On October 27, 2018, a gas explosion occurred in David Passman's home in Austin, Texas. His longtime girlfriend, Nicole Burton, died. Mr. Passman has spent the last year in and out of the hospital; he's had nine surgeries to date and faces many more. Mr. Passman and the estate of Ms. Burton have filed suit against Texas Gas Service.
There is an epidemic on American roads because more people are being killed as a result of drivers running red lights. In 2017 alone, at least 939 people were killed because of a driver who blew through a red light, according to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study. That figure has been increasing since 2012. What this means is that at least two people are killed every day at the hands of drivers running red lights.
The family of a deceased man is suing Lyft after one of its drivers caused his death in a car accident. Accidents, injuries, and deaths caused by the negligence of drivers that work for ridesharing companies such as Uber or Lyft have become quite common. Further, these accidents do not only harm passengers; pedestrians have been hit, people abducted, and valuables stolen. Due to these incidents, Uber and Lyft maintain relatively large liability insurance policies so they have the insurance funds available to compensate those injured or harmed by their drivers.
Women wearing seat belts are significantly more likely to suffer injury than their male counterparts. A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia's Center for Applied Biomechanics shows that belted female auto occupants have 73 % greater odds of being seriously injured in frontal car crashes compared to belted males. The difference in risk is greatest for injury to the lower extremities, but also occurs with several other types of injury.
On August 5, 2019, a Texas resident filed a lawsuit in Harris County Civil Court against Geico County Mutual Insurance Company ("Geico"), alleging breach of contract and bad faith.
The evidence is growing on the dangers of vaping. The New York Times has just reported a second death of a person has occurred due to severe lung illness that developed after vaping. This death occurred in Oregon and the investigation revealed the individual who died apparently became sick after vaping T.H.C. [tetrahydrocannabinol] from a product purchased at a recreational marijuana shop in the state. The lead investigator, Dr. Ann Thomas, "said that the doctor who treated the patient recognized several weeks later that the patient's lung infection was consistent with a syndrome thought to be connected to vaping that has affected more than 200 people around the country this summer, according to federal health officials."
A New York jury awarded $55.9 million to a woman and her spouse in a lawsuit that alleged a spinal surgery left her paralyzed.
According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA), 939 people lost their lives in 2017 from drivers speeding through red lights. That number has continuously increased since 2009. The study also revealed that many Americans admittedly disregard red lights and nearly one in three confessed to running a red light within the thirty day period preceding their interview. The fatalities included drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.
Pedestrians of any age are likely to suffer severe injuries when hit by a vehicle - and that risk goes up with increased speed and increased age. A recent study by the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety confirmed when vehicles strike pedestrians - the results can be devastating. And the speed at which an individual is struck by a vehicle has a lot to do with how likely that individual is to suffer serious or fatal injuries as the result of the collision.
The study also found that age of the pedestrian drastically affects the severity of injuries suffered in a collision. For example, a 70-year old who is struck by a car going 25 mph is as likely to suffer serious injuries or death as a 35-year old who is struck by a car traveling at 35 mph.
Brayden Cooper-Douglas, then 12-years-old, died while riding the Hoosier Hurricane, a roller coaster at Indiana Beach. Shaeley Cooper and Matthew Douglas, Brayden's parents, filed suit against Apex Parks Groups, which owns Indiana Beach, and claimed Indiana Beach had a duty "to use ordinary care and diligence to keep and maintain said premises in a condition reasonably safe for its intended uses and free from all defects and conditions which would render the premises dangerous and unsafe." The lawsuit goes on to claim that "negligence of the defendant was the proximate cause of the fatal injuries."
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.
