This Just In

July 19

Kevin Brown vs. BASF Corp.
PA � Kurt Arnold, J � Gary Sanderson
Kevin Brown's left index finger was crushed when an "improperly" welded "kick plate" came loose. Now short one pointing finger, Brown is suing the BASF Corporation, Chemical for negligence and premise liability. He is suing for compensatory, actual and special damages, plus all court costs.
Case No. B179-687

Thurman Cash vs. A.W. Chesterton et al
PA - Lou Thompson Black, J - Gary Sanderson
Thurman Cash is suing A.W. Chesterton, along with 70 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. A man of many trades, the suit indicates Cash was most likely exposed to asbestos while working at shipyards, steel mills, refineries, paper mills, chemical plants, the military and other facilities in the U.S. However, the suit does not give specifics on the location or time of Hunter's employment.
Case No. B179-688

Johnny J. Campise, et ux Roberta vs. A.O Smith Corp. et al
PA � Brian Blevins, J � Gary Sanderson
Busy trying a million dollar asbestos case in Judge Sanderson's 60th District Court, Provost Umphrey attorney Brian Blevins still finds time to dig up fresh asbestos lawsuits. Some time ago, Johnny J. Campise sued several companies and received a claim for his non-malignant asbestos-related disease. Now he seeks compensation for a "different asbestos-related injury." Blevins will represent Campise and sue the A.O. Smith Corp., along with 58 other major corporations, for distributing products containing asbestos throughout Jefferson County. Campise is suing for physical pain and suffering in the past and future, mental anguish in the past and future, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement in the past and future, physical impairment in the past and future, and past and future medical expenses.
Case No. B179-690

July 20
Shelby and Floyd Williams Jr. et al vs. Chevron/Texaco
PA - Glen Morgan, J - Donald Floyd
From 1946 until 1955 Floyd Williams Sr. worked as a pipe fitter at the Port Arthur Texaco refinery. Five decades later he died of lung cancer. Williams' descendants claim their father was negligently exposed to asbestos during those nine years and are suing his former employer. Shelby and Floyd Williams Jr., along with several other beneficiaries, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Chevron U.S.A. and Texaco Inc. Medical documents attached to the suit state Williams "had a heavy cigarette-smoking history estimated at 80 pack-years�to greater than 100 pack-years."
Case No. E179-694

Herman Barber et al vs. Daimler Chrysler Corp. et al
PA � Kip Lamb, J - Donald Floyd
Firefighter Herman Barber says having to buckle up has done him more harm than good, claiming the "strain" of repeatedly putting on his seatbelt has caused him physical impairment, mental anguish and the loss of enjoyment of life. Barber and his wife Sueleeka filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Daimler Chrysler Corp., Cerbus Capital Management and the city of Beaumont, alleging a seatbelt defect in the 1996 Dodge Ram Barber was assigned to drive led to his injury.
Case No. E179-695

J. Frances Strother vs. Shell Oil et al
PA � Darren Brown, J � Milton Shuffield
For nearly 40 years Paul Strother worked at a B.F. Goodrich Co. laboratory as a technician. 23 years after he retired, Strother died of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Blaming his benefactor's death on "needless benzene exposure," J. Frances Strother is suing Shell Oil and 24 other major chemical companies. Paul's benefactor is suing for his physical pain, mental anguish, medical expenses, loss of consortium, physical impairment, disfigurement, punitive damage and funeral expenses.
Case No. D179-696

Robert Snowden vs. A.O Smith Corp. et al
PA � Brian Blevins, J � Gary Sanderson
Provost Umphrey attorney Brian Blevins is no stranger to the Jefferson County courthouse, filing his third asbestos lawsuit in two weeks while trying an asbestos case in Judge Gary Sanderson's 60th Judicial Court. Robert E. Snowden, an engineer by trade, sued several companies and received a claim for his non-malignant asbestos-related disease. Now he seeks compensation for a "different asbestos-related injury." Snowden smoked a pack of cigarettes a day for 35 years. Snowden is suing the A.O. Smith Corp., along with 68 other major corporations, for distributing products containing asbestos throughout Jefferson County. This is the third suit of its kind to be filed in the past two weeks. Provost Umphrey is best known for organizing asbestos and benzene class-action lawsuits against chemical refineries.
Case No. B179-697

July 23
Ronal and Kameko Brister vs. National Lloyds Insurance Co.
PA � Steve Mostyn, J � Milton Shuffield
A Beaumont couple, whose home was damaged when Hurricane Rita struck the Golden Triangle area, is suing their insurance provider and two of its adjusters for denying their property damage claim. After Rita hit, the couple filed a property damage claim for roof, water, wind and structural damage with National. The insurance company sent adjusters Tuley and Babb who denied the Bristers' claim.
Case No. D179-699

Louie and Ophelia Fittz vs. American Optical Corp. et al
PA � Paul Henderson, J � Bob Wortham
Between the years of 1964 to 1985 Louie Fittz claims he worked at several area refineries. Now residing in Deweyville Texas, Fittz says he was recently diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and is suing the American Optical Corp., along with 15 other companies, for "negligently exposing him to asbestos," while "fraudulently concealing" the mineral's latent dangers. The suit says on Jan. 3, 2007, Fittz learned that he had contracted a "malignant asbestos-related disease." The suit, however, does not specify the nature of his disease.
Case No. A179-700

July 24
Eloise Gorman vs. Allstate Texas Lloyd's et al.
PA � Mark Sparks, J � Bob Wortham
Eloise Gorman thought she was in "good hands" by insuring her home through Allstate. However, "to date, her home remains uninhabitable," and Allstate is still adamantly refusing to pay Gorman's Hurricane Rita property damage claim. Gorman filed a deceptive trade practices suit against Allstate Texas Lloyd's and several of its claim adjusters. Gorman's home sustained heavy damage during the storm. Tears in her roof caused water to leak into her home, resulting in "substantial mold contamination. After the storm resided, Gorman submitted a claim under her policy. Allstate sent "numerous" adjusters to the claim, all of whom "continue to engage in delay tactics to avoid paying (Gorman's) claim."
Case No. A179-707

Marilyn Renfro vs. The Kroger Co. et al
PA � AdamTerrell, J � Milton Shuffield
Exactly two years ago, Marilyn Kaye Renfro paid a visit to the Dowlen Kroger, where she claims she slipped and fell because a Kroger manager allowed a "slip hazard to remain on the floor without any barricade or warning." Through attorney Adam Terrell, Renfro filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Kroger Co. and store manager Brenda Mills. The suit does not describe the slip hazard in detail, but does say that Renfro can no longer perform her household duties for "the balance of her natural life." She is suing for her physical impairment and loss of earning capacity and inability to attend to "the needs of herself and her family," the suit said.
Case No. D179-710

July 25
Larry and Gaye Pohlmeyer vs. J. Allen Management Co. et al
PA � Jason Gibson, J � Gary Sanderson
Crushed by a three-story staircase while conducting a criminal investigation in June, Harris County Deputy Sheriff Larry Pohlmeyer blamed his injuries on the apartment owner and a wrecker service and filed suit. The officer was pursuing the driver of a stolen SUV who slammed into the Haverstock Hills Apartments. The suspect fled and police called in a Humble Wrecker Service to remove the vehicle. Investigating the scene while the wreckers worked, the staircase collapsed, pinning Pohlmeyer under the metal structure. Although the incident occurred in Harris County, Houston attorney Jason Gibson filed a personal injury lawsuit on the behalf of Larry and Gayle Pohlmeyer against J. Allen Management Co. and Humble Wrecker with the Jefferson County District Court on July 25.
Case No. B179-712