As opening arguments in the business court’s first jury trial get underway today, the judicial body faces one of its biggest tests yet: How well can a jury of Texans with varied levels of business experience decide complex — and costly — commercial disputes?
Over the next two weeks, three male and nine female jurors will consider whether the plaintiff Ted Powers is entitled to up to $200 million from the owners of a billion-dollar crude oil delivery system. (Powers says he signed an agreement with Lawrence Berry, a now-deceased system co-owner, on this issue.)
It’s the kind of case ...