SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

This Just In: Recent civil filings in Jefferson County District Courts, May 17-23, 2007

May 17
Beaumont Dealer's Auto Auction Inc. vs Ford Motor Company
PA -- Jason Byrd, J -- pending
In 2005 a fire destroyed nine vehicles on the car lot of Beaumont Dealer's Auto Auction, causing damage of $98,000. An insurance investigation determined the fire was caused by a faulty cruise control device in a Ford Explorer. Plaintiff is suing Ford Motor Co. for deceptive trade practices, negligence and fraud and seeks actual and exemplary damages.
Case No. D179-321

Heather Ragan vs. Specialty Retailers
PA -- John Werner, J � Court assignment is pending
Heather Ragan, a former sales associate with Specialty Retailers (Beall's Department Store), was told to stock some merchandise. She injured herself in the process and is now suing the Port Arthur shop for negligently making her perform work "not conductive to the safe performance of her duties."
Case No. D179-322

Maren Roberts vs. A.O. Smith Corp., et al
PA -- Bryan Blevins of Provost Umphrey, J � Donald Floyd
Provost Umphrey has found another person to sue the A.O. Smith Corp., along with 42 other major corporations, for distributing products containing asbestos throughout Jefferson County. This is the eighth case of its kind in the last two months.
Case No. E179-325

May 18
Juan Gonzales vs. Beacon Maritime et al
PA Stephen Foster, J � Court assignment is pending
Juan Gonzales, an injured seaman, invoked the Jones Act and sued Beacon Maritime and Murphy Oil USA, Inc. He was employed by Beacon and was a borrowed seaman for Murphy aboard a jack up rig when he hit in the face with flying slag.
Case No. B179-328

Paul Bailey, Jr. vs. R.L. Eldridge Construction
PA -- Stephen Foster, J � Court assignment is pending
While at sea, a few of Paul Bailey's co-workers were roughhousing. One tossed a string of firecrackers at him and Bailey somehow injured his head. He has invoked the Jones Act and filed a personal injury lawsuit against the R.L. Eldridge Construction, Inc. and its vessel the Mr. Gabby for failing to provide a safe workplace.
Case No. E179-329

Arturo Salinas vs, Platinum Communications Co., Inc
PA � William Walker, J � pending
Arturo Salinas, accompanied by his minor son and a co-worker, was driving a company vehicle on County Road when another motorist veered into his lane and collided with him head on. Salina, along with his son and Jacabed Martinez, are suing his employer Platinum Communications Co., Inc. for $1 million.
Case No. B179-335

King Ricardo vs. Horizon Offshore Contractors et al
PA -- Todd Elias, J -- pending
Plaintiff, a seaman, cites the Jones Act in a suit against Horizon Offshore for personal injuries he received working on the defendants' ship on March 12. Ricardo claims the ship was not seaworthy, which led to his injuries. He says the company has failed to pay his medical bills.
Case No. E179-338

Annie Lois Hadnot et al vs. Christus Health Texas et al
PA -- Michael Phifer, J -- pending
The plaintiff's daughter, Renita Hadnot, was admitted to Christus under the care of Dr. Usman Zafar. The suit does not specify what illness Hadnot suffered from or what procedures she received, but her family is suing the hospital, Zafar and Pfizer Inc. for her wrongful death. Plaintiffs seek compensation for negligence and for Pfizer's faulty design of the "product in question."
Case No. B179-341

May 21
Mariane Boudreaux vs. JC Penney
PA � John Lane, J � Gary Sanderson
Mariane Boudreaux paid a visit to the Port Arthur J.C. Penney and injured herself when she "fell through a large sheet of plastic." Boudreaux is claiming J.C. Penney knew , or at least should have known, about the dangerous condition and is negligent for failing to remedy it. She is suing for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement, physical impairment and medical expenses.
Case No. B179-353

Gregory James Hunter vs. A.W. Chesterton,
PA - Lou Thompson Black, J � Donald Floyd
Gregory James Hunter is suing A.W. Chesterton, along with 47 other companies, for conspiring to mine, process, sell and distribute asbestos products, suppressing the information pertaining to the fiber's hazardous influence on human health, and purposely inflicting him with an asbestos disease (lung cancer).
Case No. E179-317

May 23
J Bryan Lawson vs. Bally Total Fitness et al
PA -- Millard Johnson, J -- pending
Lt. Col. Bryan Lawson, U.S. Army Reserve, signed up for a one-day workout pass at a Bally Total Fitness club in Houston. He says the club continued to charge his American Express card for a full three-year contract, in spite of the fact that Lawson was deployed to Iraq. He alleges the defendants were negligent and committed libel, conspiracy, misrepresentation and breach of contract.
Case No. 179-362