Joseph L. Lanza

Joseph L. Lanza began working for the Vethan Law Firm in 2012. He managed the firm’s San Antonio, Texas office from 2014-2020 and now practices in the firm’s Houston office. Mr. Lanza litigates cases ranging from the enforcement of non-competition provisions in contracts, misappropriation of trade secrets, breaches of contracts and fiduciary duties, and patent and trademark infringement. A graduate of the South Texas College of Law, Mr. Lanza has practiced for more than thirty years. A sample of appellate matters in which Mr. Lanza has prevailed follow.

In re Marquart Trust, 675 S.W.3d 57 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2023), reversing the grant of a temporary injunction.

Musculoskeletal Imaging Consultants, LLC v. Jars Enters., Inc., 631 S.W.3d 739 (Tex. App.–San Antonio 2021), reversing an order sealing court records.

Woodruff v. Caris MPI, Inc., No. 21-11249, 2022 U.S. App. LEXIS 27223 *, 2022 WL 4534987 (5th Cir. Sep. 28, 2022), reversing the denial of a temporary injunction.

Sommers v. Sandcastle Homes, Inc., 521 S.W.3d 749 (Tex. 2017), regarding the effect of expungement of a lis pendens under the Texas Property Code and which prompted an amendment of that statute.

In re Bertram Turner, 542 S.W.3d 553 (Tex. 2017, orig. proceeding), involving the disqualification of a law firm for conflict of interest.

Cervantes v. Cotter, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 6825, 2017 WL 1403191 (5th Cir. 2017) (not designated for publication), reversing adverse attorney’s fees award under the FLSA.

Simulados Software, Ltd. v. Photon Infotech Private, ltd., 861 Fed. Appx. 149 (9th Cir. 2021) and Simulados Software, Ltd. v. Photon Infotech Private, Ltd., 771 Fed. Appx. 732 (9th Cir. 2019), successive appeals defending a   $309,000 judgment.

Homoki v. Conversion Services, 717 F.3d 388 (5th Cir. 2013) and Homoki v. Conversion Services, 488 Fed. Appx. 848 (5th Cir. 2012), defending Fifth Circuit’s jurisdiction to hear appellate challenge to $700,000 jury verdict.

Lopez v. City of Houston, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11250 (S.D. Tex. Feb. 14, 2008), defeating summary judgment in civil rights litigation.

Demmler v. City of Houston, 229 Fed. Appx. 342 (5th Cir. 2007), involving appeal of qualified immunity defense in civil rights case.

Morrison v. Robinson, 226 S.W.3d 472 (Tex. App.—Waco 2006, pet. denied), reversing adverse final judgment due to ambiguity in a warranty deed.

Sims v. State, 99 S.W.3d 600 (Tex. Crim. App. 2003), clarifying factual sufficiency review, cited over 1300 times.

Mr. Lanza has also published in the Texas Bar Journal, “Should Your Next Expert Witness Be a Licensed Private Investigator?” Texas Bar Journal, February 2005, and co-published in the Cornell Quarterly, Abbott, J. and Lanza, J., “Anti-Trust Regulations and Trade Shows—Can Dealers and Exhibitors be Excluded?” Cornell Quarterly, June 1998 and Abbott, J. and Lanza, J., “Trade Dress: Legal Interpretations of What Constitutes Distinctive Appearance,” The Cornell Quarterly, February 1994. The 1998 Cornell Quarterly article was picked up for republication in The Hotel Management Magazine, Japan, November 1998.