An Update from Our Firm about COVID-19
Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner remains fully operational and committed to serving our clients and colleagues throughout the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As we follow the CDC guidelines and practice social distancing, we remain available for phone consultations and remote meetings with both current and prospective clients and colleagues. Please contact our office by email or by calling 713-222-7211 with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you.
For many of us, the coronavirus has interrupted our daily activities and is affecting our ability to work. The law firm of Abraham Watkins remains open and working hard to represent our clients. However, many of us are working from home in order to stay safe and healthy. We suggest you do the same.
Unfortunately for Texas, 2020 has already proven to be no different with drunk drivers continuing to cause accidents, injuries, and deaths.
The Food and Drug Administration, or "FDA," is cautioning consumers against the use of COVID-19 tests designated for use at home. The FDA states that it has not authorized any form of COVID-19 diagnostic tests for at-home use, nor has it endorsed any prevention or treatment claims made by U.S. companies. Further, the FDA has actively prohibited many companies from marketing their at-home test kits in an effort to safeguard the public, including Austin, Texas' Everlywell, and San Francisco, California's Nurx.
On July 3, 2019, Juanita Edwards, then 84-years-old, went outside to get her newspaper. After she went back inside her home, it exploded. Natural gas that had been seeping out of a defective line and into the ground beneath her home had found an ignition source. According to the wrongful death lawsuit filed against New Mexico Gas Co., "Decedent's home erupted in an explosion while she was inside."
Although the increase of social media and reality television make it look easy, getting plastic surgery is not something to decide on a whim. Plastic surgery involves a variety of procedures designed to help people achieve their desired bodies. However, plastic surgery also focuses on practical function. Patients who have birth defects, deformities, injuries, scars, or burns can benefit from a variety of plastic and cosmetic surgery options. Common plastic surgery procedures include scar revision surgery, burn repair surgery, breast reconstruction, lower extremity reconstruction, congenital defect repair, and hand surgery. It is important to ask the right questions when considering surgery because with these procedures comes the risk of complications. In fact, some procedures can even result in fatal injuries to patients.
On March 24, 2020, the FDA issued a warning alerting patients, caregivers, and health professionals that the auto-injectors in the EpiPen 0.3mg and the EpiPen Jr. 0.15mg, and the authorized generic versions, may have injection problems that can cause serious injury or death due to delayed treatment.
As consumers, we operate under the assumption that the products we purchase are safe. Unfortunately, that is not always true.
If a product defect has caused you or a loved one injury, property damage or death, then you know this all too well. So, what are your legal options for seeking recompense?
Ford recently issued a safety recall for approximately 250,000 vehicles in the United States to address defective door latches. The affected vehicles are the 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta, 2014-2016 Ford Fusion, and 2014-2016 Lincoln MKZ. Ford says the vehicles have door latch designs that can crack and fail, especially in areas with high ambient temperatures, including Texas. Cars in the following states are affected by the door latch recall: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
On March 2, 2020, a resident of Humble filed a complaint in the Harris County District Court against Bender Square Partners, Lopez Venture Group LLC doing business as Shamrock's Pub, its bouncer Salomon Wyatt, and others. The man alleges assault and battery, negligence, and premises liability against the defendants, among other causes of action.
On March 3, 2020 a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a 14-year-old girl with developmental disabilities alleging that she was sexually abused and raped over the course of several consecutive days on her school bus. This tragic event occurred approximately one year ago in Fulton County, Georgia where it is alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse and rape only three to four rows behind the driver of a small special-needs school bus. According to the lawsuit, the girl underwent several days of repeated abuse before the driver reportedly "noticed something" occurring on the bus.
The firm successfully represented nearly 100 victims who suffered personal injuries and damages to property from a large fire and explosion resulting in a settlement of more than $50 million. The firm served as lead lawyers on the steering committee in this litigation.
The firm successfully represented 270 plaintiffs, taking a lead role in the plaintiffs’ steering committee, who suffered injuries in a large plant explosion resulting in a settlement of nearly $80 million.
The firm successfully represented 45 personal injury victims in a plant fire and explosion, serving on the plaintiffs steering committee, concluding with a settlement of more than $50 million.
The firm prevailed in a personal injury trial for a worksite injury client with the jury returning a verdict and resulting in a judgment of over $22 million for the firm’s client.
The firm successfully achieved a $12 million settlement for the family of a man who died in an 18 wheeler collision.
The firm prevailed on behalf of three burn victims with settlements totaling nearly $30 million.
