News from September 2014
Woman alleges age, arthritis caused her to lose her job at Hyatt
A woman has filed suit against Hyatt, alleging she lost her job of more than 25 years due to her age and arthritis.
Suit alleges Galveston man driving drunk when crashing into armored truck
A Galveston man is accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that seriously injured his passenger. Azariel Sanchez filed a lawsuit against Lamont Poinsette on Aug. 12 in Galveston County District Court. According to the complaint, Poinsette was driving while intoxicated April 7 with Sanchez as his passenger. Sanchez says Poinsette was speeding when he "struck a 2-foot wall and then slammed into
Prison inmate sues UTMB Galveston for $3.3M
A Texas prison inmate is seeking $3.3 million from a healthcare provider after allegedly falling from a transport bus at a hospital. James I. Quick filed a pro se lawsuit against University of Texas Medical Center in Galveston on Aug. 9 in Galveston County District Court. According to the handwritten complaint, Quick is a 72-year-old man incarcerated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. On
Suit blames Ford's rear-view system for toddler's driveway death
The mother of a 3-year-old killed in his driveway alleges a faulty vehicle design by Ford is to blame. Halie Bush, individually and as representative of the estate of K.S., filed a complaint against Ford Motor Co. on Aug. 8 in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas.According to the complaint, Bush is the mother of K.S., a 3-year-old boy who was killed Nov. 2, 2013, when his father inadvertently
Beaumont man sues over injuries in rear-end crash
A Beaumont man alleges he was hurt when rear-ended on a Jefferson County highway.Joe D. Stegall filed the complaint against Diana Watson-Mitchell on Aug. 12 in Jefferson County District Court. According to the complaint, Stegall was driving south in the 8300 block of U.S. Highway 69 on Dec. 19, 2013, when he was hit from behind by Watson-Mitchell's vehicle. As a result of the crash Stegall says he
Man accuses Woodlands company of sexual harassment, wrongful termination
A former employee of a Woodlands company alleges he was sexually harassed at work and then fired for reporting it. Christopher Ward filed a complaint against Elliott Turbocharger Group Inc., Tommy Montier and Dan Husky on July 29 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. Ward says he started working as a foreman for Elliot Group in October or November 2012. He says he was first exposed
Beaumont man accused of negligence in crash
A Groves woman alleges a Beaumont driver is responsible for injuries she received in a rear-end crash. Julieanne Minix filed a lawsuit against Ronald Dayle Nicklas on Aug. 12 in Jefferson County District Court. According to the complaint Minix was a passenger in a vehicle that was hit from behind by Nicklas on Nov. 12, 2013. Minix says she was hurt in the crash. Minix accuses Nicklas of negligence
Bank seeks foreclosure on home equity loan
A bank has filed an application for an expedited order on a home equity loan against a Beaumont couple.Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. alleges defendants Kimel and Elizabeth Hensley took out a home equity loan. However, they have failed to make 20 monthly payments, according to the complaint filed Aug. 11 in Jefferson County District Court."The amount required to cure the default is $25,458.99," the
Woman files suit against driver in collision
A woman has filed suit against the driver whom she alleges failed to yield the right-of-way and caused a collision.Geraldine Malone alleges she was riding in a vehicle that defendant Toddrick D. Ryals was driving Aug. 13, 2012, at the intersection of Savannah Avenue and 19th Street in Port Arthur.
Man says phone company denied transfer to care for elderly father
A man has filed suit against his former employer, alleging he was forced to resign from his job in order to care for his disabled father.Kyle B. Lewis alleges he was working as a customer service technician for defendant Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. when his 82-year-old father became seriously ill and unable to care for himself.
Beaumont construction company accused of negligence in apartment building fire
The company that insures a Port Arthur apartment complex seeks to recover losses after a Beaumont construction company allegedly allowed a fire to damage the building.Everest National Insurance Co., as insurer of ProdiGem LLC, filed a lawsuit Aug. 6 in the Beaumont Division of the Eastern District of Texas against Triangle F Construction.According to the complaint, Triangle F Construction was hired
Man suffers internal injuries following attack in which air hose was inserted into rectum
A man says he was rushed to the hospital when one of his co-workers allegedly shoved a pressurized air hose up his rectum, then turned the machine on full blast, severely damaging his internal organs.
Houston man accuses Ernst & Young of discrimination
A Houston man has accused a professional services firm of discrimination, claiming the company fired him because of his age and medical history.
Canadian honeybee lawsuit quickly attracts critics
WINDSOR, Ontario (Legal Newsline) – Claims made in a recently filed class action lawsuit alleging pesticides are harming Canada’s honeybee population are not true, says an Alberta commercial beekeeper who has seen no ill effects on his colonies.
Fifth Circuit grants Native Americans religious freedom to obtain permits for eagle feathers
NEW ORLEANS – In a ruling that relies heavily on the Supreme Court’s recent decision in favor of Hobby Lobby’s religious freedom, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed and remanded a district court’s decision to prohibit certain Native Americans from acquiring eagle feathers for religious ceremonies.
La. asbestos attorneys want clients’ info to remain sealed in Garlock case
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Legal Newsline) – The first motion to seal in the Garlock Sealing Technologies bankruptcy proceeding was filed on Thursday by Louisiana asbestos attorneys, exactly one week before the deadline.
Texas Attorney General secures asset freeze, temporary injunction against two South Texas pool construction companies
MCALLEN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott charged McAllen-based RGV Flamingo Pools International Ltd., Pool Sharks LLC and owner Dennis Gomez with multiple violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Personnel File: Nine Provost Umphrey lawyers named Texas Super Lawyers
Nine lawyers from Provost Umphrey Law Firm have been selected to the 2014 Texas Super Lawyers List along with three young attorneys named as Rising Stars.
BP didn’t know what Juneau knew
In the birthplace of Huey Long and Edwin Edwards, you have to expect corruption on a grand scale. Even in Louisiana, however, the shenanigans associated with the BP oil spill settlement smell like a putrid swamp.