Briefly

Deutsche Bank won a court fight to reopen part of a Texas law firm’s settlement of a class-action lawsuit accusing the firm, the bank and others of selling improper tax shelters.

The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said the February 2005 accord approved by a lower court judge was unfair to Deutsche Bank and its investment banking unit, as well as other defendants that hadn’t resolved their liability.

Dallas-based Jenkens & Gilchrist reached an $81.6-million settlement to end its involvement in the case. If a judge or jury determined the firm’s liability exceeded that amount, Deutsche Bank could have been held jointly responsible for paying.