A Record of Successful Verdicts and Settlements
When you are hurt and you choose a law firm to represent you in court or at the negotiation table, you need to carefully consider the firm's record. Is the firm experienced in handling cases like yours? Does the firm have a winning record of getting clients the compensation they deserve?
Below is a sampling of the settlements and verdicts that Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend has achieved for clients injured in truck wrecks, car collisions, workplace accidents, due to medical malpractice and in other personal injury accidents. We also have a successful history in representing clients in business litigation cases.
To learn more about how we can help with your case, contact our Texas personal injury lawyers online or call 713-222-7211 (toll free 800-870-9584).
Automotive Defects - Hurricane Rita Bus Fire - $88M Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Randall Sorrels successfully obtained a settlement against several defendants as a result of a bus fire during the Hurricane Rita evacuation that resulted in 23 fatalities. Several elderly patients from a nursing home in Bellaire, Texas were being transported in an MCI Model EL3 bus when heat generated in the right rear tag axle caused the tire to catch on fire. Smoke from the fire quickly engulfed the cabin of the bus, hindering rescue efforts. Mr. Sorrels was appointed to the Plaintiff Liaison/Steering Committee where he, along with Mr. Aziz, represented the families of two of the deceased as well as four of the injured victims. After years of litigation and reviewing several hundred thousand documents and more than 200 depositions, the Plaintiff's Steering Committee was able to reach settlements totaling $80 million for the families of the victims of this tragedy.
Falls - Inadequate Protection Equipment - $22.7 Million Jury Verdict
Firm attorney Brant J. Stogner obtained a $22,707,000 jury verdict in Harris County for a client that fell over 20 feet at a construction site. Santiago Arias was rendered quadriplegic as result of the fall that fractured his C-3 vertebra. Mr. Arias, married father of three, was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life with limited use of his right hand. At trial against Mr. Arias' non-subscribing employer, Degar Fuel Systems, Inc., the firm was able to prove that Mr. Arias and the other workers were not provided fall protection equipment or safety training, in violation of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. The jury awarded damages for future medical care, pain and suffering, physical impairment, disfigurement and loss of earnings. This verdict was largest verdict in Texas in 2009 for workplace safety, according to Verdict Search's Top Texas Verdicts of 2009.
Bus Crashes - Overturned Bus - $10,800,052 Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Benny Agosto, Jr. successfully represented several victims and their families who were involved in a bus crash in Victoria, Texas. The bus was on its way to Monterrey, Mexico when the driver lost control of the bus, causing it to overturn. One person died, and dozens of others suffered injuries ranging from amputated limbs to degloving injuries as a result of the incident. In addition to exposing the negligence of the driver and his employer, an investigation completed by our lawyers revealed defendants' concerted efforts to bypass state and federal laws regulating the inspection and registration of imported buses. As a result, Mr. Aziz, who took a lead role on the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, was able to reach settlements with the defendants on behalf of the victims of this bus crash.
18-Wheeler Wrecks - Compact Car Side-Swiped by 18-Wheeler - $5 Million Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Randall Sorrels successfully represented a family that was hit by an 18-wheeler when the truck drove into their lane. The driver and her mother suffered severe and disabling injuries, while two minor children suffered minor injuries as a result of the collision. The events causing the collision were severely contested throughout the litigation, as the defendant took the position that the truck driver was driving safely and had the right of way, while Abraham Watkins argued that the truck driver's employers were negligent in hiring and training him. Using a team of highly qualified experts and a meticulous work ethic, the attorneys were able to reach a settlement that adequately compensated all the injured parties.
Fraternity Hazing Alcohol-Related Death - $4.2 Million Settlement
Our personal injury attorneys were able to reach a settlement with numerous individual fraternity members and leaders, as well as the national fraternity with respect to the death of a young pledge. During a crossing over ceremony which marked the end of the pledge period, our clients' son was encouraged to drink multiple bottles of liquor to the point of becoming unconscious with alcohol poisoning. Instead of rendering aid to the pledge, his fraternity brothers defaced his body from head to toe with permanent marker and left him to die. Our attorneys assisted in the production of and also sponsored an educational video on the dangers of hazing which is now utilized in universities and colleges across the nation.
Falls - Construction Worker Falls into Elevator Shaft - $3.7 Million Jury Verdict
Firm partner Daniel Horowitz obtained a jury verdict on behalf on a construction worker who fell 14 feet into an elevator shaft because a sub-contractor had removed the safety rails and then failed to put them up properly. Prior to the jury verdict, the defendant's highest offer was $100,000 while the client's medical bills exceeded $160,000. During the course of the litigation, it became clear that the defendant was attempting to shift all of the responsibility to the injured victim and refused to accept any fault at all. After the insulting offer, Mr. Horowitz continued to prepare the case for trial and successfully showed the jury the real impact the defendant's behavior made on the family.
