David Yates News
Lawsuit brought by motorist who hit roaming horse put out to pasture
BEAUMONT – A district judge found no evidence to support that an elderly couple failed to maintain their fencing, allowing a horse to escape.
Trip & fall against DoubleTree Hilton axed, man argued fountain should have been barricaded
HOUSTON – DoubleTree Hotels wasn’t negligent for declining to install a barricade around a fountain to keep guests from tripping and falling in, a Texas appellate court recently found.
Ferguson Law recovers $27.7M verdict in UPS 18-wheeler crash, case tried in Jefferson County
BEAUMONT – Two Southeast Texas men represented by Beaumont’s Ferguson Law Firm have been awarded more than $27 million as a result of injuries they each sustained as a result of a crash with an UPS 18-wheeler.
Health & Human Services Commission sued in federal court for constitutional violations
NEW BRAUNFELS - The Texas Health and Human Services Commission was sued in Western District federal court on July 5 for allegedly violating the freedom of speech and right of association of a 75-year-old New Braunfels woman who is a Ward of the state.
County attorney for Brooks County gives up his cut from opioid suit
FALFURRIAS, TEXAS – David T. Garcia, the county attorney for Brooks County, will no longer earn a contingency fee if an opioid lawsuit brought by his employer is successful.
Former NFL player sues over denial of benefits
HOUSTON - Ashton Youboty, a defensive back who played for the Bills and Jaguars, is seeking Line of Duty benefits under the NFL Player Disability & Neurocognitive Benefit Plan, alleging that the Disability Board abused its discretion in denying his claim.
Two Provost Umphrey jury awards earn top verdicts recognition, suit in teen’s murder wins largest premises liability verdict in Texas
BEAUMONT – Two verdicts won by Provost Umphrey Law Firm earned recognition among the Top Texas Verdicts & Settlements for 2018 based on a comprehensive review by VerdictSearch.
Dropped: AG opinion request over Texas Bar dues, election process
HOUSTON – By remaining silent, Randy Sorrels, the new president of the State Bar of Texas, declined to continue an opinion request made by his predecessor, which tasked the attorney general to answer whether the collection of mandatory dues is constitutional.
City of Houston files opioid suit, Mark Lanier spearheading litigation
HOUSTON – The largest city in Texas filed an opioid lawsuit Monday, naming more than two-dozen drug manufactures and distributors in the petition.
Paxton co-leads 27 attorneys general effort to protect against potential class-action abuse in opioid MDL
AUSTIN – In a June 24 letter he co-authored with California from a bipartisan group of 27 states and territories, Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a U.S. District Court judge presiding over all the federal cases involving opioid lawsuits to delay a ruling that could potentially result in class-action abuse and confusion regarding a proposed novel settlement structure.
Justices axe slip & fall against H-E-B, find no explanation for how lettuce appeared on floor
HOUSTON – While an H-E-B employee stocked lettuce several feet away from her, Linda Castro allegedly slipped on a loose leaf, injuring her knee, wrists, neck and back.
Petition seeks man’s benzene exposure at Unocal
BEAUMONT – A petition was recently filed seeking a man’s benzene exposure during his employment with Unocal.
Pappas Restaurants sued for $200K, waiter allegedly spilled butter on woman two years ago
BEAUMONT – Nearly two years ago, Linda Richard was allegedly “severely burned” when a Pappas Restaurants waiter spilled hot butter on her, resulting in “catastrophic injuries.”
Beaumont doc cleared of negligence following med-mal trial
BEAUMONT – A jury found no negligence on the part of a local physician who was sued more than two years after the death of a patient.
Dismissed: Buzbee suit against Houston mayor, Clear Channel over billboard ads
HOUSTON – A district judge recently dismissed both Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Clear Channel Outdoor from a lawsuit brought by attorney Tony Buzbee.
Founder of OKRA Charity Saloon accused of anally raping employee, woman sues for more than $1M in damages
HOUSTON – Restaurant and bar owner Joshua Martinez, who appeared on Netflix’s “Ugly Delicious,” has been named in a lawsuit alleging he anally raped a female employee.
Opioid lawyers eye Dallas County for first bellwether trial, October 2020 setting likely
HOUSTON – Attorney Mikal Watts believes going to trial can solve the opioid crisis and that more people can be helped sooner by trying the biggest lawsuits in Texas first.
Ferguson Law Firm secures $1.875M recovery in Kentucky 18-wheeler crash
BEAUMONT – Ferguson Law Firm managing partner Paul ‘Chip’ Ferguson has obtained a $1.875 million settlement on behalf of an 18-year old Kentucky woman who suffered a closed head injury in a June 23, 2013 crash with an 18-wheeler outside of Louisville.
Man sues Home Depot after cart dolly rolls over foot
BEAUMONT – Home Depot was recently hit with a lawsuit alleging a man was injured when a loaded cart dolly rolled over his foot.
Woman slips on ‘defective ramp’ two years ago, sues Four Corners Shopping Center for $1M
BEAUMONT – Nearly two years ago, Alice “joy” Fisette slipped and fell while at the Four Corners Shopping Center.