Leroy Barcelo, Iii, Terri Jo Barcelo, Cecil Wayne Barcelo, Jr., Christopher Lee Barcelo, and Frances Michelle…

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court's summary judgment, holding that an attorney who drafts a will or trust owes no professional duty of care to the intended beneficiaries because no attorney‑client relationship exists with them. The Court rejected the plaintiffs' argument for extending the duty and noted policy reasons for maintaining the privity barrier, while two dissenting justices argued for recognizing at least a limited cause of action for beneficiaries.