Bad Faith Insurance - Violations of the Texas Insurance Code - $1,750,000 Settlement
Firm attorney Brant J. Stogner represented a business that was damaged by Hurricane Rita for insurance bad faith and violations of the Texas Insurance Code. Following the damage caused by the storm, this business owner filed his insurance claim with his insurance agent and his insurance company for property damages to his store and the furniture inventory on the showroom floor. The insurance company did not respond to the claim and the insurance agent represented to the business owner that the damages were not covered under the policy. Despite the insurance limits being only $500,000, the firm was able to file suit against the insurance company and the insurance agent, show that coverage was afforded for the Hurricane damages, and ultimately obtain a settlement of over three times the insurance limits ($1.75 Million).
Workplace Injuries - Non-Subscriber Fatality - $1,079,125 Jury Verdict
Firm partner Benny Agosto and firm attorney Jay Jackson obtained a $1,079,125 jury verdict on November 19, 2008 in Harris County Probate Court Number 2. In the case, the 21-year-old husband of the firm's client was an employee of a waste company which did not subscribe to workers' compensation insurance. A garbage truck was backing up rapidly without a spotter or a back-up camera as the young man was running to get a trash can from a residence. It backed over him and inflicted serious wounds. He was pronounced dead within the hour at a local hospital. Months after his death, his daughter was born. The jury awarded damages for the client, the child, and the father of the deceased. The defense attempted to offer evidence that the decedent was an undocumented worker; the trial court sustained the firm's objection to that evidence, and that decision was later affirmed on appeal.
18-Wheeler Wrecks - 18-Wheeler Stops in Lane of Traffic Causing Collision - $1,018,126 Settlement
Firm partner Muhammad Aziz successfully obtained a seven figure settlement for a husband and wife against a truck driver and his trucking company. The truck driver stopped his tractor- trailer in the middle of lanes of traffic on a highway during dense fog, causing the wife to collide with the rear of the tractor-trailer. Mr. Aziz, a skilled attorney in taking depositions, was able to use the driver's own testimony to show his negligence in driving during through intense fog for purely economic reasons. Mr. Aziz was also able to masterfully portray the negligent hiring, supervision and training of the trucking company. As a result, Mr. Aziz was able to obtain a settlement after taking only two depositions and without the need to retain any experts.
Motorcycle Crashes - Motorcycle Collision - $1 Million Settlement
Firm partner Muhammad Aziz successfully obtained a settlement for a husband and wife after the husband's motorcycle struck the side of a van that had failed to yield to the right of way. The husband lost consciousness as a result of the collision and suffered lacerations to his head and legs, including a left patella fracture, and his medical bills approached $160,000. After the collision, the defendant attempted to avoid responsibility and shift the blame to the injured victim. During the investigation, Mr. Aziz was able to review the van driver's cell phone records and determine that he had been awake most of the previous night and not properly rested at the time of the incident. As a result, Mr. Aziz was able to reach a settlement on behalf of the family.
"Motorcycle Rider Struck by 18-Wheeler" - $510,000 Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Randall Sorrels successfully represented the family of a motorcycle rider who was run over by the wheels of a tractor-trailer. The rider struck a curb after he was forced to take evasive action when the tractor-trailer made an unsafe lane change and fell off his bike. Though the defendants attempted to shift blame onto the rider, Mr. Aziz was able to masterfully show the negligence of the tractor-trailer driver as well as the company's negligent entrustment of the tractor-trailer. As a result, Mr. Aziz was able to obtain a six-figure settlement on behalf of the family.
Breach of Contract - 700 Lawyer Firm Ordered to Pay Recruiting Fees - $461,925.30 Verdict
Firm partner Muhammad Aziz obtained a verdict on behalf of a recruiting firm that was not compensated for its role in the transfer of ten attorneys from one firm to another. The recruiting firm had placed the defendant in contact with the potential transferees but was later told by the defendant that it was no longer interested in that group of attorneys. Shortly after this discussion the defendant announced that it hired ten attorneys from the group represented by the recruiting firm. Mr. Aziz successfully argued that both the law and evidence showed that the defendant utilized the recruiting firm's efforts to hire the clients it introduced to defendant. The judge found that despite a lack of a written contract, the recruiting firm was entitled to recovery under an equitable theory in Texas law called Quantum Meruit. The verdict was affirmed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rear-End Collisions - Driver's Insurance Carrier Ordered to Pay Underinsured Benefits - $84,345 Jury Verdict
Firm partner Muhammad Aziz obtained a jury verdict on behalf of a driver involved in a rear-end collision. The party that rear-ended the driver did not have sufficient insurance to pay for the damages suffered by the driver, so the driver's own insurance carrier became liable for underinsured motorist benefits. The defendant refused to acknowledge that the collision caused any injuries to the driver. Although the driver suffered from a preexisting degenerative disc disease in his back, Mr. Aziz was able to artfully impress upon the jury the fact that the collision aggravated the driver's condition. While the driver's medical bills were only $2,445, the jury returned a verdict over 40 times that amount.
