Texas Supreme Court Upholds Appellate Victory in Wagyu Beef Genetics Dispute

On June 12, 2026, the Texas Supreme Court upheld a Texas appellate court ruling siding with HeartBrand Holdings, Inc. (“HeartBrand”) and American Akaushi Association (“AAA”) in a lawsuit brought by Twinwood Cattle Company, Inc.

Twinwood, a foreign-owned cattle genetics producer, filed suit in 2018 against HeartBrand and AAA demanding AAA hand over historic genetic samples from other Akaushi breeders for Twinwood’s own personal use. Twinwood purchased Akaushi cattle from HeartBrand in 2009 and was a member of the AAA for nearly a decade.

HeartBrand and its wholly owned subsidiaries are leading producers of Akaushi beef, a type of red wagyu Japanese cattle known for its high-quality meat. AAA seeks to enhance the Akaushi breed and provide breeders with assistance in market development, herd reporting, and herd management, while maintaining registration and reporting rules regarding genetic testing and verification of bloodlines.

Even though Twinwood chose to walk away from the HeartBrand program in 2016 via a separation agreement, Twinwood later demanded HeartBrand and AAA continue supporting Twinwood’s new, separate breeding program. A Fort Bend County district court allowed Twinwood to take that theory to a jury trial in 2021, and then entered a multi-million-dollar judgment against AAA.

In 2025, the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals concluded that “there can be no doubt” that Twinwood brought suit on claims it had already agreed in writing would be “laid to rest” and that “the trial court’s error” in putting Twinwood’s claims to trial “probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment.” The appeals court therefore wiped away the old verdict and judgment. In addition, the appeals court rendered judgment that HeartBrand and its chairman, Ronald Beeman, were not liable to Twinwood on its claims.

The Texas Supreme Court’s decision confirms the appellate court’s reversal of the trial court judgment.

“From the start, this case was a misguided effort to wreck our family’s business, launched by a former colleague we once trusted and financed by an Indonesian billionaire,” said Jordan Beeman, President of HeartBrand Holdings, Inc.“Even in an unfair trial, HeartBrand Beef and the Beeman family never lost faith that justice would prevail. We were glad when the court of appeals reversed the trial court, and we’re even more pleased today that the Texas Supreme Court has put this attack on HeartBrand and on my father to an end. This ruling is tremendous news for the Akaushi breed and positions us to keep growing our company while supporting the breed’s long-term success.”

 Vinson & Elkins partner Jason Powers, counsel to HeartBrand and AAA, added:

“We congratulate HeartBrand on this important victory. The Texas Supreme Court’s ruling today preserves our 2025 appellate victory and confirms that Twinwood went to trial on theories it had long promised were settled and resolved. Vinson & Elkins has been proud to stand for HeartBrand, the Akaushi breed, and the Beeman family for years. With this case behind them, we look forward to seeing HeartBrand add to its legacy as one of the nation’s finest wagyu producers.”

About Vinson & Elkins
For more than a century, Vinson & Elkins has provided outstanding client service across important industries that drive the global economy. Built on a strong culture of collaboration across 14 offices worldwide, V&E lawyers are committed to excellence, offering clients decades of legal experience in handling transactions, investments, projects and disputes across the globe. Learn more by visiting www.velaw.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

For more information, please speak with our media contacts.