News from February 2013
Facts, facts, who’s got the facts?
“I was so unhappy with the way that some people refused to accept the facts,” Hillary Clinton confided in an interview with The Associated Press last week.
Legally Speaking: Legal weirdness knows no borders
As many readers know, many of my columns point out the stranger goings-on in our legal system, with an occasional sprinkling of the odder moments in civil and criminal cases in foreign countries thrown in for a little international flavor.
Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas
Marshall Division
Counsel substituted in suit alleging Memorial tennis courts are defective
A defendant has swapped counsel in a suit claiming a coating on the tennis courts installed at Port Arthur Memorial High School has started to peel and chip away from its concrete foundation.
Strong Pipkin non-suits defendant in $100K attorney’s fees suit
A Beaumont law firm claiming it was not paid more than $100,000 in fees after it won a case in a contractor’s favor has filed a notice of non-suit.
Breach of contract suit put on hold while criminal proceedings ensue
Because a defendant in a breach of contract suit said she would take the Fifth Amendment when questioned, the civil case against her has been put on hold until the criminal case against her concludes.
June trial sought in fraud case against Bank of America
Although a higher court wiped out a $300,000 sanction against it, Bank of America may still go to trial for allegedly violating a mortgage settlement agreement with a Beaumont woman.
Female machine operator claims termination due to complaints of sexual harassment
LUFKIN - A female machine operator has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was terminated for complaining about sexual harassment.
Secretary sues Kilgore company for unpaid overtime wages
TYLER - A secretary has filed a lawsuit against a Kilgore company claiming it violating federal law by failing to pay overtime wages.
Female assembly worker sues Peterbilt for gender discrimination
SHERMAN - A female assembly worker has filed a lawsuit against Peterbilt claiming that she was terminated for taking maternity leave.
Nurse sues former employer after losing job for reporting patient neglect
SHERMAN - A licensed vocational nurse has filed a lawsuit against her former employer that claims she was terminated for making good faith reports of patient neglect.
Waitress files gender discrimination lawsuit against Sherman restaurant
SHERMAN - Claiming she was sexually harassed by her general manager at a Sherman restaurant, April Gordon filed a lawsuit against Jalapeno Tree Holdings LLC on Jan. 28 in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.
KCS seeks protective order from plaintiff's 'fishing expedition'
Kansas City Southern Railway Co. is accusing a personal injury plaintiff of engaging in a “fishing expedition” and is seeking a protective order to block the “harassing” act.
Two Beaumont residents named in suit brought by driver
A Beaumont man claims he incurred medical costs after a driver struck his vehicle.
Beaumont residents claim injuries in lawsuit filed against driver
Three people claim they suffered various injuries after a driver failed to yield the right-of-way and struck the side of their vehicle.
Jury finds woman 50% negligent in causing collision, awards her no damages
Although it took two trials, Poly Trucking won a favorable verdict in an automobile collision case, which ended with jurors finding the plaintiff 50 percent negligent and not deserving of any damages.
New insurance lawsuit filed week of Jan. 14
One new lawsuit has been filed in Jefferson County District Court against an insurance company, Jan. 14-18, 2013.
New business licenses/assumed names issued in Jefferson County
License #: 82572
Dietz: Texas school funding system unconstitutional
The system used by the state of Texas to fund its public schools is unconstitutional, a federal judge in Austin declared Monday.