⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Archer Western v. McDonnel Group — 5th Cir. (argued September 3, 2026)

No. 25-30739 Argued September 3, 2026 Published September 5, 2026

The Fifth Circuit considers whether the McDonnel Group can recover legal fees from construction partner Archer Western. The district court denied those fees because Archer Western had not been found to breach their joint venture agreement. The dispute turns on whether McDonnel needed a separately litigated breach-of-contract claim.

Archer Western v. McDonnel Group (No. 25-30739) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued September 3, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/25/25-30739_9-3-2026.mp3
Argument date and counsel — Fifth Circuit recording record:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings/results?docket=25-30739
Case and counsel appearances — Fifth Circuit docket:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca5/25-30739
Fee-denial order — district court, November 17, 2025, pp. 2–8:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-laed-2_22-cv-05323/pdf/USCOURTS-laed-2_22-cv-05323-13.pdf
Randall Smith — current firm biography:https://www.smithfawer.com/attorney/smith-randall-a/
Smith firm affiliation — Chambers 2026 editorial:https://chambers.com/lawyer/randall-a-smith-usa-5%3A26599697
McDonnel trial counsel — Smith & Fawer case report:https://www.smithfawer.com/blog/2025/06/smith-fawer-secures-jury-win-dismissing-multimillion-claims/
Jeremy Grabill — current firm biography:https://www.phelps.com/professionals/jeremy-t-grabill.html
Grabill firm corroboration — opposing counsel's Supreme Court service record (separate case):https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-257/374432/20250911143250042_2025-09-11%20Zyla%20Final%20Waiver.pdf
Claims and defenses — Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 8 and 13:https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf
Counterclaim/defense distinction — Leoris, district court opinion, pp. 7–8:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_18-cv-02575/pdf/USCOURTS-ilnd-1_18-cv-02575-1.pdf

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