News from November 2011
$100K settlement reached in sexual abuse case
Washington On Monday, Nov. 14, Randal James Heier, a convicted sex offender, opted to settle with the victim he abused before a jury could be seated.
Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas
Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas, Nov. 7-11, 2011.
Plaintiff steering committee seeks 6% now to fund ongoing BP spill litigation
Barbier NEW ORLEANS � Lawyers anticipating hundreds of millions in fees from litigation over the Deepwater Horizon explosion propose to start raising it right away with a 6 percent assessment on settlements.
Maker of blow-out preventer wants Hayward's congressional testimony excluded
Hayward NEW ORLEANS � Testimony of former BP chief Tony Hayward before Congress shouldn't count as evidence in a trial allocating fault for the Deepwater Horizon explosion, according to blowout prevention contractor Cameron International.
General Motors sued after Sunfire driver's seat collapses during collision
Ammons MARSHALL - General Motors is being sued after a woman suffered a traumatic brain injury when the driver's seat of her Sunfire collapsed backward during an automobile collision.
Woman claims orthopedic bone screws are defective
A spinal surgery patient has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging the bone screws used in her back were defective and fractured.
Crash on Dowlen subject of suit
An Orange County man claims he sustained painful injuries after a driver rear-ended his vehicle as he waited at a stop light.
Nederland woman sues over wreck
A Nederland woman has filed suit against the driver who she claims struck her vehicle, causing her to sustain physical impairment.
Suit says wreck caused back, leg pain
A Port Arthur man claims he suffered severe back and leg pain after a driver struck his vehicle while attempting to turn.
Legally Speaking: That could have gone better
Years ago, I tried a case in which the elderly plaintiff, egged on by her adult daughter, turned down what I thought was a pretty generous six-figure settlement offer and insisted on proceeding to trial. When the jury came back in my client's favor with a verdict that the plaintiff receive nothing, she looked absolutely stunned.
Civil trial to focus on plaintiff's alleged sexual abuse
Jury selection has begun in a case brought by Pennsylvania resident Sean Bailey, who sued Beaumont residents Rebecca and Randall James Heier alleging sexual abuse.
Recent real estate foreclosures filed in Jefferson County
Recent real estate foreclosures filed in Jefferson County, Nov. 7, 2011.
Million-dollar trial over big rig collision continued
Asserting that the plaintiff keeps upping the ante, two defendants in a suit filed over a tractor-trailer collision had their motion for continuance granted Monday, bumping their trial setting to a later date.
Attorney tries to step out of dispute between contractors
A Jefferson County lawyer has filed an interpleader, asking the court to release him from any potential liens that may be filed against him because of fees not paid to construction workers.
Suit filed after detached trailer strikes vehicle
Two Beaumont residents allege they sustained multiple injuries after a trailer detached from a truck and struck their vehicle.
Beaumont company sues for payment of rental equipment
A Jefferson County business has filed suit against the company it claims failed to pay nearly $70,000 for rented materials.
20,000 bricks subject of lawsuit
A construction company has filed suit against the bricklayer who it claims wrongly filed a lien against it and mistakenly demanded money from the business.
Sanctions hearing against defendants in benzene case reset
A hearing for sanctions against two benzene defendants slated to take place on Monday morning has been reset.
Latest hurricane-related insurance suits filed in Jefferson County Courts
A total of four new lawsuits against insurance companies over Hurricane Ike damage claims were filed in Jefferson County District Court, Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2011.
BISD teacher reaps $6K verdict from parents in defamation case
Gertz A local teacher alleging defamation reaped a $6,000 verdict against the parents of a child who claimed physical abuse in the classroom.