Laurie Ratliff, Attorney

Areas of experience

• Civil Appeals and Appellate Procedure
• Multidistrict Consolidation
• Original Proceedings
• Trial Procedure and support
• Property Tax Litigation and Appeals
• Probate and Guardianship Appeals
• Family Law Appeals

Laurie represents individuals and companies in appellate matters in a variety of substantive law areas, including ad valorem tax, probate and guardianship and family law. In addition, she assists other counsel with appellate procedural issues, brief writing and oral argument preparation.  Laurie has also represented clients in multidistrict consolidation cases.   Some of her recent representations include:

• In the leading case on taxability of crude oil, persuaded the court to construe the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution to hold that oil moving through a tank farm remains in interstate commerce and therefore is not subject to ad valorem taxation. This appellate decision controls the outcome in numerous pending cases in which an appraisal district seeks to tax oil in transit through a pipeline system.
• Won reversal of a judgment on behalf of an apartment complex owner where the appellate court ruled that an appraisal district must consider a property's individual characteristics, specifically rent and occupancy restrictions, when determining market value.
• Persuaded the Texas Supreme Court to transfer 19 appeals pending in two courts of appeals to a third court of appeals. After transfer, successfully upheld the dismissal of 19 ad valorem taxing unit suits against numerous oil companies for failure to exhaust administrative remedies.
• In a case of first impression, argued and obtained a writ of mandamus directing a trial court to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds a case brought by governmental entities for allegations of fraud and negligent misrepresentation. Persuaded the court of appeals that the Tax Code provides the definitive remedies for such allegations, that the governmental entities failed to exhaust their administrative remedies and that the Tax Code is a pervasive regulatory scheme.

Laurie also partners with trial counsel both within and outside the firm for presentation of legal issues in motion practice, discovery disputes, summary judgments and other trial matters.

In addition to her appellate work, Laurie represents property owners in property tax matters in administrative proceedings, trials and appeals. She has represented a variety of different properties, including oil and gas interests, business aircraft, airport cargo facilities, shopping centers and special use properties.

In addition to her practice, Laurie:

• Writes the "Third Court of Appeals Update" for the Austin Lawyer, a monthly article commenting on significant cases issued by the Third Court of Appeals;
• Co-authors an annual article, "Texas Supreme Court Update," for The Appellate Advocate, a quarterly magazine published by the State Bar Appellate Section;
• Co-authors summaries of the Multidistrict Litigation Panel opinions for the State Bar Appellate Section's website;
• Co-authors summaries of the Third Court of Appeals opinions for the State Bar Appellate Section's website; and
• Speaks frequently at seminars on Multidistrict Litigation, Third Court of Appeals practice, trial, appellate and administrative law issues.