News from 2007
Justices partially affirm, partially reverse $1.7 med-mal verdict
Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified Justice David Gaultney as the author of the affirmative opinion. The opinion was written by Justice Hollis Horton as indicated in the following story.
Isern sued for back rent
Before a well-known local doctor, Dr. Reuben Isern, declared bankruptcy, his landlord, another famous Southeast Texan, made a written demand for payment of past due rent.
Plaintiff's doc says cancer caused by asbestos, not smoking
Bryan Blevins A former Navy veteran and refinery worker, Louisiana-resident Merlin Durousseau died of renal failure last December. At the request of Provost Umphrey attorney Bryan Blevins, the Texas Occupational Medicine Institute reviewed Durousseau's medical record and concluded he died of asbestos induced mesothelioma.
136th Court District October 1 - 31, 2007
136th COURT DISTRICT
Insurer seeks to recover medical expenses from allergy to pesticides
Seeking to recover $62,000 in worker's compensation benefits paid to one of its policy holders, American Home Assurance Co. is suing Entergy Services Inc. and United States Environmental Services for negligently exposing Ryan Bledsoe to pesticides.
Legally Speaking: When a Lawyer Goes Too Far
The firestorm of controversy ignited by Columbia University's decision to provide Iranian president Ahmadinejad with a public forum for his hate-mongering has barely subsided, but another controversial speaking invitation in New York has largely escaped public scrutiny.
Rowan to pay $8 M for polluting Gulf
Rowan Companies Inc., a major oil and gas drilling company, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Beaumont to three felonies in connection with the routine discharge of pollutants and garbage into the Gulf of Mexico from one of the firm's oil rigs, the Justice Department announced Oct. 10.
Rita evacuee trips over lumpy rug, sues hotel
Harvey Suites Hotel near Dallas Frances Chatman escaped the looming dangers of Hurricane Rita only to fall prey to "lumpy" floor mats.
Slip and fall at H.E.B. leads to suit
H.E.B. on East Lucas Not wasting anytime, Daniel Lee Jones filed a personal injury lawsuit against H.E.B. Grocery Co. three weeks after he slipped and fell at the East Lucas store.
Discovery battle leads many Colossus defendants to settlements
As the litigation continues in the Colossus software case, many of the insurance companies involved are cutting their losses and agreeing to mediation instead of continuing the discovery battle.
Class certification delayed in Colossus litigation
Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson TEXARKANA, Ark. -- In a recent hearing, Miller County Circuit Judge Kirk Johnson heard defendants' attorneys request for a hearing for ruling on issues in the Colossus software case.
Refugio County commissioner pleads guilty to election fraud scheme
REFUGIO � A sitting Refugio County Precinct 4 commissioner pleaded guilty to felony election fraud charges in Refugio County and will also plead to an associated misdemeanor charge next week.
Judge reduces jury award in seatbelt case
MARSHALL � After losing their daughter in an auto accident, an East Texas jury awarded the Frazier family $24 million in a trial against the car's seatbelt manufacturer. However a federal judge has now reduced those damages by almost 40 percent.
Port of Port Arthur suing Flanagan for delinquent invoices
The James J. Flanagan Shipping Corp., headquartered in Beaumont, is a general contract stevedore that loads and unloads thousands of ships and handles millions of dollars worth of cargo every year all along the Gulf Coast at facilities from Brownsville to New Orleans. But now one of its oldest clients is taking Flanagan to court for around $14,000 in invoices.
Tainted testimony?
Is there a great asbestos lawsuit fraud worth uncovering here in Beaumont?
AG Zyprexa suits in money as Boston DA lands $515m
Michael J. Sullivan (R) BOSTON -- The U.S. Attorney's office in Massachusetts has no doubt bolstered attorneys-general nationwide in their on-going efforts to win big settlements from "Big Pharma" drugmakers.
Local federal prosecutors honored in Washington
BEAUMONT, TX � Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Batte of Beaumont and John Malcolm Bales of Lufkin were honored Oct. 2 at the Justice Department's 55th Annual Awards Ceremony at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., along with 191 Justice Department employees and 26 other individuals.
Asbestos expert used in local cases comes under scrutiny
Dr. Jay T. Segarra is a Mississippi Gulf coast resident. For almost a decade, Dr. Jay T. Segarra was considered the lung disease expert local plaintiffs lawyers called on to testify in their massive asbestos cases.
Judge Jack's fury over asbestos fraud ignored by state courts
Does anyone remember how a Democratic judge in Texas defied her party's devotion to mass torts, exposed 10,000 phony suits, imposed a whopping sanction, sparked investigations and instigated reforms?