Austin College Hosts the Texas 5th District Court of Appeals
The Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals will convene at Austin College, Monday, February 12, in the Ida Green Communications Center to hear oral arguments for the ERCOT vs. Panda Power Case No. 05-17-00872-CV.
The session is free and open to the public. Beginning at 10 a.m., Chief Justice Carolyn Wright will present “Overview: The Texas Appellate Court System,” followed by the official court proceedings. Attendees should arrive at Ida Green by 9 a.m. for security check in. No large bags or briefcases are allowed.
The case concerns an original lawsuit where investors and project companies sued the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc., alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent misrepresentation. Panda Power alleges they invested $2.2 billion in several power plants based on ERCOT’s estimation of Texas’s future demand for electricity. They contend that excess capacity has forced them to sell power at a considerably lower price than anticipated.
Panda Power has a natural-gas power plant in Sherman, which opened in the summer 2014 and is one of Grayson Counties’ largest taxpayers.
After the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals proceedings, Austin College will hold the annual Dr. Kenneth Street Law Symposium, titled “The Path to Justice: Guidance from the Trenches.” Registration for the symposium is open through noon, February 9. The cost is $50 for attorneys, $15 for members of the Grayson County Bar Association, $20 for the general public, and free to students, faculty, and staff; 4.5 (0.75 ethics) CLE credits.
The symposium includes panel discussions, a keynote address from Austin College alumnus and president of the Texas State Bar Association Tom Vick, and lunch. A memorial service for Kenneth Street, who died on December 6, 2017, will be held at 4:30 p.m. in Wynne Chapel, followed by a reception at the Collins Alumni Center.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.