News from January 2016
Employee alleges Community Health Systems practiced gender discrimination
HOUSTON — A female worker is suing her past employer, alleging discrimination based on her gender.
Workers sue over recent fire at Marathon facility
A recent fire at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Texas City has resulted in a lawsuit against the oil and gas company. The suit, filed Jan. 19 in the Galveston County 56th District Court, explains that plaintiffs Saul Mendiola and Eleazar Chavez were working at the facility on Jan. 11 when the blaze broke out. While court papers do not elaborate on the circumstances which led to the incident in question, they state that the men suffered “severe physical and emotional injuries and damages” a
Suit: woman's refusal to participate in 'flirtatious environment' resulted in firing
A software company in Angleton and its owner were recently implicated in a former employee’s sex discrimination lawsuit. In the suit filed Jan. 6 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas, Kimberley Garner asserts that OverNite Software, Inc. and principal Armando Caceres, Jr. created a hostile work environment for female workers. Garner raised issue about the mistreatment in question only for the defendants to terminate her, according to the complaint. Caceres allegedly “beca
Don’t let a lawyer be your doctor
Scroll through the list of the most expensive Google search terms and you’ll find phrases like “Top personal injury lawyers” and “El Paso accident lawyer.”
A recent study conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform, or ILR, found that some of these ads cost personal injury lawyers nearly $700 every time someone clicks on it.
Property owner blames La Marque in business construction dispute
GALVESTON — The owner of a masonry business is suing the city of La Marque, alleging he was prohibited from building his business on land he had purchased.
Suit involving home builder settles
GALVESTON — A lawsuit filed in January 2016 in Galveston County District Court involving a couple's suit against a Dickinson home builder has settled, according to a mediator's June 19 letter to Judge Michelle Slaughter.
Titus County family blames VI Acquisitions for relative's death
TEXARKANA — A family is suing the manufacturer of ice discharging equipment, alleging negligence caused physical injuries and the death of a relative.
Couple alleges companies failed to pay overtime
SHERMAN — A Grayson County couple is suing a group of employers, alleging deprivation of overtime pay.
Hardin County man blames apartment owners for fall through attic floor
BEAUMONT — A Hardin County man is suing the owners of a Silsbee apartment complex, alleging negligence after he says he fell through an attic floor.
Litigation accusing Texas attorney of barratry mounts, fraudulent representation becoming a ‘disturbing trend’ says expert
Allstate Texas Lloyds recently filed suit against R. Kent Livesay, accusing the Edinburg attorney of fraudulently representing several storm victims and demanding payment on their behalf.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 29 in Tarrant County, comes seven months after an El Paso couple sued Livesay for barratry, alleging he used a case runner to drum up business following an automobile accident.
Employee blames Laskardis Shipping for injury
BEAUMONT — A Hardin County man is suing a shipping company, alleging negligence when he says he was injured on the job.
Two employees allege Plus4 Credit Union guilty of discrimination
HOUSTON — Two African-Americans are suing a credit union, alleging wrongful termination
Texas latest state to frown upon fantasy sport gambling
AUSTIN– Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released an advisory opinion on Jan. 19 essentially stating fantasy sport gambling is illegal under Texas law. According to section 47.02 of the Penal Code, a person commits an offense if he or she makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or on the performance of a participant in a game or contest. “Because the outcome of games in daily fantasy sports leagues depends partially on chance, an individual's payment of a fee to parti
Texas AG Paxton appeals judge’s decision for criminal case to proceed; Charges ‘cast a cloud’ over political future, political analyst says
Attorneys for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal on New Year’s Eve, challenging a judge’s decision that the criminal case against him should proceed.
Clay Dugas initiates ‘defeat device’ suit against Volkswagen
BEAUMONT – Local attorney Clay Dugas is representing an area resident in a “defeat device” suit against Volkswagen. A defeat device, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, is any apparatus that unduly reduces the effectiveness of emissions control systems under conditions a vehicle may reasonably be expected to experience. Through Dugas, Victor Fulton filed his suit Jan. 12 in Jefferson County District Court.
Entergy designates Osmose Utilities as responsible party in injury suit
Entergy Texas’ motion to designate Osmose Utilities Services as a responsible third party in a personal injury lawsuit has been granted.
Crane operator alleges Dynamic Downhole Services violated FLSA
MARSHALL— A crane operator is suing his former employer alleging that he was deprived of overtime pay.
Taking a three-pronged approach to swindlers
Dallas commercial insurance attorney Steven Badger charges that some trial lawyers try to intimidate insurers into settling unjust claims, using a “scare tactic” that “can amount to insurance fraud.” Says Badger, “Lawyers and their teams of experts will significantly increase the alleged cost to damaged items and often add entirely new damage claim components that were never part of the original claim submitted to the insurer.”
New business licenses/assumed names issued in Jefferson County
DBA : 1/8-1/14/2016 License #:597 Assumed Name:PS CHEVEUX SALON Address:355 N.
Jefferson County 136th Court District : February 2016
CLAIRE DUCOTE V.