News from June 2007
Worldwide Pants
This is a local legal journal, so we generally steer clear of issues and conflicts that don't originate here in our backyard.
Houston attorney indicted in multi-million dollar bribe and kickback scheme
A federal grand jury in Houston charged an attorney and two former employees of The Hartford Insurance Company with conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and the laundering of millions of dollars.
Texas jury hits Chavez-owned gas pumper for emissions breaches
Ronald J. Tenpas AUSTIN -- A Texas federal court has sustained two major breaches of the Clean Air Act against petroleum refiner and retailer CITGO, owned by the Venezuelan government.
Wrongful death suit filed against rehab hospital
William H. Barfield Kathryn Hebert has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Beaumont, claiming the care provider negligently failed to care for the late Mamie Green, a former resident at the facility.
Woman wants $75,000 plus for alleged auto collision
Catherine Purser is suing Beverly Lafleur for more than $75,000 for an auto collision.
Orange County resident files auto collision suit in Jefferson County
Pat McGinnis One Orange County resident is suing another for a fender bender that occurred in Jefferson County. Donna Michele Hurlburt is suing Donald Joseph Ellis for more than $50,000.
Suit filed from 2006 collision
Nathaniel Stephens is suing Ashleigh Petry for $50,000 over an auto collision he claims occurred when Petry "failed to control her speed."
Woman sues man, company for causing auto collision
Rosalinda Pineda "sustained debilitating injuries" when the vehicle she was riding in was struck by Kelvin Lynn Edwards, a Bruckner Leasing Co. employee. Pineda is suing Edwards and the company for more than $50,000.
FBI warns against jury duty scam
A press release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Church sues insurer over Rita claim
Apostolic Church of Beaumont When consoling a grieving member of his congregation, a reverend might say, "The Lord gives and takes away." However, at least one pastor of the Apostolic Church in Beaumont seems to believe in a different proverb, "When the Lord takes, sue your insurance provider for denying a portion of your Hurricane Rita claim."
Nike has deadline to respond to Reebok's patent claim
Nike Free 5.0 Imagine going to the gym for a game of b-ball and forgetting to bring sneakers. Reebok claims it came up with an idea for a shoe that could be dispensed from a vending machine as easily as a can of soda in just such an emergency.
Recent patent/copyright infringement cases filed in U.S. District Courts
Eastern District of Texas, Tyler Division
Defense attorney taking on 'manufactured' class actions
Aronoff David Aronoff believes that if more defense attorneys would vigorously challenge the independence of class representatives there would be less manufactured litigation.
Lawsuit abuse hampers businesses, state economy
The recent report of a $54 million lawsuit against a family-owned dry-cleaning business over a pair of lost pants was a harsh reminder of the threat of outrageous litigation American businesses, large and small, face every day.
Legally Speaking: Justice - Not Just Blind, But Color Blind
A Fort Worth judge is under fire for comments he allegedly made in court suggesting that African-Americans are superior athletes because of a genetic legacy dating back to the slave trade.
Civil rights attorneys to be honored with statue at courthouse
In the mid-1950s, law partners Elmo Willard III and Theodore Johns Sr. sued the city of Beaumont to open its recreational facilities and libraries to blacks and then sued Lamar Tech, now Lamar University, to open its doors to black students.
Recent business licenses/assumed names June 21-27
Orig. Filing Date: 06/21/2007 Certificate #: 70878
60th Court District, Judge Sanderson, July 1-31
July 1 - 31, 2007
Fourth of July events offer patriotic celebrations throughout area
Beaumont's Riverfront Park will be filled with the sights and sounds of American independence when the city celebrates the Fourth of July.