Power Line Injuries - Roofer Rendered Double Amputee After Electrocution - Confidential Settlement
Firm partner Daniel Horowitz obtained a confidential seven figure settlement for a construction worker and his family as a result of the worker's arms being amputated. The worker came in contact with a high voltage overhead power line while performing roofing work on a residential construction project. Following an extensive investigation, prior to filing the lawsuit, it was clear that the home builder improperly built the home into the overhead aerial easement in violation of building codes and industry standards. As a result, Mr. Horowitz was able to reach the settlement on behalf of the family without the need to take any depositions of the defendant's employees.
Failure to Monitor Patient - After Fall Patient Rendered Quadriplegic - Confidential Settlement Reached
The firm's medical malpractice lawyers achieved a settlement in an amount necessary to care for our 67-year-¬old client who was allowed to walk and stand unassisted for approximately 45 minutes after being put under general anesthesia used during a prostate biopsy. While standing unassisted and still impacted by the effects of the narcotics, he fell hitting his head and ultimately becoming a quadriplegic. The settlement included both a lump sum and future annuity payments to provide for the increase in cost of his care throughout our client's lifetime.
Breach of Contract - Broker Finally Paid The Commission It Earned - Confidential Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Randall Sorrels successfully represented a broker in an oil rig purchase deal for Chinese manufactures rigs for nonpayment of commissions. The parties entered into an agreement wherein the commission would be paid in two installments, but no commission was ever paid. During the course of litigation, it became clear that defendant was attempting to shift the blame to the broker and claim it was the broker that breached the contract. Determined that his client was the real victim, Mr. Aziz was able to obtain a settlement on the eve of trial and force the defendant to pay the broker its rightful compensation.
Automotive Defects - Defective Automobile Recall Work Performed - Confidential Settlement
Firm partners Nick Nichols and Daniel Horowitz successfully obtained a confidential seven figure settlement against an automobile dealer and the manufacturer following the death of a young lady whose car was not properly repaired when she took it in for a safety recall. During the investigation, the attorneys were able to determine that the dealership never performed the recall work even though they provided the customer with a receipt showing they did and were paid for the work by the manufacturer. With a team of highly qualified experts and detailed oriented work ethic, the attorneys were able to provide the family with an answer of really happened to their loved one.
18-Wheeler Wrecks - 18-Wheeler Head-On Collision - Confidential Settlement
Firm partners Nick Nichols and Daniel Horowitz successfully represented the family of a father and son who were hit head on by an 18-wheeler while on their annual trip to the deer lease. The truck driver passed out on the interstate during broad daylight and drove his 80,000 pound semi across the median and into oncoming traffic. Two people were killed in the crash and there were several other serious injuries. The investigation completed by our lawyers revealed that the truck driver had been taking very powerful narcotics and hiding the prescriptions from his employer. After the crash, the trucking company tried to cover up the medical evidence, but our team of experts was able to track down the information. The company did not have enough insurance to adequately compensate all the injured parties, but Abraham Watkins was able to force the company itself to may a confidential seven figure settlement out of its own pocket.
Single-Vehicle Crashes - Single Vehicle Rollover - Confidential Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Randall Sorrels. Sorrels obtained a confidential settlement for a mother and her family against a major automobile manufacturer after the mother lost control of her SUV and rolled over. As a result of the rollover, the roof of the SUV collapsed, injuring the mother's neck and resulting in quadriplegia. Working with a team of highly qualified experts, Mr. Aziz argued that the vehicle lacked electronic stability control and inadequate roof strength to properly protect a driver in the event of a foreseeable rollover. As a result, Mr. Aziz was able to reach a settlement on behalf of the family without the need of a long and drawn out trial.
"Woman Falls Off Segway" - Confidential Settlement
Firm partners Muhammad Aziz and Nick Nichols effectively represented a husband and wife after the wife fell off a Segway personal transport while on a tour of Austin, Texas. The woman was touring the city with her family when she fell off the Segway several times. The tour guide repeatedly placed the woman back onto the Segway, even though it was apparent she was having difficulty. On the last fall, she suffered severe head injuries and brain damage. In addition to exposing the negligence of the tour guide, who disappeared immediately after the incident, an investigation led by Mr. Aziz revealed that Defendant had no release signed by the woman. Mr. Aziz was able to reach a settlement on behalf of the family after skillfully articulating how a missing release, coupled with a "phantom" negligent tour guide, would play well for the injured woman in front of a jury.
"Underpayment of Hurricane Ike Claim" - Confidential Settlement
Firm partner Muhammad Aziz successfully obtained a settlement against several insurance companies as a result of the underpayment of a Hurricane Ike claim. During the Hurricane, the commercial building suffered severe wind damage to the roof, walls, and foundation. The building's owner was forced to make stop-gap repairs to limit water intrusion into the building in an effort to mitigate damages while waiting for the defendants to pay the claim. During the course of litigation, it became clear that the defendants breached the insurance contract and violated several chapters of the Texas Insurance Code. Using a team of highly qualified experts and a meticulous work ethic in reviewing several thousand documents, Mr. Aziz was able to obtain a settlement and make the defendants pay the property owner its rightful compensation.
