News from August 2007
Boat crash leads to suit
Allen Parker A docking rendezvous ended badly when a Houstonian's vessel collided with the Pleasure Island Shrimp House.
'Heavy smoker' dies of lung cancer, benefactor sues for asbestos exposure
A brick layer for most of his life, Wayne Williams sued and received a claim for his asbestos-related disease. Now deceased, Williams' benefactor is suing for a "different malignant asbestos-related injury." Williams had a 60 � 80 pack-year smoking history and died of lung cancer.
Trial over missed step begins in Jefferson County court
Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth Yellow is a color often used to signify caution. Flo Wilson testified on Tuesday, Aug. 28 that if Christus St. Elizabeth had bothered to paint a concrete step yellow, she would have never tripped and broken her hip.
Arbitrate, don't litigate, Texas SC rules in Merrill Lynch case
Justice Scott Brister AUSTIN -- Investors suing two brokerage affiliates must arbitrate with the parent company brokerage instead, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in a split decision Friday, Aug. 24.
Abbott reaches settlement with facilities allegedly defrauding Medicaid
Greg Abbott AUSTIN � Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott reached a Medicaid fraud settlement with one of the nation's largest assisted living facility operators in Texas.
Marshall Court affirms order protecting medical peer review privilege
MARSHALL -- U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis affirmed the Memorandum Opinion and Order protecting medical peer review privilege through granting nonparties' motion to quash and denying defendants' motion to compel production on Aug. 22.
Seven locals sue Merck for "jaw death"
Seven local residents have put their names on a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Merck, claiming a medication designed to treat thinning bones instead caused permanent bone decay.
Humiliated railway worker sues for personal injury, slander
John Sloan Jr. Railroad worker Michael Scott Smith says he received a back injury while on the job for Kansas City Southern, but was told by his boss that his injury claim was bogus. Now Smith is suing his employer not only for the personal injury, but also for the slanderous comments made in front of his co-workers.
Gas truck driver slips on oil, sues Motiva
Russell Gautreaux, a tanker truck driver, was picking up a load of gasoline at the Port Arthur Motiva refinery when he slipped and fell on a patch of oil.
Orange man says asbestos exposure was intentional, sues 50 companies
Lou Thompson Black Vincent Cooper Sr. is suing A.W. Chesterton, along with 50 other companies, for conspiring to mine, process, sell and distribute asbestos products, suppressing the information pertaining to the fiber's hazardous influence on human health and purposely inflicting him with an asbestos disease.
Atrium sues JCAD over excessive appraisal
Every year, thousands of people and businesses complain or protest that their appraised property values exceed market values.
Alberto Gonzales announces resignation
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced his resignation Monday, Aug. 27, ending a controversial cabinet tenure that included clashes with Congress over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys and over the use of warrantless wiretaps in the war on terror.
Former assistant DA sentenced for role in conspiracy
Wendell "Chip" Radford, Jr. U.S. Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced Aug. 24 that a former Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney has been sentenced for his role in a complex mail fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas.
Judging Thyself
Plaintiffs seeking "jackpot justice" in Texas? Not a chance.
LaFleur family sues DuPont over July death at plant
The family of Lonnie LaFleur, the worker who lost his life last month while extracting a heat exchanger at the Dupont plant in Orange, Texas, has filed a wrongful death suit.
Recent patent/copyright infringement cases filed in U.S. District Court
Marshall Division, Eastern District of Texas
Recent home foreclosures in Jefferson and Orange counties
Jefferson County
This Just In: Jefferson County
Aug. 16
This Just In: Orange County
Aug. 17