any term to be carried forward only once to the next 150-day term. The trial court agreed, and the court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the disputed provision was ambiguous.

Lion Copolymer Holdings, LLC v. Lion Polymers, LLC

Docket: 19-0343

Opinion Date: December 18, 2020

Judge: Per Curiam

Areas of Law: Contracts

The Supreme Court reversed the judgment of the court of appeals and remanded Petitioner's factual sufficiency complaint for the court's consideration, holding that the court of appeals erred in finding that Petitioner failed to preserve its complaint about the factual sufficiency of the evidence. Respondent filed a breach of contract claim against Petitioner, and the jury awarded Respondent actual damages of $361,295. On appeal, Petitioner argued that the evidence was legally and factually insufficient to support the jury's verdict and that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting certain disposition testimony. The court of appeals held the evidence legally sufficient to support the trial court's judgment, concluded that the deposition testimony admission was not an abuse of discretion, and determined that the factually sufficiency complaint was inadequately briefed. The Supreme Court remanded the case, holding (1) the court of appeals did not err in sustaining the admission of the deposition testimony; but (2) the factual sufficiency issue was adequately briefed and argued and should have been considered.