David Yates News
Cali resident sues Voss Law Firm for legal malpractice
Another former client of Bill Voss has joined the ranks of disgruntle litigants claiming the Texas attorney’s firm mishandled their insurance lawsuit.
Interveners in coin seller suit claim signing arbitration clause under duress
A handful of interveners in an ongoing dispute between a coin seller and its former employee recently filed a motion to stay arbitration, arguing they were coerced into signing an agreement while under “duress.” As previously reported, International Precious Metals filed a lawsuit Sept. 15, 2014 in Jefferson County District Court against Montgomery Chandler and Michael Brown.
Americas Best Value Inn in trial for poolside injury
BEAUMONT - Americas Best Value Inn will have to defend itself this week in litigation brought by a motel guest who alleged she cut her heel on a gate surrounding the pool.
GEICO argues no benefits owed to auto collision claimant
BEAUMONT — GEICO recently answered a lawsuit brought by a local man claiming the insurer breached its contract. Arthur Louis Jr. filed a lawsuit Dec. 30, in Jefferson County District Court against GEICO Advantage Insurance Company and Gregory Paul Shello Jr. of Beaumont, alleging negligence and breach of contract. On April 11, 2015, the complaint states, Louis was involved in a vehicle collision with Shello, an uninsured motorist, causing severe injuries to Louis, for which he has
Wilson Warehouse denied summary judgment in injury case
BEAUMONT – A Texas company had its motion for summary judgment denied in a suit brought by a local man claiming he sustained injuries after a heavy object was dropped on him.
Abbott, other governors file amicus brief in amnesty fight
AUSTIN – On April 4 Gov. Greg Abbott led a coalition of six governors in filing an Amici Curae - or friend of the court brief - to the U.S.
JC car wreck trial ends with defense verdict
BEAUMONT - A Jefferson County jury has found no negligence on the part of a defendant named in an automobile collision suit.
Two storm suits, two jury verdicts, two victories for State Farm
HOUSTON - State Farm Lloyds recently emerged triumphant in a pair of storm lawsuits against the company, capturing favorable jury verdicts in both cases.
Motion to enforce settlement granted in toxic tort
BEAUMONT - A motion to enforce a settlement agreement was recently granted in a suit brought by a Texas woman claiming her husband died from exposure to carcinogenic chemicals at work.
Insurer dubs Mostyn ‘puppet master,’ asks court to block ‘unethical’ counsel swap
What started as an ordinary Hurricane Ike lawsuit, evolved into complex multi-party litigation, with the most recent filings accusing “puppet master” Steve Mostyn of paying for the defense of the man who sued him for malpractice.
State Farm defeats Mostyn hail claim, judge threatens to sanction him
State Farm Lloyds recently added to its string of civil victories in hailstorm litigation, obtaining a summary judgment win in a lawsuit brought by the Mostyn Law Firm – a suit a federal judge found “factually unsupported,” like “many” of the storm claims brought by the Houston firm.
SCOTUS upholds judgment won by PU, class awarded $5.8M for unpaid plant work
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling awarding $5.8 million against Tyson Foods Inc. in favor of more than 3,000 workers from an Iowa meat-processing plant who were not paid for the time they spent putting on and removing required protective clothing and traveling to their work areas.
Voss Law Firm Sandy suit dismissed for failure to prosecute
HOUSTON - Another Hurricane Sandy lawsuit brought through the Houston-area Voss Law Firm was recently tossed due to apparent neglect. In October 2012, Sandy decimated the New Jersey and New York coastlines, killing hundreds and causing more than $68 billion in damages.
JC Dispute Resolution Center accepting applications for mediation training
BEAUMONT - The Dispute Resolution Center of Jefferson County is accepting applications for its Volunteer Mediation Training.
Condo owner non-suits management in litigation over water damage
GALVESTON - A Harris County woman who sued a Galveston homeowners association over damage from a water leak has non-suited the defendants.
Valero denies entering into a contract with Layne Walker
Valero Energy has denied entering into an agreement with a former district judge who sued the energy giant for breach of contract, seeking to extract more than $6 million in damages.
Ninth Court axes injury suit against city of Beaumont, reverses Judge Floyd
BEAUMONT – The Ninth Court of Appeals recently reversed a lower court’s ruling denying the city of Beaumont’s plea to the jurisdiction in a car wreck suit.
Abbott appoints Larson judge of 395th Judicial District
AUSTIN – On March 21 Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Ryan Larson of Hutto as judge of the 395th Judicial District Court in Williamson County for a term set to expire at the next general election in November 2016.
Slip & fall against Buffalo Wild Wings ends with $112K verdict, jury awards no damages for alleged malice
BEAUMONT - While a jury found Buffalo Wild Wings negligent for injuries suffered by a former waitress who slipped on a freshly mopped kitchen floor, awarding more than $112,000 in damages, no exemplary damages were awarded.
Texas AG says Spanish-speaking consumers should be aware of scammers posing as debt collectors
AUSTIN – On March 21 Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a warning to Spanish-speaking consumers, alerting them to scam artists posing as debt collectors calling on behalf of government entities.