In December 2018, a Dallas jury returned a $25 million wrongful death verdict against a club in Dallas. In reaching its verdict, the jury found that the club over-served former Dallas Cowboys player Josh Brent, who flipped his Mercedes, killing his friend and teammate Jerry Brown.
Each year, over four million dog attacks take place in the United States. The American Humane Society (AHS) reports that there are approximately 4.7 million dog attacks that take place each year with 800,000 of the attacks requiring medical attention. Half of the attacks are on children and nearly 386,000 of those injured require emergency services. Texas is the leading state in the number of fatal dog attacks. This year alone, there have been five reported deaths in Texas involving a vicious dog attack. Several more attacks resulting in serious injuries have also been reported.
Amidst growing concerns over air travel, Boeing is reportedly negotiating over 100 settlements with the families of victims of two separate crashes of their 737 MAX jetliners. Both 737s went down under similar circumstances within five months of each other: a Lion Air jet flying out of Jakarta, Indonesia in October 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines flight in March 2019. There were no survivors of either crash, as nearly 350 people were killed.
A jury in Dallas recently determined that the seatbelt system in the 2011 Honda Odyssey is defective. The lawsuit claimed that the design of the seatbelt for the third-row middle seat was defective. The seatbelt design was a two-part system that required the rider to anchor the detachable shoulder strap from the ceiling of the van to the seat and then pull the belt across the users hips before it can buckle. Independent testing performed by an expert found that less than 10% of participants successfully operated the Honda Odyssey's two-part seatbelt system.
The fun involved with getting on a boat and participating in other water related recreational activities often causes us to forget that boats are motor vehicles too, and they have the same risks as the operation of car driven on the road. Recently in Mont Belvieu, which is just east of Houston, three men lost their lives while they were aboard a fishing boat when an intoxicated individual crashed a ski boat into them. Tragic incidents like this are a sobering reminder of the hidden dangers that exist as more people go on vacation now that summer is here.
They're popping up everywhere: Rentable electric scooters, sitting on sidewalks and lawns, ready to be rented, ridden, dropped off - and rented again by the next user.
The rental process is typically app-based, were users download the company's app and pay by the minute to use the scooter. In areas where scooters are available, riders can rent and begin riding in a matter of seconds.
On June 14, 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court struck down Kansas' cap on damages for noneconomic damages in personal injury lawsuits on the basis that the cap was unconstitutional. In Kansans, the legislature imposed a limit on the amount noneconomic money damages a jury can award a plaintiff in personal injury cases. Kansas' overturning this cap is hopefully just the first domino toppling over, and soon to be followed by other states seeking to return power to the hands of the people.
Several patients have filed suit against Porter Adventist Hospital and claimed that they went in for surgery, but left with infections. The suit states, "This lawsuit is premised upon allegations of corporate negligence by Defendant Porter and its leadership and staff, resulting in systemic and ongoing infection control breaches at Porter Adventist Hospital from mid-2015 through late 2018."
JPMorgan Chase, the country's largest bank and biggest U.S. credit-card issuer, has reintroduced to over 40 million credit card holders a controversial policy that forces their customers to use arbitration instead of being able to go to court to resolve payment disputes or joining class-action suits. This new clause stipulates that any disputes between consumers and Chase must be brought up before a private arbitrator.
In February of 2017, Timothy Piazza was a student at Penn State and a victim of fraternity hazing. Then 19 years old, Piazza was pledging to join Beta Theta Pi and required to attend a bid acceptance night at the fraternity's house. He consumed large amounts alcohol due to being forced to participate in drinking games and hazing activities.
The Equal Access to Justice Champions Program was started by the Houston Bar Association in 2006, to help ensure placement of Houston Volunteer Lawyers cases with pro bono volunteers. Originally, firms were tiered according to size, and firms within each tier committed to accept a certain number of pro bono cases from HVL each year for five years.
The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 is an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase objective and uniformly applied process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research.
Established in 1993, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum (which includes the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum) is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 4000 members throughout the country. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
In order to earn the Lead Counsel Rating, an attorney must not only demonstrate significant legal experience, but must also receive multiple peer recommendations advocating his or her ability. This is a key component in the screening process.
Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top lawyers in Texas via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. The Texas lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in Texas Super Lawyers Top Lists.
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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.
