David Yates News
ExxonMobil hit with asbestos suit for man’s mesothelioma, death
ExxonMobil is being blamed for causing a past employee’s death by exposing him to asbestos dust and fibers.
Trial over fatal I-10 collision ends with settlement
A lawsuit brought over a fatal collision that was recently called up for trial ended in a settlement while jurors were still deadlocked in deliberations. Three years ago, Katie Lauren Hubbard Curtis filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County claiming she and her husband, Steven Scott Curtis, were traveling in the 500 block of Interstate Highway 10 E.
Ferguson Law Firm secures second jury verdict since parting with PU
Former Provost Umphrey attorneys who departed to start their own firm have captured their second jury verdict since parting ways a couple of months ago.
Trial: Suit against Buffalo Wild Wings alleging waitress slipped on mopped floor
A personal injury suit brought by a waitress who sued Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar after slipping on the freshly mopped kitchen floor has been called up for trial. Seeking exemplary damages for her injury, Amanda Beuhler filed suit against RC Port Arthur, doing business as Buffalo Wild Wings, on Dec. 13, 2013, in Jefferson County District Court.
Beaumont collision trial reset, attorney’s family in Pakistan when earthquake hit
The trial of a lawsuit brought by a Louisiana man claiming he sustained injuries when a driver rear-ended his vehicle has been reset due to the plaintiff’s attorney having missing family in Pakistan. Through Houston attorney Aftab Sharif, Nazir Muhommad filed a lawsuit May 17, 2013, in Jefferson County District Court against Charles Wayne Deville.
No damages awarded in auto collision suit against Knife River
An automobile collision suit brought against Knife River Corp. that was recently called up for trial ended with no damages awarded.
Federal judge tosses ‘holy days’ suit against GM
A Texas federal judge recently denied to certify a suit seeking punitive damages from General Motors for allegedly refusing to allow employees to take unpaid time off for religious reasons. As previously reported, on March 4 plaintiffs James Robinson III and Chris Scruggs, individually and on behalf of those similarly situated, filed suit against GM in the U.S.
Texas sues U.S. over ‘unconstitutional Obamacare Tax’
On Oct. 22 Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Texas has filed suit against the federal government over a regulation forcing states to effectively pay an unconstitutional to fund the Affordable Care Act. According to a press release, the law coercively threatens to choke off Medicaid funds for the health needs of millions of Texas citizens, including over 350,000 children, unless Texas taxpayers pay hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for Obamacare. “This threat to cut Medicaid fund
Mikal Watts indicted for fraud in BP oil spill litigation
Texas mega donor and prominent plaintiff’s attorney Mikal Watts has been indicated on allegations that he committed fraud when purportedly signing up tens of thousands of clients following the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The San Antonio Express News reported that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Mississippi issued the indictment, which is under seal.
PU partners claim Ferguson took advantage of a mentally declining Umphrey
The equity partners at the Provost Umphrey recently answered a lawsuit brought by Paul ‘Chip’ Ferguson, asserting their former partner took advantage of firm founder Walter Umphrey and his ailing mental condition.
Auto collision suit against Knife River heads to trial
An automobile collision suit filed against Knife River Corp. several years ago has been called up for trial.
Tumbling baseballs at Academy leads to $1M lawsuit
Alleging a tumbling plastic bucket full of baseballs struck him, Thomas Clegg has filed suit against Academy Sports & Outdoors.
Just like Texas weather, our legal climate can change fast
Texas’ legal climate can be a lot like Texas weather.
Ninth Court affirms Christus summary judgment win in med-mal case
The Ninth Court of Appeals has found that an expert report failed to provide enough of a correlation between cause and injury to sustain a medical malpractice lawsuit against Christus Hospital – St. Mary.
Suncoast scores $24.5M verdict following trial of trade secret case
A Houston company recently scored a $24.5 million verdict against two individuals and their companies, successfully convincing a jury that its copyrighted techniques were used without permission.
Brent Coon reaches settlement with DuPont over deadly gas leak
One of the plaintiffs who sued DuPont after a deadly gas leak took the lives of several workers at the chemical company’s LaPorte facility has reached a settlement, according to a recent news report.
Joint motion to dismiss filed in suit blaming ExxonMobil for deceased man’s multiple myeloma
In February 2013, the widow of Ernest Lewis filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Mobil Oil Refining, claiming the companies negligently exposed him to the hazardous chemical benzene. On Sept. 22 a joint motion for dismissal with prejudice was filed in the case, stating the settlement of the matter is solely for claims for the recovery of punitive damages.
Lawsuit over eviction settles before trial
A case over a piece of disputed property in Nome was slated to go to trial this October but has settled instead, according to a courthouse official.
Suit alleging barge inspector thrown from gangway ordered to mediation
A suit brought by Michael Stelly, who claims he stepped onto a gangway that gave way and nearly tossed him into the water after finishing his barge inspection, was recently brought up for trial but instead has been ordered to mediation. On March 4, 2013, Stelly filed suit against OilTanking of Beaumont, Amspec Services and Harley Marine in Jefferson County district Court. The case was slated to go to trial on Oct. 5.