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Comprehensive coverage of the Texas Business Court

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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)

Trade Secret Privilege ×
2025 Tex. Bus. 28 Discovery July 18, 2025

Trade Secret Privilege Waived When Not Asserted Before Discovery Ruling Under Rule 193.3

In SafeLease Insurance Services LLC v. Storable, Inc., the Business Court of Texas denied reconsideration of a discovery order compelling production of a customer list, holding that Storable failed to preserve its trade-secret privilege under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 193.3(a) by raising it for the first time in post-ruling motions. The memorandum opinion addresses whether parties must affirmatively assert privilege claims in discovery responses rather than after an adverse ruling, and whether trade secrets may be discoverable when necessary for antitrust claims and protected by agreed protective orders.

Mem. Op. Discovery Disputes Rule 193.3 Trade Secrets Privilege Waiver Local Rule 4(d) Opinion PDF ↓