News from December 2008
Forklift dragged behind truck, operator sues employer
A Jefferson County man has filed suit against Morgan Southern and one of its employees, alleging he was seriously injured after the forklift he was operating fell from a loading dock and was dragged behind a truck.
Rankings from the ATRF 'Judicial Hellhole' report for 2008/2009
List of rankings from the ATRF 'Judicial Hellhole' report for 2008/2009. A pdf of the complete 64-page report is attached.
Report: Southeast Texas courts improve, but still on 'Hellhole' watch list
Legislative reforms and no-nonsense appellate courts have removed Southeast Texas courts from the top of this year's "Judicial Hellhole" list, but the American Tort Reform Foundation still has its eye on the Lone Star State.
PA couple claims stucco siding damaged home's structure
A Port Arthur couple has filed suit against Bill Lindsey Construction Co. Inc., alleging the company improperly placed stucco on the exterior of the couple's home, resulting in possible structural damage.
Victoria's Secret employee claims she was fired for being pregnant
Victoria's Secret at Parkdale Mall A Jefferson County woman has filed suit against Victoria's Secret Stores, alleging she was wrongfully discriminated against because of her pregnancy.
Homeowner alleges insurance company misrepresented coverage for wind, storm surge
A Jefferson County woman has filed suit against Texas Farm Bureau Underwriters and one of its agents, alleging she was not aware the her policy would not cover wind or storm surge claims until after Hurricane Ike damaged her homes.
Beaumont man's suit claims termination was racially motivated
A Beaumont man has filed suit against Nighthawk Vacuum Services, alleging racial discrimination and wrongful termination.
Attorneys' theatrics continue in med-mal trial as judge renews contempt threats
Judge Donald Floyd A week-long break and a surprise snow fall hasn't cooled tempers in the 172nd District Court, as Judge Donald Floyd renewed his threat on Monday, Dec. 12 to hold lawyers trying a medical malpractice case in contempt.
Injured scaffold worker wins $178K jury verdict
A Jefferson County jury has found that James Levine was 49 percent responsible for stepping through a hole in a scaffold and falling several feet, but still awarded the man $178,000.
U.S. Supreme Court OKs lawsuits over light cigarettes
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline)-Smokers can sue over deceptive marketing of so-called light cigarettes, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.
Run off for District 17 Senate seat to be held Tuesday
Joan Huffman (R) Voters in six Southeast Texas counties shouldn't put their voter registration cards away just yet, as who will represent them in Austin in the state Senate has still not been decided.
The shop stops here
Lone Star State law does not and should not govern something that happened three decades ago and 2,000 miles away.
Recent patent infringement suits filed in U.S. District Courts
Marshall Division, Eastern District of Texas
New business licenses/assumed names issued in Jefferson County
New business licenses/assumed names issued in Jefferson County, Dec. 4-10, 2008
Manufacturers are not liable when an authorized dealer sells 'knock-offs,' appeals court rules
Perhaps setting a precedent, the Texas Ninth District Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday, Dec. 4, that a manufacturer is not liable as principal when an authorized dealer for the manufacturer's product sells another company's product sporting a similar name to a customer.
You're not dreaming ... it IS a white Christmas
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, as snow rests on the branches of the Christmas tree at the Art Museum of Southeast Texas. Southeast Texas residents awoke Thursday, Dec. 11, to find their towns covered in a rare snowfall.
Recent real estate foreclosures
Recent real estate foreclosures filed in Jefferson and Orange Counties, Nov. 26-Dec. 5, 2008
60th CD 1/09
WILSON SEALE JR ET AL vs. CHRISTUS ST ELIZABETH HOSPITAL ET AL
Arkansas class action alleges misrepresentation of lawn mower horsepower
TEXARKANA, ARK. � A recently filed class action claims several companies have fraudulently and intentionally misrepresented the horsepower of their lawn mowers and engines in an attempt to charge higher prices.