News from 2015
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Passengers caught in ‘copter plunge sue aircraft manufacturer
Two men filed a lawsuit against a Mexican aircraft operator alleging negligence in 2012. Luis Ledesma of AZ and David Paul Gonzales of LA filed a complaint against Airbus Helicopters Inc. f/k/a American Eurocopter Corp. in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas July 13, claiming severe personal injuries in a terrifying July 2012 plunge into a large body of water offshore. According to the suit, the defendant, registered in Mexico, provided a helicopter to Transportes Aereos P
Cook sues Heights Asian Cafe over overtime pay
A restaurant worker is suing his former employer alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for failing to pay him overtime rates in 2012-15. Samuel Gallardo filed a complaint against Heights Asian Café Inc. of Houston in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas July 17, claiming employment law violation during a three-year period from 2012 to 2015 when the firm purportedly did not pay Gallardo one and one-half times his regular hourly rate for hours worked in exces
Driver takes couple to court over rear-end collision
A Galveston County resident is suing a couple for alleged vehicular negligence in a 2013 crash allegedly resulting in property damage and physical injuries. Michael James Moniz of Friendswood filed a complaint against Maret Elizabeth Moran and Sean Moran, both also of Friendswood, in Galveston County District Court July 17, claiming several counts of negligence in a November 2013 roadway accident. According to the suit, the plaintiff was traveling eastbound in the 1300 block of West Parkwood A
Woman sues driver who allegedly ran stop sign
A Galveston County resident is suing a motorist alleging negligent driving in 2014 following a forceful collision. Jessica Shadoan filed a grievance in the form of a petition and request for disclosures against Leland Randy Pruitt of Kemah in Galveston County District Court July 21, claiming liability in a July 2014 collision that allegedly left the plaintiff with severe and lasting personal injuries. According to the suit, the plaintiff was attempting to turn left from FM 2094 onto State High
City of Beaumont sues wrecker service two years after collision with bus
The city of Beaumont is suing a wrecker service over damage sustained to one of its buses in a 2013 automobile collision. The city, along with the Beaumont Transit Company, filed the suit against Payne’s Wrecker Service, doing business as Payne & Sons, and Russell Huff on July 14 in Jefferson County District Court. According to the lawsuit, on July 23, 2013, the city’s bus was headed north on Orleans Street when the defendant’s wrecker, which was driven by Huff, ran a red light and collided wi
Woman's lawsuit claims father pistol-whipped her in front of husband
A Louisiana woman is pursuing legal action against her father after he allegedly pistol-whipped her last year. Caddo Parish resident Deanna Stanfield filed a lawsuit against Marion County citizen Robert Wall on July 21 in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas, claiming the incident in question occurred at Wall’s residence in Bivins on Feb. 15, 2014. Stanfield explains that she and her husband were having a conversation when Wall “left the inside of his home, grabbed his pistol,
Texas judge vacates $2.3M IP verdict against Newegg
A federal judge has vacated a Texas jury award of $2.3 million, levied against online tech retailer Newegg, a California company, following a patent infringement trial in 2013.
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Ex-oil and gas inspector launches class action against American Cargo Assurance
A former oil and gas industry company inspector is filing a class action complaint against the firm alleging unlawful employment practices from 2012 through 2015. Michael Wagner filed a lawsuit against American Cargo Assurance LLC in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas on July 15, claiming violation of the FLSA in March 2015; Wagner was employed by American Cargo from early November 2014 to June 18, 2015, and the putative class is defined as any employees who worked as inspec
Surviving family members sue trucker for man’s highway death
A Rockwall County resident is filing a survival action suit as estate representative against an Oklahoma trucking business on wrongful death charges in a 2014 Titus County collision that claimed the life of a husband and father. Steven H.
Man claims driver caused rear-end collision
A Chambers County resident is suing a Houston resident for allegedly violating traffic laws earlier this year. Gordan Roberts filed a lawsuit July 9 in the Jefferson County District Court against Rachel Allison Yates, citing vehicular negligence.
Male pedestrian claims driver hit him at intersection
A Galveston County man alleges he was injured when a motorist struck him while he was crossing at an intersection. Richard Walston filed a lawsuit July 8 in the Galveston County District Court against The Gulf Coast Center, also known as Connect Transit, and one of its employees Marvin Johnson, alleging vehicular negligence. According to the filing, Walston was crossing westbound on a motorized scooter at a designated crosswalk located at the intersection of 34th Street and Palmer Highway in T
Woman alleges driver failed to yield the right-of-way
A Galveston County woman alleges that a Texas City driver caused a car accident in 2013 that left her and another passenger with serious injuries. Debbie Davidson, individually and as a personal representative and/or heir of the Estate of Edward Curtiss, deceased, filed a lawsuit July 9 in the Galveston County District Court against Doris McCollum, citing vehicular negligence. According to the filing, Davidson and Curtis were driving westbound on Clear Lake City Boulevard on July 12, 2013 when
Baptist Hospitals dismissed from med-mal
A hospital complex sued for alleged breach of care has been dismissed from the suit. Joe Vassar filed a lawsuit Jan. 30 against Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas-Beaumont in Jefferson County District Court, alleging delayed diagnosis and treatment during his inpatient stay worsened his condition. Three months later, Vassar filed a motion for non-suit on March 26, stating he no longer wished to pursue the action.
Electrician sues for $22 million after professional relationship with BISD severed, Wayne Reaud named as defendant
A Beaumont electrician alleges several entities – including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Beaumont Independent School District, The Beaumont Enterprise and Beaumont attorney Wayne Reaud – committed acts that cost him a business contract with BISD and has filed a $22 million federal lawsuit. In court papers filed July 16 in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas, Calvin Gary Walker, the proprietor of Walker’s Electric, explains that the defendants worke
Discovery underway in benzene suit against ExxonMobil, 17 other companies
Discovery continues in a toxic tort claim brought by Johnny and Rebecca Grove, who sued 18 companies alleging benzene exposure. The suit was filed Feb. 23 in Jefferson County District Court. The defendants named in the suit include, Bridgestone, Canadianoxy Offshore, Chevron and its subsidiaries, Conoco Phillips, DuPont, ExxonMobil, Firestone, Goodyear, Gulf Oil, Huntsman, PPG, Texaco, Total Petrochemicals, Union Oil and United States Steel. Court records show one of the last filings in the c
Wrongful termination claim non-suited after ‘loser pays’ motion filed
A defendant in a wrongful termination claim who filed a “loser pays” motion in the litigation has been non-suited from the complaint. The suit was filed by Donna Humphrey against Texas Gas Service, Oneok, Eli Roberts and Harvey Hightower on May 14, 2014, in Jefferson County District Court. Court records show that on Jan. 14 Roberts filed a motion under rule 91a of the Texas Civil Code, which requires the loser to pay the winner’s court costs. On June 9 Humphrey filed a notice of non-suit, sta
Beaumont attorney’s love triangle suit dismissed
A Beaumont attorney’s lawsuit over a love triangle gone sour has been dismissed. Alleging malicious prosecution and instigation of false imprisonment, Alto Watson III filed suit against Paul Chargois and Amy Delgado on Feb. 18, 2014, in Jefferson County District Court Watson claimed Chargois attacked him when he found him with Delgado, and the two defendants then conspired to fabricate a story blaming Watson to keep Chargois from going to jail. Court records show the case was set to go to tri