Alex E. Jones and Free Speech Systems, LLC v. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis

Summary

The Texas Court of Appeals, Third District, at Austin supplemented and amended its April 29, 2026 memorandum opinion and order concerning three appeals arising from the same Travis County trial-court cause. The court abated and remanded one appeal for findings regarding a supersedeas bond contest, continued a stay in another appeal, temporarily stayed a turnover order in the third appeal pending consideration of an emergency motion involving the bankruptcy automatic stay, and prohibited dissipation or transfer of assets to avoid satisfying the judgment.

Holdings

1. The appeal in Cause No. 03-23-00209-CV is abated and remanded to the trial court to take evidence and make findings regarding the supersedeas bond contest, including events occurring since October 6, 2025.
2. The previously entered stay of the turnover order in Cause No. 03-25-00617-CV remains in effect, and the turnover order in Cause No. 03-25-00906-CV is temporarily stayed pending further order on the emergency motion concerning the alleged violation of the bankruptcy automatic stay.
3. The appellants are prohibited from dissipating or transferring assets to avoid satisfaction of the judgment, but the trial court may not interfere with the use, transfer, conveyance, or dissipation of assets in the normal course of business.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the appeal in Cause No. 03-23-00209-CV should be abated and remanded for the trial court to take evidence and make findings regarding the supersedeas bond contest.
2. Whether the appellate court should maintain or impose temporary stays concerning turnover orders to preserve the parties' rights.
3. Whether the appellants should be prohibited from dissipating or transferring assets to avoid satisfaction of the judgment, subject to ordinary-course-of-business limitations.

Disposition

remanded