David Yates News
Dismissed: suit accusing local McDonald's of food poisoning
A suit claiming a man suffered from food poisoning after dining at a fast food restaurant has been dismissed. Milton Hill filed a lawsuit March 20, 2014, in the Jefferson County District Court against BG Foods Inc. and Ree Inc., doing business as McDonald’s, citing violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Court records show that the parties filed an agreed motion for dismissal with prejudice on Oct. 7.
Ford seeks summary judgment in suit alleging Escape's airbags failed to deploy
Ford Motor Company is seeking summary judgment in a suit brought by a Jefferson County woman claiming she was injured when the airbags in her Ford Escape allegedly failed to deploy during a collision. Elizabeth Jaeger filed her suit against Ford and Kinsel Ford-Mercury on March 27, 2014 in Jefferson County District Court, citing strict tort liability.
Spring trial slated in injury suit against Mitrowski Welding
A personal injury suit accusing the defendant of negligently selling a defective welding machine was been slated for a spring trial.
Beaumont attorneys make 2015 the year of the auto collision lawsuit
Southeast Texas trial lawyers feasted on automobile collision lawsuits in 2015, filing several hundred in the Jefferson County District Clerk’s Office.
Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas
TYLER DIVISION Dec. 30 Motile Optics v.
Texas law firms implicated in suit alleging scheming of Sandy victims
A pair of Texas law firms were recently named in a New Jersey class action lawsuit, which accuses the defendants of improperly soliciting and billing Superstorm Sandy victims. Individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, Pierce Frauenheim filed a first amended class action complaint against The Voss Law Firm and The Posey Law Firm on Dec. 18 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Ocean County – Law Division.
Jurors deem plaintiff negligent in suit over defective motorcycle helmet
The trial of a civil suit alleging a motorcycle helmet was not equipped with “critical injury prevention technology” ended with a Beaumont jury assigning all the negligence to the plaintiff.
ILR releases annual list of 10 most ridiculous lawsuits, suit on behalf of monkey No. 1
WASHINGTON — A tort reform group recently released its annual list of the 10 most ridiculous lawsuits filed in 2015, with a suit brought by animal rights group suing on behalf of a monkey for the copyright ownership of his “selfies” capturing the top spot.
Man injured jumping off mini Segway, sues Sonic Automotive
BEAUMONT – An Orange man is suing Sonic Automotive of Texas for injuries he received while trying to jump off a mini Segway.
John Wayne’s hit with personal injury suit
BEAUMONT – an area resident has filed a personal injury suit against the owner of John Wayne’s in Magnolia.
Defense attorney withdraws in trampoline injury suit
In August 2013, Philip Hayhurst sued Bungee Fun Zone and Solid Rock Productions, alleging he should have been instructed on the safe use of a bungee trampoline. Court records show that on Sept. 18 Solid Rock’s former attorney, David Grove, filed a motion to withdraw, which was granted on Oct. 9.
Groups argue trial lawyers abusing discovery to force hail suit settlements
Several groups, including the world's largest business federation, recently filed amicus briefs in two actions pending before the Texas Supreme Court, arguing trial lawyers are abusing discovery to force insurers to settle even frivolous lawsuits. In November, State Farm Lloyds filed two petitions for writ of mandamus with the high court, seeking to overturn a district judge’s decision to impose a protocol for the production of electronically stored information (ESI for short) in a hailstorm la
Personal injury trial against Orange Comfort Inn settles
BEAUMONT – A week into a personal injury trial against the owners of a Comfort Inn the case settled.
Texas A&M seeks to dismiss law grad diploma suit
Texas A&M is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by law graduates from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law, who allege they are due new diplomas after a college merger Seeking more than $5 million in damages, Kristen Brown and several other TWU grads filed their suit against A&M, Dean Andrew Morriss, TWU and President Frederick Slabach on Aug. 11 in the U.S.
Scare tactics, fraud and barratry – the ‘feeding frenzy’ that has become mass insurance litigation in Texas
Earlier this month, a Houston man sued Steve Mostyn, alleging the renowned insurance litigator inflated the price of his storm policy claim by millions and then bailed once the insurer called the bluff, possibly leaving him on the hook for the company’s million-dollar lawyer bill.
Chair collapse injury focus of trial against Comfort Inn
BEAUMONT - While staying at a Comfort Inn in Orange, Allen Doverspike, an Oklahoma resident, sat in a chair and began to take his boots off when the chair collapsed. Seeking less than $1 million for his injuries, Doverspike filed suit against Hospitality Operations on Aug. 5, 2013, in Jefferson County District Court.
Harley Davidson in trial over alleged defect in motorcycle helmet
A civil trial in Beaumont is underway in litigation brought by Wendall and Frances Hulse, who sued the makers and distributors of a motorcycle helmet, alleging the helmet was not equipped with “critical injury prevention technology.” As previously reported, the suit was originally filed June 21, 2012, in Jefferson County District Court and names Harley Davidson, Hongjin Crown Corp. and Cowboy Motorsports as defendants. Jury selection in the case began Dec. 8.
Patriot Security settles suit over confidentiality agreement
A security company claiming a competitor stole multiple clients from it after a former employee defected has settled its case. Four years ago, Patriot Security filed suit against S&S Investigations and Security in Jefferson County District Court. S&S Investigations and Security allegedly lured four of Patriot Security's clients away from the company after an employee revealed confidential information, according to the original petition. The case was slated to go to trial on Dec. 7 but settled
TLRPAC endorses re-election of Justice Green to Texas SC
On Dec. 7 Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC endorsed the re-election of Justice Paul Green for the Supreme Court of Texas.
New campaign warns consumers of dangers of trial lawyer advertising
On Dec. 8 Sick of Lawsuits announced the consumer education campaign, “Don’t Let A Lawyer Be Your Doctor.” SOL, a legal watchdog group of more than 200,000 people, says the new campaign warns consumers against believing everything they see in a lawsuit advertisement, and that they shouldn’t let a lawsuit advertisement scare or entice them into a lawsuit. According to a press release, the campaign is spreading the message through social media, media outreach and outreach to consumer groups.