David Yates News
Mikal Watts non-suited from Deepwater ID theft suit
HOUSTON – Texas trial lawyer Mikal Watts has been non-suited from litigation brought over identity theft following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Judge grants Voss motion to dismiss, but says allegations surrounding law firm ‘are concerning’
HOUSTON – After reviewing several “voluminous” filings, a federal judge has rejected an insurance company’s bid to keep The Voss Law firm locked in litigation it suspects was brought on a plaintiff’s behalf without her knowledge, agreeing the firm’s behavior was “concerning” but ultimately not a matter for the court.
SEIU civil trial calls into question inner workings of labor union
HOUSTON – Earlier this month, a Harris County jury ordered Service Employees International Union to pay Professional Janitorial Services - Houston $5.3 million in damages, finding the Chicago-based labor union made false claims about the company’s business practices and treatment of employees.
Lawsuit lender seeks to have lending agreements sealed from public eyes
HOUSTON – Next month, a district judge will hold a hearing on whether to keep the business transactions of a lawsuit lender sealed from the public as the litigation brought against it unfolds.
JC jury delivers $251K verdict against J.C. Penney, Parkdale Mall
BEAUMONT – A Jefferson County jury recently delivered a $251,894.58 verdict against J.C. Penney and Parkdale Mall following the civil trial of a trip and fall lawsuit.
Mostyn non-suited from legal malpractice lawsuit
HOUSTON – When Steve Mostyn answered a legal malpractice suit brought against him earlier this year, the Houston attorney called the action “groundless” and “brought for the purpose of harassment,” requesting the court award him sanctions.
Study contends big business dominating state supreme courts, author says Texas’ laws stacked against plaintiffs
AUSTIN – A report released earlier this month purportedly analyzed the influence of big business on state supreme courts, finding high courts with multimillion-dollar elections favor corporations.
Brent Coon, RM&Q and others hit with $19.5M suit, insurers seek coverage payments from asbestos law firms
HOUSTON – Several high-profile Texas law firms have been sued a group of insurers, all of which claim the lawyers dipped into asbestos trusts and then failed to reimburse them for millions of dollars for medical coverage provided to their clients.
Like Scalia, U.S. judicial nominees for Texas frown upon use of restatements
WASHINGTON – On Sept. 7 the U.S.
Diligent Delivery Systems dismissed from overtime suit
HOUSTON – A Harris County man who alleged he was not paid overtime wages while employed as an account manager has dismissed his claims against the defendant.
Law firms settle Stanford Ponzi cases, land $240M in recoveries
DALLAS – On Sept. 7 three law firms, Strasburger & Price, Castillo Snyder and Neligan Foley, announced settlements worth $240 million in recoveries for the more than 18,000 victims of a massive Ponzi scheme, orchestrated from Houston by jailed financier Allen Stanford, who is currently serving a 110-year sentence in federal prison in Florida.
Voss Law wants legal malpractice against it dismissed
CALIFORNIA – Texas attorney Bill Voss is seeking to have a legal malpractice complaint dismissed.
Texas AG opinion: State not ‘liable’ for municipal pension shortfalls
AUSTIN – On Sept. 6 the Office of the Texas Attorney General issued an opinion finding that a court would likely conclude the state is not required to assume liability when a municipal retirement system is unable to meet its financial obligations.
State Bar files disciplinary petition against hailstorm attorney Kent Livesay
HIDALGO COUNTY – The Commission for Lawyer Discipline, an arm of the State Bar of Texas, has filed a disciplinary petition against attorney Kent Livesay, who allegedly demanded damages from Allstate on behalf of a client he did not represent.
Kathryn Murphy named Best Lawyers family law 'Lawyer of the Year'
DALLAS - Best Lawyers, in a peer-driven selection process, has named Kathryn Murphy, a GoransonBain attorney, as 2017 "Lawyer of the Year" for family law in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Ninth Court finds in favor of T.W. Odom Management, injury case will go to arbitration
BEAUMONT - A Jefferson County man who sued his former employer alleging an on-the-job injury will have his case go to arbitration.
RM&Q law firm brings $1M suit against Sunoco, workers allegedly engulfed by toxic cloud
BEAUMONT – The Reaud Morgan & Quinn law firm has brought a lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages against Sunoco Logistics on behalf of workers claiming they were exposed to a chemical cloud.
Take-nothing judgment entered in suit alleging injury lifting 300-pound patient
BEAUMONT – An agreed take-nothing judgment has been entered in a suit between Beaumont Home Health Service and a Port Arthur woman, who alleges she was negligently instructed to lift a 300-pound patient.
Voss pledges to match donations made to Red Cross for Louisiana flood victims
HOUSTON – Texas attorney Bill Voss has promised to help victims of the recent flooding in Louisiana and other states by launching a matching campaign for donations made to the Red Cross through his website.
Document says law firm ‘approached’ Rio Hondo ISD about bringing storm suit, district represented by Mostyn, Hinojosa
RIO HONDO – A Hurricane Dolly lawsuit brought by a Southeast Texas school district recently settled before the case could be tried – a piece of storm litigation that may have been solicited, according to the district’s records.