PPG Industries, Inc. v. JMB/Houston Centers Partners Ltd. Partnership

in which Chief Justice PHILLIPS, Justice HECHT, Justice OWEN and Justice WAINWRIGHT joined.

JMB/Houston Centers Partners obtained a judgment of more than $17 million for deceptive acts and warranty breaches that a jury found had been committed by PPG Industries, Inc. But as the two corporations had no direct business dealings, none of the claims stemmed from transactions between them. Instead, JMB’s suit relied on warranty and DTPA claims received by assignment from its predecessor in interest.

The court of appeals affirmed the judgment, joining several other courts that have held or assumed…