News from February 2017
Bedias man claims Walmart failed to keep premises safe
GALVESTON — An invitee is suing Walmart Stores Texas, LLC, citing alleged insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries.
Houston woman claims debt collector violated collections laws
HOUSTON — A Houston woman is suing Asset Maximization Group, Inc., citing alleged unconscionable collection practices.
Harris County resident accuses Sun Hing Foods of age discrimination
HOUSTON — A Harry County man is suing Sun Hing Foods, Inc., an ethnic food distributor, citing alleged age discrimination.
Longview woman claims tractor-trailer driver was careless
MARSHALL — A Longview woman is suing Frontier Logistics, LP, citing allegedly insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries.
Gov. Greg Abbott gives State of the State Address, focuses on tort and budget reforms
AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott has given his State of the State speech to the citizens of Texas where he addressed what his priorities and emergency activities will be for the 85th legislative session.
TLR announces addition of Sheets and Hobbs to outside legal team
AUSTIN – On Feb. 6, Texans for Lawsuit Reform announced the addition of former Texas State Rep. Kenneth Sheets and former Texas Supreme Court General Counsel Lisa Bowlin Hobbs to its outside legal team.
Mostyn Law Hurricane Rita suit slated for trial in Jefferson County
BEAUMONT – A Hurricane Rita lawsuit brought by the Mostyn Law Firm has been slated for trial later this month.
Motorist accused of driving on wrong side of road hit with default judgment
BEAUMONT - A Beaumont couple who sued a Walker County duo alleging vehicular negligence was awarded a default judgment back in September.
Implementing Obergefell: Who Decides the Scope of a Newly Minted Right?
The Supreme Court’s fractured decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) required states to recognize same-sex marriage. Obergefell came less than 30 years after Bowers v. Hardwick,[1] in which the court refused to recognize a right to engage in homosexual sodomy. In changing its mind, the Court effectively amended the U.S. Constitution with its Delphic utterances.
TC Heartland v. Kraft: Awaiting a 2017 Supreme Court Decision with Potentially Significant Implications for Patent Litigation
Patent litigation continues to be concentrated in a small number of venues. Of the 4530 patent cases filed in 2016, for example, patentees chose the Eastern District of Texas more than one third of the time (1661 cases).1 In fact, patentees filed three quarters of all patent cases last year in only 10 of the 94 available venues.2
Refusal to unseal Russell Budd’s deposition on asbestos memo a ‘travesty,’ lawyer says
AUSTIN – A district judge’s refusal to unseal testimony given by renowned plaintiff’s attorney Russell Budd on the “Terrell memo” was a “travesty,” says the lawyer who filed the motion to unseal.
Despite progress, East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse's founder cites work ahead to combat lawsuit abuse
LONGVIEW – Despite progress made in turning around a reputation that has pegged Texas as a popular venue for medical malpractice lawsuits and “not a business friendly environment,” Ruben Martin, founder of East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse, said in a newsletter entry commemorating ETALA’s 25th anniversary that “junk lawsuits continue to cost us dearly.”
UnitedHealthcare Insurance billed for more $100 million in fraudulent claims, company alleges
DALLAS – UnitedHealthcare Insurance was used in a massive fraudulent billing scheme, the company claimed in a Texas court.
Lamar Smith's persistence may finally pay off
It may be called the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act (LARA) of 2017, but U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith of Austin has been proposing this measure for years without success.
Texas AG leads coalition in SCTOUS amicus brief against abusive patent suits
AUSTIN – Leading a coalition of 17 states, Attorney General Ken Paxton on Feb. 6 filed an amicus brief in the U.S.
‘Clock Boy’ lawsuit against Ben Shapiro dismissed, commentator awarded attorney’s fees
DALLAS – A lawsuit against conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has been dismissed – a complaint brought by the father of Ahmed Mohamed, the Muslim teen who became known as “clock boy” after being arrested for bringing a homemade timepiece to school in a pencil case.
Jefferson County 58th Court District: March 2017
US MONEY RESERVE INC V.
New business licenses issued in Jefferson County
Jan. 27 - Feb. 2 License #:2812 Assumed Name:FIRST CHOICE TAXES Address:8399 FANNETT RD, BEAUMONT, TX 77705 Owner Name:ANDREWS NATALIE License #:2821 Assumed Name:KRL LOGISTICS Address:2490
Recent patent infringement cases filed in the Eastern District of Texas
TYLER DIVISION Jan. 31 SELECTIVE SIGNALS, LLC V. FORTINET, INC. 6:17-cv-00064-RWS-KNM
Ergon Asphalt seeks to remove Corpus Christi water contamination class action
CORPUS CHRISTI – The company blamed for contaminating the city of Corpus Christi’s water supply is seeking to remove a class action brought against it out of the county where the incident transpired.