David Yates News
Texas AG gives answer to question of selling firearms to those whose driver's license expired during COVID-19 pandemic
AUSTIN – If a person’s driver’s license expired on or after March 13, the license isn’t technically expired, according to Attorney General Ken Paxton. However, whether that person can lawfully buy a gun is still up to the federal government apparently.
Midstream Transportation sued after driver allegedly runs woman and child off the road, Ferguson Law handling case
BEAUMONT – After suddenly being slammed into and run off the road, Marsha Stephens and her minor child were able to escape their vehicle before it caught fire.
Texas Supreme Court orders release of salon owner Shelly Luther
DALLAS – Two days after being sentenced, the Texas Supreme Court has ordered the release of Shelly Luther, a salon owner who was jailed for opening her business and violating an executive stay-at-home order.
CONSUMER ALERT: AG Paxton warns of scammers impersonating government entities
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today warned Texans that scammers have been spotted posing as state agencies to solicit money from hardworking consumers.
Ferguson Law Firm continues expansion, adds three new attorneys
BEAUMONT – At a time when many businesses are laying off or furloughing employees, Beaumont’s The Ferguson Law Firm, LLP continues its growth and expansion with the hiring of three additional attorneys.
Texas AG calls for immediate release of salon owner jailed for working to ‘feed her family’
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today sent a letter to a Dallas County judge, stating that he abused his authority by putting Shelley Luther, owner of a hair salon, in jail for opening her salon to feed her family.
Local businesses ‘cautiously optimistic’ about reopening despite COVID-19 litigation fears
BEAUMONT – As Texas slowly creeps toward normalcy, most local businesses are looking forward to clicking on those open signs once again – in spite of a growing fear that a wave of COVID-19 lawsuits may follow.
Texas slow to vaccinate health care workers against COVID-19 lawsuits
AUSTIN – Even though more than a dozen states have already taken measures to protect health care workers from possible COVID-19 litigation, Texas has yet to do so.
Texas appellate court trims $122M verdict against International Paper to $14.8M
BEAUMONT – In June 2017, a Jefferson County jury recently handed down a $122 million verdict in a breach of contract lawsuit brought by Signature Industrial Services of Beaumont against the International Paper Company.
Facebook appeals over sex trafficking suits reject, dissenting justice urges Texas Supreme Court to review
HOUSTON – The 14th Court of Appeals has determined Facebook has not established that it is entitled to mandamus relief in lawsuits seeking to hold the social media giant liable for damages resulting from being victims of sex trafficking.
Texas Bar: Lawyer advertising booths only permissible when firm employees don’t initiate contact
AUSTIN – Four years ago, the State Bar of Texas was asked a question: Can a lawyer use non-lawyer employees to attract prospective clients to booths in public places?
Business of public adjuster running for HD 26 accused of soliciting Crowell & Kucera for legal action – firm partner donated $6K to campaign
HOUSTON – Matt Morgan, a public adjuster running for Texas House District 26, surprised more than a few people when he almost moved past his fellow Republican contender in last month’s primary, capturing 49.7 percent of the vote.
Attorney alleges AkinMears ‘scammed’ him out of transvaginal mesh settlement proceeds
HOUSTON – AkinMears is suspected of “cooking the books” in order to avoid paying settlement proceeds to an attorney who invested in the firm’s transvaginal mesh docket, according to a recently filed lawsuit.
Reversed again: Layne Walker’s summary judgment win in suit over ownership of beach house
HOUSTON – For the second time, attorney Layne Walker had his summary judgment win in a suit over ownership of a beach house reversed on appeal.
Harris County Attorney Ryan supports county clerk’s request for mail ballot funding
HOUSTON - Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan supports the County Clerk’s request for additional funding for vote by mail efforts, citing a recent court ruling amid public health concerns.
Cal-Maine Foods selling eggs at ‘exorbitant’ prices during COVID-19 crisis, price-gouging suit alleges
HOUSTON - Cal-Maine Foods, the dominant egg seller in Texas, has been hit with a price-gouging lawsuit.
Judge Hidalgo exceeded authority on face mask order, says lawsuit
HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has been hit with a lawsuit over her recent order requiring residents to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth when outside their home.
Texas trial conducted via video conferencing, Daly & Black wants judge to award nearly $100K in fees for work on hail suit
HOUSTON – Following what might be Texas’ first e-trial, a district judge in Harris County must now decide whether to award the Daly & Black law firm the $96,000 in attorney’s fees it desires for extra work put into a hail suit that essentially flamed out years ago with an appraisal payment of around $13,000.
Harris County Attorney Ryan prevails in legal fight to maintain local government authority
HOUSTON - Judge Rabeea Collier of the 113th State District Court has denied a request from Attorney General Ken Paxton to stop Harris County from collecting attorney’s fees in a lawsuit against the owners of a mobile home park who failed to provide the residents with clean drinking water or safe sewage disposal.
Upcoming Houston trial will be bellwether for use of video conferencing
With social distancing in place across the country, courtrooms are strangely quiet as the COVID crisis has ground the justice system nearly to a halt. While many hearings are being conducted by telephone or by video conferencing applications like Zoom, trials have been essentially put on pause until the pandemic begins to abate.