David Yates News
Outside judge called in to hear Provost Umphrey, Ferguson lawsuit
An outside judge has been called in to hear a lawsuit brought by the Provost Umphrey against a former equity partner, attorney Paul ‘Chip’ Ferguson Jr. Ferguson resigned from the Beaumont law firm on Aug. 3 and then filed a lawsuit, which was immediately sealed, against PU the following day in Jefferson County District Court.
State Bar seeks to disbar Beaumont attorney for falsely accusing DA’s office of pot smoking
The Commission for Lawyer Discipline has filed a disciplinary petition against John Morgan, seeking to possibly disbar the Beaumont attorney for making false accusations that several members of the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office smoke marijuana.
Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas
MARSHALL DIVISION Aug. 25 Vilox Technologies LLC v.
RadioShack will pay entire value of unredeemed gift cards
Attorney General Ken Paxton recently announced that a settlement has been reached with the former RadioShack that will see it pay the entire value of unredeemed gift cards.
Beaumont attorney files price-fixing suit over canned tuna in Cali federal court
The leading providers of canned tuna are conspiring together to keep prices high, or so claims a recent lawsuit filed in a northern California federal court.
Mitratech expands legal services with acquisition of CaseTrack
The Austin-based Mitratech, a provider of enterprise legal management solutions, recently announced the acquisition of the CaseTrack product line from Economic Analysis Group – its second acquisition of a solution provider in the past two months.
H-E-B employee slips while picking up hairspray can, sues stocker
A woman who was working at a Beaumont H-E-B last May apparently slipped while reaching to pick up a can of hairspray that had been dropped by the person stocking the shelves.
Discovery starts in collision suit against Port Arthur
Discovery has begun in an automobile collision suit against the city of Port Arthur over a wreck that occurred more than a year ago. As previously reported, Peggy Louis Mitchell filed suit against the city on April 27 in Jefferson County District Court. The latest filing in the case came on Aug. 12, a certificate of discovery showing that Mitchell served the city with her requests for disclosure and production and interrogatories.
Landry's seeks to abate wrongful termination suit, wants arbitration
A popular restaurant chain is seeking to abate a wrongful termination claim and force the parties into arbitration.
American Legion answers suit brought by patron who collapsed in chair
Known as a cheap watering hole by most veterans, the Beaumont American Legion recently answered a lawsuit alleging a patron collapsed in her chair while playing bingo. Seeking an award of punitive damages for alleged gross negligence, Irene Gardiner filed suit against American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 33 and the 11th Street Bingo Association on May 6 in Jefferson County District Court. Court records show the American Legion answered the suit on June 12, asserting a general denial and maintain
Dez Bryant amends petition seeking to depose president of G3 Sports
A Dallas Cowboys wide receiver claims he hasn’t received his fair share of the proceeds from a fantasy football promotion.
Insurance group warns hurricane season not over yet
While hurricane season may have officially kicked off June 1, the Insurance Council of Texas is warning gulf coast residents that some of the strongest and most damaging storms struck after August. “We are concerned about the safety of every Texan during hurricane season,” said Mark Hanna, an ICT spokesman, in an Aug. 17 press release.
Ferguson non-suits Provost Umphrey, firm in turn sues him
Attorney Paul ‘Chip’ Ferguson Jr. has non-suited Provost Umphrey from his lawsuit, but that doesn’t mean the drama is over between the Beaumont law firm and its former equity partner.
Paxton calls on EPA to halt Carbon Rule
Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to halt its Carbon Rule from taking effect, allowing the courts more time to consider legal challenges to the rule.
Provost Umphrey civil suit against State Farm ends in mistrial
The Beaumont-based Provost Umphrey Law Firm saw its civil suit against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance end in a mistrial Aug. 20.
Tyler woman claims Nestlé Waters fired her because of pregnancy
A Tyler woman is claiming Nestlé Waters North America terminated her for being unable to lift more than 25 pounds while she was pregnant.
Parties a no show for JC civil case called up for trial
A civil lawsuit called up for trial Aug. 17 was dismissed for want of prosecution after neither the plaintiff nor the defendants in the case appeared.
Abbott appoints four new district judges
Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed four new district judges, with three of the appointments coming on Aug. 18 and one previous appointment on Aug. 14.
TWIA closes 95.2 percent of record claims filed after spring storms
Spring of 2015 was not kind to the Lone Star State, bringing record rainfall in some cites and pummeling others with harsh hailstorms – costly bouts of weather that resulted in the most claims in Texas Windstorm Insurance Association history.
District judges play Ping-Pong with suit against Provost Umphrey
Some of Beaumont’s leading plaintiffs attorneys, including the current president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, were at the Jefferson County courthouse Tuesday afternoon for a hearing in a lawsuit against the Provost Umphrey Law Firm.