Steve Korris News
Lead counsel for BP ERISA suits named
HOUSTON � Lawyers for shareholders suing BP under federal retirement law spared U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison the delicate task of choosing their leaders.
Shareholders: One more disaster and it's lights out for BP
Ajamie HOUSTON � One more disaster could spell the end for oil company BP, shareholders warn in federal litigation over losses from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill.
Asbestos exposures contradict in civil and bankruptcy courts, Garlock says
Morgan WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Owners of bankrupt gasket maker Garlock Sealing Technologies claim clients of asbestos lawyers told contradictory stories of exposure in civil courts and bankruptcy courts.
Texas SC dissenters argue malpractice decision could lead to more lawsuits
Johnson AUSTIN � State Supreme Court justices threw out a malpractice claim against two doctors because their patient waited too long to add them to a suit.
Barbier says no to separating state, federal government claims from private BP suits
Barbier U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier rejected pleas from the federal government and 15 states to separate their suits over the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill from private civil suits.
Texas SC ruling protects government doctors in malpractice claims
Hecht AUSTIN � Doctors who work for public hospitals gained an extra layer of protection from malpractice suits at the Supreme Court of Texas on Jan. 21.
State AGs resist plaintiff steering committee in BP litigation
McDaniel NEW ORLEANS - Fifteen states - including Texas - join Louisiana and Mississippi in resisting representation by the plaintiff steering committee U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier picked to lead litigation over the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
Power struggle emerges over oil spill claims procedures
Becnel Leaders in litigation over the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill grabbed for power over $17 billion without making sure their followers would back them up.
Judge divides BP shareholder plaintiffs into two groups
Yetter HOUSTON - U. S. District Judge Keith Ellison cured conflict among BP shareholders in national securities fraud litigation by splitting them into two groups.
Supreme Court steers clear of feud over asbestos settlement
Texas Supreme Court AUSTIN � State Supreme Court justices chose to stay out of a long running family feud over $150,000 from the settlement of an asbestos suit in federal court at Beaumont.
Appeals court says discovery request too broad in hurricane suit
Montgomery County District Judge Kathleen Hamilton improperly ordered insurers in a Hurricane Ike suit to produce records far beyond the scope of the storm, Ninth District appeals judges decided on Dec. 30.
CSX plaintiffs suing Provost Umphrey will give depositions in N.C., judge rules
WHEELING, W. Va. � Former CSX railroad workers from North Carolina who sued Beaumont's Provost Umphrey law firm in federal court at Wheeling, W. Va., don't have travel to Wheeling for depositions, U. S. Magistrate Judge James Seibert decided on Dec. 30.
Ordinary negligence, medical malpractice can't be pursued in same claim, Texas SC says
Johnson AUSTIN � Parents who didn't sustain a malpractice claim against a doctor can't pursue it as a case of ordinary negligence, the Supreme Court of Texas decided on Dec. 17.
Texas SC: Federal bus safety laws do not preempt state common laws
Guzman AUSTIN � McClennan County jurors correctly blamed Motor Coach Industries Mexico for a crash that killed five on Interstate 35, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on Dec. 17.
Hoeffner retrial not double jeopardy, appeals court rules
Hoeffner NEW ORLEANS � Houston lawyer Todd Hoeffner, who gave more than $3 million to Hartford Insurance employees handling his silicosis claims, won't face double jeopardy in retrial of a mistrial, federal appeals judges ruled.
Provost Umphrey says no evidence plaintiffs can't travel for depositions
WHEELING, W. Va. � Provost Umphrey law firm of Beaumont claims 15 former clients from North Carolina failed to prove they can't travel to West Virginia for depositions in their malpractice suit against the firm.
TX Supreme Court rejects medical expert report, reverses $225K verdict
Guzman AUSTIN � Hidalgo County jurors who returned a $225,000 verdict against Rio Grande Regional Hospital for a patient's pain and anguish shouldn't have relied on testimony of expert witness Dr. John Daller, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled on Dec. 3.
Birth dates of state employees are private, Texas high court rules
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs AUSTIN � Birth dates of state employees must remain private, the Supreme Court of Texas decided on Dec. 3.
Judge denies physical exams for Provost Umphrey clients
WHEELING, W. Va. � The Provost Umphrey law firm of Beaumont can't examine former clients to check their fitness for travel, U. S. Magistrate Judge James Seibert decided.