Most business lawsuits in Travis County take about 12 to 24 months from filing to trial. Smaller cases under $250,000 can move faster, and an appeal can add a year or more. Most cases settle before trial, often at mediation.
What does a typical timeline look like?
| Stage | Typical length |
|---|---|
| Petition, service and answer | 1–2 months |
| Initial disclosures (due 30 days after the first answer) | 1 month |
| Discovery: documents, depositions, experts | 6–12 months |
| Summary judgment motions | 2–4 months, often overlapping discovery |
| Mediation | Usually after key depositions |
| Trial setting | Often 12–18 months after filing |
| Appeal, if any | 12–24 more months |
These are general ranges, not promises. A case with one contract and two parties moves very differently from a multi-party fraud case with expert testimony on damages.
Why do Travis County cases take the time they do?
Travis County civil district courts use a central docket: hearings are assigned to whichever judge is available, rather than one judge handling the case from start to finish. That keeps the docket moving. But it also means a different judge may rule on each motion, so every motion has to stand on its own with a complete record.
Trial dates are often set more than a year out, and a setting is not a guarantee. A case can be pushed back if older or higher-priority cases are ahead of it.
Can a case move faster?
- Expedited actions. If you plead $250,000 or less in monetary relief, Rule 169 caps discovery and pushes for a trial within about 90 days after discovery closes. The trade-off is that you cannot recover more than $250,000, excluding interest, fees and costs.
- Early dispositive motions. A strong Rule 91a motion or summary judgment can end a weak claim or defense without a full trial.
- Focused discovery. Cases bog down when both sides demand everything. We target the documents and witnesses that prove the claim, which shortens the case and lowers the cost.
- Arbitration, if the contract requires it, can be faster than court — or not, depending on the arbitrator and the rules chosen.
What about the Texas Business Court?
Larger disputes, generally above $5 million in controversy, may go to the Third Division of the Texas Business Court in Austin. It has judges who hear only business cases and issues written opinions. It is still new, and its timelines are still being established.
How does the timeline affect strategy?
A long case is expensive and stressful, and the other side knows it. A realistic timeline from the start helps you decide whether to push for an early settlement, invest in key depositions first, or prepare for trial.
From our case files
- A two-week jury trial. In a shareholder oppression and breach of fiduciary duty case, the jury returned a verdict of more than $3.5 million for our client after a two-week trial. The case then settled for a seven-figure value (2011).
- Settling before the trial date. A commercial real estate misrepresentation case settled shortly before trial, with the seller taking back the property, refunding the full price and paying our clients’ legal fees (2022).
- Arbitration as the faster track. For a physician whose contract required arbitration, we tried the case against his former practice group and won a high six-figure award (2018).
Client names are withheld for confidentiality. Every case turns on its own facts, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more representative results.
The Burk Law Firm has litigated business cases in Austin since 1992. Call (512) 306-9828 to discuss your case.
Related: How Does a Business Lawsuit Work in Texas? · What Should You Do Before Filing a Business Lawsuit in Texas?
This article is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.