These days, the Texas Supreme Court is pretty busy raising money from the insurance companies, business groups and corporations that have cases before them.  In fact, all that fundraising has kept them from getting much work done.

They did have time, however, to play the role of crime solver.  In San Antonio, a moviegoer name Luis Gutierrez was murdered in the parking lot of the Alamo Quarry Market.  He was robbed of his wallet and his killers got away and have never been found.

A jury awarded $5 million to his family and the verdict was confirmed by the Fourth Court of Appeals.  They said that the mall’s owners, Trammel Crow, knew there was a crime problem at the mall and needed to do more to protect their customers since there had already been 10 robberies at the mall in the recent past.

In Texas, 87% of cases before the Texas Supreme Court get decided in favor of the insurance company or big corporation.  So naturally, Trammel Crow had the $5 million judgment against them overturned.

While the San Antonio police were unable to solve the crime, Trammel Crow argued and the Texas Supreme Court agreed that Gutierrez was murdered because he had previously provided information to the police in a burglary case.  As a result, the Court said Trammel Crow was not responsible for Gutierrez safety.  That’s right, they were able to determine a motive for his murder even though the police had been unable to make a case.  Is there anything this court won’t say or do to rule in favor of the special interests in this state?