News from January 2008
Legally Speaking: Twelve Angry Men (and Women)
Last week, I reported on the strange case of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina. Following the June 2007 fire that destroyed his Houston-area home under what Harris County Fire Marshals office investigators described as suspicious circumstances, Justice Medina and his wife Francisca were indicted by a grand jury.
Billboard battle moves to court
A Port Arthur advertising company claims a Groves hospital has failed to pay for a billboard it put up at a major highway intersection.
Chili's sued after waiter drops dishes on diner
It's a tradition in the restaurant industry to clap when a server drops a tub of dishes. However, Lurlene Glidewell is holding her applause and filing suit instead. While dining at the Port Arthur Chili's, Glidewell claims a waiter dropped a load of dishes on her.
Vidor man discovers seismic testing company about to detonate TNT without permission
To say the least, Huey Buckley was a little surprised to learn that an oil company had dug a 150-foot hole on his property and filled it with dynamite.
Railroad worker claims injuries after truck hits train, sues driver and railroad
In a collision involving an iron locomotive and a motor vehicle, most people would thank their lucky stars if they were tucked away inside the train. However in a recent case, a Union Pacific Railroad employee claims he was hurt when a truck collided with the train.
Former employee sues Al Price facility for wrongful termination
The Texas Youth Commission made national headlines last year after reports of abuse were leaked to the media. Now, a former Al Price State Juvenile Correctional Facility caseworker is claiming he was fired on trumped-up sexual harassment charges after he reported the alleged abuse of minor inmates.
Texas SC says Criss abused discretion ordering Browne's deposition
Judge Susan Criss The Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday that Judge Susan Criss abused her discretion when she ordered the former CEO of BP to submit to a lengthy deposition about the 2005 explosion at the Texas City refinery.
Suit: Hospital housekeeper fired after reporting security guard's harassment
Sexually harassed by a security guard, Cynthia Isaac immediately reported the incident to her employer, Hospital Housekeeping Systems LTD. The next day she was fired for returning late on her lunch break.
TxDOT blamed for man's death in suit
A wrongful death suit has been filed against the Texas Department of Transportation, claiming the governmental entity was responsible for the death of James Harper by causing a fatal collision on Interstate 10.
Worker claims termination for making injury claim
While on the job, Max Cormier injured his back while lifting a piece of metal. After he made a workers' compensation claim, Cormier claims his employer, J & J Manufacturing Co., fired him.
Woman sues mall for trip in parking lot
Claiming that a West End shopping center negligently camouflaged its concrete barriers to match the color of the parking lot, Jean Shivers has filed suit against Parkdale Mall.
Criss' campaign cash
Maybe they like the way Galveston District Judge Susan Criss has ruled on their lawsuits? Or they hope they will benefit from her decisions, sometime in the near future?
Seamen sue after ship hits jetties
Two men were injured while on board a vessel near Sabine Pass when the boat hit a jettie. Kevin Salsman and Elroy Boutte filed a personal injury suit against the ship's owners on Jan. 22 in federal court in the Eastern District of Texas Beaumont Division.
Finance report shows BP plaintiffs' lawyers making big donations to Criss campaign
Susan Criss Judge Susan Criss, running for the Democratic nomination for Texas Supreme Court Place 8, announced that her latest campaign finance report shows she has raised more than $317,000 for her campaign.
Entrepreneur and venture capitalist Danto to speak Feb. 5
Al Danto Al Danto will draw on more than 20 years experience with start-up and entrepreneurial companies when he delivers the Lamar University Institute for Entrepeneurial Studies "Entrepreneurship" Lecture, Tuesday, Feb. 5.
Woman claims calls ignored by staff, sues Medical Center
After falling several times, having her calls ignored and making a mess with a bedpan, Pamela Prunty was fed up with the Medical Center of Southeast Texas and had herself discharged.
Abbott awards $100K to Consumer Law Program at St. Mary's
SAN ANTONIO - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott awarded more than $100,000 to St. Mary's University School of Law on Jan. 24, which will use the funding to expand the legal services its consumer law clinic provides to South Texas residents.
Medina gets break as DA cops earful
David Medina AUSTIN -- Grand jurors have blasted a decision by a Houston-area District Attorney to dismiss their indictment of Texas Supreme Court Justice David C. Medina on arson-related charges.
Louisiana ex-AG joins Big Easy class action lawyers
Charles Foti BATON ROUGE -- Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti has joined a law firm specialising in class action and personal-injury lawsuits.