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Dallas, Texas  ·  Complex Commercial Litigation

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Portrait of Hon. Melissa Davis Andrews

Hon. Melissa Davis Andrews

Judge · Seat 3A

Texas Business Court · Third Business Court Division (Austin)

Biography

Melissa Andrews is a judge on the Texas Business Court, where she serves in the Third Division in Austin, Texas. Judge Andrews is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Before coming to the bench, she focused her legal practice on appellate briefing and oral argument, strategic dispositive motions, expert challenges, preservation of error, and jury charges. She has represented clients in the United States Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Texas, several United States Courts of Appeals, and trial and appellate courts across the county. She also previously worked at the Supreme Court of Texas as an attorney for Justice Jeff Boyd and a law clerk for Justice Don Willett (now serving on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals), as well as at the First Court of Appeals as an attorney for Justice Harvey Brown. She is currently the immediate past Chair of the Austin Bar Association’s Civil Appellate Section. She also serves on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization’s Advisory Commissions for Civil Appellate Law as well as for Judicial Administration. She is a frequent CLE presenter and has authored several law review articles. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law, where she was a member of the Texas Law Review, served as a Teaching Quizmaster, and graduated with honors. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Source: txcourts.gov

Opinions by Judge Andrews (1)

Removal Timeliness ×
2026 Tex. Bus. 64 Jurisdiction & Remand September 15, 2026

Counterclaim Filing Triggers Removal Clock When Amount-in-Controversy Threshold First Satisfied

In The Bakery v. Naterra Int'l, Division 3 held that plaintiffs' removal was timely under Section 25A.006(f)(1)(B) because the 30-day clock began when defendant filed counterclaims exceeding $60 million that first brought the action within the Court's $5 million jurisdictional minimum. The decision rejects the argument that pre-suit threats to assert counterclaims can start the removal clock before those counterclaims are actually pleaded.

Removal & Remand Section 25A.004 Section 25A.006 Amount in Controversy Counterclaims Opinion PDF ↓