Supreme Court of Texas Blog

No. 23-0493
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WERNER ENTERPRISES, INC. AND SHIRAZ A. ALI v. JENNIFER BLAKE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS NEXT FRIEND FOR NATHAN BLAKE, AND AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF ZACKERY BLAKE, DECEASED; AND ELDRIDGE MOAK, IN HIS CAPACITY AS GUARDIAN OF THE ESTATE OF BRIANNA BLAKE

Oral argument was held on December 3, 2024. The Court issued an opinion resolving the case on June 27, 2025. It then denied rehearing on September 26, 2025 File Closed

Opinions

June 27, 2025

Blacklock
Devine
Busby
Young
Sullivan

Chief Justice Blacklock delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Justice Devine, Justice Busby, Justice Young, and Justice Sullivan joined. PDF

Bland
Boyd
Huddle

Justice Bland filed an opinion dissenting in part, in which Justice Boyd and Justice Huddle joined. PDF

Young
Huddle

Justice Young filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Huddle joined. PDF

Court of Appeals

Appellate District:14th Court of Appeals
Outcome Below:Affirmed
COA Docket No.:14-18-00967-CV
Opinion Author:Honorable Meagan Hassan

Trial Court

Trial Court:127th District Court
County:Harris
Trial Judge:Honorable Ravi K. Sandill
Trial Docket:2015-36666

Entries on SCOTX Orders Lists

Docket Entries

Date Event Outcome  
2025-09-29 Mandate issued  
2025-09-26 Motion for Rehearing - Disposed   Denied with Justice not sitting.
2025-08-14 Case forwarded to Court
2025-08-13 Response Waiver filed  
2025-08-13 Motion for Rehearing  
2025-07-08 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing disposed   Filing granted
2025-07-07 Motion for Extension of Time to File Motion for Rehearing  
2025-06-27 Concurring Opinion issued.   Issued
2025-06-27 Dissenting opinion issued.   Issued
2025-06-27 Court approved judgment sent to attorneys of record Issued
2025-06-27 Opinion issued   Court of Appeals' judgment reversed & judgment rendered
  This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between February 4, 2025 and June 27, 2025.  
2025-02-04 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
  This case was awaiting the Court's decision after oral argument between December 11, 2024 and February 4, 2025.  
2024-12-11 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-12-03 Oral argument  
2024-12-02 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-12-02 Exhibits in case/cause filed (Petitioner)  
2024-11-27 Submission Schedule
2024-11-19 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-11-18 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
2024-11-15 Oral Argument Submission Form from Attorney received  
  This case was waiting for oral argument between August 30, 2024 and November 15, 2024.  
2024-08-30 Case set for oral argument   Case set for oral argument
2024-08-30 Petition for Review granted
2024-08-30 Petition for Review disposed Filing granted
2024-08-28 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-08-08 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-06-25 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2024-06-25 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2024-06-25 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2024-06-25 Pro hac vice motion disposed   Filing granted
2024-06-24 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2024-06-24 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2024-06-24 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2024-06-24 Pro hac vice motion filed  
2024-06-19 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-06-19 Electronic communication sent to Party  
2024-06-18 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-06-18 Reply Brief (Petitioner)  
2024-06-03 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-06-03 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-05-21 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-05-20 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-05-06 Letter Filed  
2024-05-06 Brief on the Merits (Respondent)  
  This case was pending on merits briefs between March 14, 2024 and May 6, 2024.  
2024-03-14 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-03-14 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-03-01 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2024-03-01 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-02-16 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2024-02-15 Letter Filed  
2024-02-15 Brief on the Merits (Petitioner)  
2024-01-10 Motion for Extension of Time to File Brief filed  
2024-01-10 Motion for Extension of Time disposed.   Filing granted
2023-12-15 Brief on the Merits Requested  
2023-12-01 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2023-11-02 Reply to Response to Petition filed (Petitioner)  
2023-10-24 Case forwarded to Court
2023-10-20 Amicus Curiae Brief received  
2023-10-18 Response to Petition (Respondent)  
2023-09-01 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response disposed   Filing granted
2023-09-01 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response  
2023-08-17 Petition for Review (Petitioner)  
2023-07-27 Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2023-07-27 Second Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2023-06-28 Court reporter/recorder's record
2023-06-28 Court reporter/recorder's record
2023-06-28 Court reporter/recorder's record
2023-06-28 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review filed  
2023-06-28 Motion for Extension of Time to File Petition for Review disposed   Filing granted
2023-06-28 Clerk's Record
2023-06-28 Supplement to Clerk's/Reporter's Record
2023-06-28 Court reporter/recorder's record

Parties

Party Counsel Role
Eldridge Moak, as Guardian of the Estate of Brianna Blake
Mr. Eric Penn
Mr. Darrin M. Walker
Mr. Gene M. Zona Jones II
Zollie Steakley
Respondent
Werner Enterprises, INC.
Mr. Thomas Phillips
Bill W Sanford Jr.
Mr. Christopher Carter
Claire Mahoney
Ms. Eva M. Guzman
Mr. Brian J. Cathey
Mr. Thomas C. Wright
Ms. Amanda S. Hilty
Mr. R. Russell Hollenbeck
Mr. Dale R. Mellencamp
Petitioner
Jennifer Blake, Individually and as next friend for Nathan Blake, and as heir of the Estate of Zachery Blake, deceased
Mr. Christopher Knight
Mr. Michael A. Hatchell
Mr. Eric Penn
Ms. Kelley Denney Peacock
Mr. Gene M. Zona Jones II
Zollie Steakley
Mr. Darrin M. Walker
Respondent
Ali, Shiraz A.
Mr. Thomas Phillips
Claire Mahoney
Mr. Christopher Carter
Ms. Eva M. Guzman
Bill W Sanford Jr.
Mr. R. Russell Hollenbeck
Mr. Dale R. Mellencamp
Mr. Thomas C. Wright
Mr. Brian J. Cathey
Ms. Amanda S. Hilty
Petitioner

Amici Curiae

Amicus Curiae Counsel
Fraley, Elizabeth M.
Ms. Elizabeth M. Fraley
Bruster, Anthony K.
Mr. Anthony Bruster
Roach Newton, LLP
Mr. Manuel Lopez
Mr. Robert M. Randy Roach Jr.
Schneider National Carriers, Inc.
Ms. Elizabeth Z. Brabb
Mr. Michael W. Eady
Acuity Insurance
Andrew J. Upton
Lindsay Gorbach
Texas Civil Justice League
Mr. George S. Christian
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
Ms. Rebecca Helterbrand
Mr. E. Lee Parsley
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America
Jeffrey A. Hall
Mr. Jonathan D. Urick
Ms. Marcella Burke
Texas Trucking Association (TXTA) and Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
Mr. Juan Roberto Fuentes
Nicholas Van Cleve
American Trucking Association
Mr. Jacob DeKeratry
Mr. David E. Keltner
Texas Association of Defense Council
Stephen Bosky
...
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