BEAUMONT - In what might be seen as an emerging pattern, attorney Layne Walker has filed suit against another former employer.
Seeking more than $1 million in damages, Walker, the former judge of the 252nd District Court, brought the suit against The Provost Umphrey Law Firm on June 12 in Jefferson County District Court.
In 2014, Walker, who was mired in controversy and facing several lawsuits at the time, left the bench to go work for Valero as a tax attorney.
A year later, Walker filed suit against Valero, seeking to extract more than $6 million in damages from the oil giant. Walker was already working for Provost Umphrey when he filed the suit.
According to Walker’s current lawsuit against PU, he and the firm entered into an employment agreement on Jan. 26, 2015, setting “forth a very complicated compensation and bonus plan” for him as a non-equity partner.
After two months at the firm, Walker says was approached by former PU equity partner Paul “Chip” Ferguson, who told him “I have a case that’s right in your wheelhouse,” explaining that a whistleblower was claiming that Talisman Energy was chopping royalty owner payments by 20 percent.
Walker says he was told to go sign up Talisman clients for the firm – a task he claims yielded “very successful” results.
“Walker was very successful in his efforts to sign new Talisman clients,” the suit states. “From October 2015 to October 2017, Walker focused solely on this project, driving thousands of miles per month to meet with new and existing clients and potential witnesses, and even opened a Provost Umphrey office in San Antonio to facilitate this effort.
“Unfortunately, Walker’s success was met with Provost Umphrey greed.”
After he moved back to Beaumont in October 2017, Walker claims the firm excluded him from working on the cases and kept him in the dark, refusing to tell him the number of Talisman cases that originated from his efforts.
“Thereafter, Walker was terminated by Provost Umphrey with a promise of a separation agreement, which never materialized or was executed,” the suit states. “Provost Umphrey terminated Walker to reduce his interest in the Walker originated cases, and now forces Walker to file this lawsuit because Provost Umphrey will not give Walker any information about his cases and interests.”
Walker is seeking an injunction against the firm because he “is concerned Provost Umphrey may change, alter or destroy documents” related to the Talisman/Statoil cases he brought to the firm.
He is accusing PU of fraud and conversion.
“Walker owned, possessed, or had an interest in the Walker originated cases, but Provost Umphrey wrongfully exercised dominion…,” the suit states. “Upon information and belief, Provost Umphrey converted substantial Walker originated case fees that were rightfully owned by and owing and due to Walker.”
Because the firm allegedly acted with deliberate disregard for his wellbeing, Walker claims he is entitled to punitive damages.
Brent Coon, who is also a former PU attorney, represents him. Robert Schwartz, a Brent Coon & Associates attorney, also represents Walker.
Case No. A-205855