Exxon Corporation, Petitioner v. Mary Tidwell and Terry Tidwell, Respondents

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court held that an oil company owes a duty of ordinary care to protect a tenant service station’s employees from third‑party criminal acts only if the oil company possesses a right of control over the safety and security of the station, announced a new standard focusing on that specific control, reversed the Court of Appeals, and remanded for a new trial. Justice Gammage dissented, arguing the new standard improperly shields Exxon.