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Stories by John O'Brien on Southeast Texas Record

SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

John O'Brien News


Fifth Circuit reverses self in Katrina case against army engineers

By John O'Brien |
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has reversed itself in a Hurricane Katrina case over the liability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Fifth Circuit lets ruling stand in asbestos lawsuit fraud case

By John O'Brien |
Reavley NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has chosen not to revisit its recent decision that affirmed a fraud verdict against two Mississippi asbestos attorneys.

Law prof: Chief justice, attempting to please, disappoints in ObamaCare ruling

By John O'Brien |
Presser WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A Northwestern University law professor says U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts did his best to keep the court from seeming like another political body - at the expense of federalism.

U.S. SC rules for ObamaCare, calls mandate a tax

By John O'Brien |
Roberts WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the controversial provision of health care reform requiring individuals to purchase insurance or face a financial penalty is a constitutional tax.


Smith's House committee passes asbestos trust information bill

By John O'Brien |
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The House Judiciary Committee on Friday passed a bill that would require asbestos bankruptcy trusts to provide more information on exposure claims made to them.

***PRINT***Smith's House committee passes asbestos trust information bill

By John O'Brien |
Smith WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) � The House Judiciary Committee on Friday passed a bill that would require asbestos bankruptcy trusts to provide more information on exposure claims made to them.

***FOR PRINT*** Garlock accuses Texas asbestos attorneys of fraud

By John O'Brien |
Troy Chandler of Williams Kherkher Hart Boundas in Houston

Garlock accuses Texas asbestos attorneys of fraud

By John O'Brien |
Troy Chandler of Williams Kherkher Hart Boundas in Houston CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) - An Texas asbestos law firm is being accused of fraud by a company that claims the firm produced two different versions of how its client fell ill in an effort to boost recovery.


House subcommittee revisits class action lawsuit reform

By John O'Brien |
Redish WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Some class action lawsuits are only benefitting unharmed parties, a Northwestern University professor said Friday during a House subcommittee hearing on 2005's Class Action Fairness Act.

Del. asbestos judge disgusted with bankruptcy trust secrecy; Company says Coon kept claims info from attorneys

By John O'Brien |
Coon WILMINGTON, Del. � Texas attorney Brent Coon submitted 20 claims to asbestos bankruptcy trusts on behalf of a Florida woman's estate without the client's new lawyers knowing, court records in Delaware show.

Dem. Congressman calls attorneys who contacted him 'parasites'

By John O'Brien |
Cohen WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - At a House subcommittee hearing on legislation concerning asbestos bankruptcy trusts, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen on Thursday referred to plaintiffs attorneys who contacted him about the illness of his friend as "parasites."

Drugmaker paying $1.5B over Depakote

By John O'Brien |
Cuccinelli

Seventh Circuit: Class action against Shell ultimately pointless

By John O'Brien |
Richard and Sonya Coffman of The Coffman Firm in Beaumont CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A federal appeals judge had trouble finding the purpose of a class action lawsuit filed against Shell over its credit card receipts.

Fifth Circuit: Judge allowed to vacate other judge's ruling

By John O'Brien |
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge had the authority to overturn a colleague's findings in a class action lawsuit over a change in discounts given to employees and retirees of a phone company, an appeals court has ruled.

Judge upholds Texas' 2003 tort reform

By John O'Brien |
MARSHALL, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge has upheld Texas' cap on noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits.

Graphic warnings on cigarettes to be argued in April

By John O'Brien |
Leon WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Appeals in the tobacco industry's challenge of new graphic warning labels being imposed by the federal government are scheduled for next month.

TaxMasters files for bankruptcy

By John O'Brien |
Abbott HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) - Facing legal actions brought by two state attorneys general, a tax relief company on Monday filed for bankruptcy.

***FOR PRINT*** Philly court boots asbestos claim from Texas

By John O'Brien |
Moss PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - A Texas couple won't be allowed to file its asbestos lawsuit in Philadelphia.