News from June 2010
Heavyweight battle between Umphrey, Coon wages on in civil court
Brent Coon Although an arbitrator recently mediated a dispute between the Provost Umphrey law firm and Brent Coon over attorneys' fees garnered from asbestos litigation, the heated battle between the plaintiff's attorneys wages on civil court.
Appeals court OKs PA police arbitration over hurricane pay grievance
A year after petitioning the Ninth Court of Appeals, the Port Arthur Police Association received the green light to pursue an arbitration grievance against the city of Port Arthur in hopes of collecting inclement weather pay earned in the wake of Hurricane Rita.
Transocean insurers want court to stop BP's claim for more coverage
GALVESTON � Insurers for Transocean are asking a federal court to issue a declaratory judgment against BP after the company reportedly sought a claim to cover the April 20 Deepwater Horizon explosion.
Sexual assault case against pastor remanded to state court
GALVESTON � A federal judge recently ruled to send a Texas City woman's $25 million sexual assault lawsuit against her former church pastor back down to state district court.
Recent patent infringement/false marking cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas
Recent patent infringement/false marking cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas, May 26-28, 2010.
In wake of BP spill, AG Hood pleads for rules change
Hood WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood urged members of the House Judiciary Committee to keep lawsuits, including a potential one over the BP oil spill, out of federal court Thursday.
Study finds New Jersey a tough place for defendants
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - New Jersey and New York are the two states with the highest combination of tort costs and risk, according to a study published by free-market think tank Pacific Research Institute.
Jefferson County couple claims hotel construction damaged their property
Two Jefferson County residents claim a hotel that sits adjacent to their property has created an improper flow of water onto their land, causing the value of their property to diminish.
Hair remover malfunction leads to suit against cosmetic center
A woman has filed suit against a surgical cosmetic center, alleging she sustained a scar on her upper lip after employees at the center used an improperly functioning machine to perform hair removal.
Surveying company sues to collect $50,000 for work done on ships
A surveying company has filed suit against nine corporations, alleging they have not paid more than $50,000 for surveying work the company completed.
Trip-and-fall suit filed against grocery store
GALVESTON - A Galveston County man seeks $35,000 from HEB Food Stores Inc. over a fall he had at the company's Hitchcock store two years ago.
Wreck in Groves leads to lawsuit
A Port Arthur man claims he sustained a permanent and disabling injury after a driver rear-ended him.
Refinery worker blames actuator for injuries
GALVESTON - A Galveston County man has filed suit against the maker of an actuator assembly that reportedly injured him while he responded to an oil leak, recent court documents say.
'Common carrier' argument rejected by justices in FELA suit
Over the past few years, the Southeast Texas Record has reported on several defendants escaping a Federal Employers Liability Act suit filed by Perry Ashworth, who had his leg severed when a railcar rolled over him at a yard inside the Port Arthur Huntsman refinery.
Recent real estate foreclosures filed in Jefferson County
Recent real estate foreclosures filed in Jefferson County , May 26-27, 2010
Ghosts of South Park Middle School haunt appeals court
Demolition of South Park Middle School began on April 2. Even though demolition of South Park Middle School began on April 2, the battle between the Beaumont Independent School District and residents who fought to preserve the campus lingers on in the Ninth District Court of Appeals.
Mississippi men injured in BP rig explosion file suit in Galveston County
The Deepwater Horizon offshore rig burns in the Gulf of Mexico after an explosion on April 20. GALVESTON - Two Mississippi men who were aboard the Deepwater Horizon when it exploded off the Louisiana coast last month have filed a Jones Act lawsuit against BP, Halliburton, and Cameron International.
Appeals court rules plaintiff not to blame for confusion caused by attorney
Horton Montgomery County District Judge Fred Edwards shut down a suit against the county three times in three ways, and now he must reopen it.
Former Texas justice to represent BP in state litigation
Brister AUSTIN � Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister will lead BP Exploration and Production's defense in state litigation over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Trial court can't cut insurer out of settlement, Texas SC rules
Texas Supreme Court AUSTIN � Fayette County District Judge Daniel Beck improperly cut an insurer out of a wrongful death settlement, the Supreme Court of Texas decided on May 28.