Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz's Blog

The family of Linda "Michellita" Rogers recently settled a lawsuit filed against Atomos Energy Corporation. The subject of the family's suit was a natural gas explosion that occurred in their home resulting in the death of their 12-year-old daughter, Linda Rodgers. The explosion, which occurred on February 23, 2018, was likely the result of a gas leak in the family's home. Linda was up early that morning, getting ready for a cheerleading competition she was to participate in later that day. Linda filmed herself as she prepared and can be seen fixing her hair until the screen fills with fiery sparks, and then goes dark. Linda was found under her dresser drawers by her parents and rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

A North Texas physician was recently sentenced to twenty years in prison in connection with the death of seven patients from 2012 to 2017. Pain management doctor, Howard Gregg Diamond, is the former principal physician at the Diamondback Pain & Wellness Center in Sherman, Texas. In July 2017, Diamond was indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities found evidence that Diamond had written countless prescriptions for addictive opioid medications without a legitimate medical purpose since 2010. In July 2014, Diamond distributed or dispensed morphine, oxycodone, alprazolam, and zolpidem to a patient that resulted in the patient's death just ten days after the medications were prescribed. Law enforcement authorities also linked six other overdose related deaths to prescriptions written by Diamond between 2010 and 2017. The overdose deaths occurred in several cities in both Texas and Oklahoma.

On February 18, 2019, the driver of an 18-wheeler that was carrying gravel on 359 West lost its entire load, covering the highway in gravel. The gravel spill resulted in an accident that the 18-wheeler was not even involved in, which left four injured and two dead.

Russell McElyea is suing Atmos Energy Corporation after being severely burned when his friend's home exploded due to a gas leak. On May 14, 2017, Mr. McElyea was visiting his friend Raul Pedroza at his home in Stephenville, Texas. Mr. Pedroza was preparing lunch when he lit his stove, causing the house to explode in a gaseous fireball. McElyea managed to grab Pedroza and drag him out the front door just before an additional explosion occurred in the home. McElyea suffered burns to his face and arms and even went into a coma shortly after the incident. Pedroza sustained serious burns to more than 70 percent of his body, eventually succumbing to his wounds. According to the lawsuit, Atmos failed to properly warn Pedroza and himself of the dangers associated with gas leaks.