This Just In (Jefferson County)

Recent civil filings in Jefferson County District Courts, April 20-May 1

April 20
Shirley Jeanis vs. Chevron Phillips et al
PA -- Herschel L. Hobson, J � Donald Floyd
Shirley Jeanis, the executrix of the estate of Alfred Jeanis, is suing the Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., along with 28 other petrochemical suppliers, for exposing Alfred to benzene.A pipe-fitter/welder at the Dupont and Texaco refineries in Port Arthur from 1942 through 1980, Alfred was somewhere near the age of 80 when he died of myelogenous leukemia.
Case No. E179-177

April 23
Katie Lacey vs. McDonald's Restaurant
PA -- Woodsen E. Dryden, J -- Gerson
Katie Lacey sues McDonald's for failing to warn her that coffee is served hot. She alleges the lid was not secure and that's why she spilled hot Joe on her lap.
Case No. 108-083

April 25
Travell Franks vs. Georgia Pacific et al
PA -- Ian Cloud, J -- Bob Wortham
The children of deceased petrochemical worker Travell Franks are suing numerous companies for exposing their father to asbestos. The plaintiffs' petition states that Franks, who died of lung cancer at age 79, worked in the petrochemical industry for 30 years and was also a cigarette smoker.
Case No. A179-175

Heath Ogden vs. Don McRae et al
PA -- Gilbert Adams, J -- Donald Floyd
Heath and David Ogden sustained damage to their home from Hurricane Rita. In July 2006 they paid defendants more than $41,000 to repair the house. Plaintiffs claim the contractors left town before completing repairs and seek more than $50,000 for breach of contract and fraud.
Case No. E179-181

April 27
Trina and Marlon Bendy vs. Dr. John Schmidt and the Port Arthur Surgical Association
PA � Sandee Hart, J � Gary Sanderson
A medical malpractice suit has been brought against a Port Arthur physician who sliced into a patient's common bile duct while performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy � surgery to remove a gallbladder.
Trina Bendy and her husband Marlon are suing Dr. John Schmidt and the Port Arthur Surgical Association for negligently failing to exercise the applicable standard of care.
Case No. B179-198

Trina Bendy vs. John Schmidt et al
PA -- Sandee Hart, J -- Gary Sanderson
Trina Bendy filed a medical malpractice suit against Dr. Schmidt and Port Arthur Surgical Associates for failing to exercise the proper standard of care. Plaintiff was undergoing gallbladder surgery and says the surgeon sliced into her bile duct during the procedure. She is seeking damages for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses.
Case No. B179-198

May 1
Elaine and Elizabeth Gros vs. A.O. Smith Corp., et al
PA -- Bryan Blevins of Provost Umphrey, J � Bob Wortham
Provost Umphrey has found another "heavy" smoker to sue the A.O. Smith Corp., along with 42 other major corporations, for distributing products containing asbestos throughout Jefferson County. This is the fourth case of its kind in the last 30 days.
Case No. A179-219