As a result of restrctions imposed by Texas Disciplinary Rule of Professional Conduct 7.02, law firms are prohibited from disclosing the gross amounts of verdicts and settlements unless they also disclose the amount actually received by their clients after deducting for reductions on appeal and attorneys' fees and expenses. We consider information regarding amounts actually received by our clients to be privileged and confidential and feel that publicly reporting such information would be a violation of our client's right to privacy. Accordingly, in order comply with applicable ethical rules, we are only able to report the following information regarding cases previously tried by attorneys with our firm. Please keep in mind that all cases are unique and the following results are not intended as a guarantee of future results.
Trials and Verdicts
Huffman v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., (United States District Court—Eastern District of Texas). Suit filed under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) by an injured railroad worker against the railroad. Plaintiff was a railroad conductor who sustained cumulative trauma injuries in both knees as a result of years of getting on and off moving equipment and from walking on railroad ballast. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Powers v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., (United States District Court—Eastern District of Texas). Suit filed under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) by an injured railroad worker against his railroad employer. Plaintiff was a railroad switchman who sustained carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of occupational exposure to ergonomic risk factors while employed by the railroad. The case was settled on the second day of trial.
Guerro v. Flores, (County Court, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of a motor vehicle collision. Plaintiffs were struck from behind when Defendant’s vehicle struck another vehicle and pushed it into Plaintiffs’ vehicle. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiffs.
Yarbrough v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., (District Court, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) by an injured railroad worker. Plaintiff was a track laborer for the Union Pacific Railroad who suffered a bulging disc and rotator cuff injury as a result of cumulative and/or repetitive trauma at work. Plaintiff alleged the Union Pacific failed to adopt and implement proper ergonomic programs to prevent these types of injuries. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Tarrant v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., (United States District Court—Eastern District of Texas). Suit filed under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) by injured railroad worker to recover damages as a result of carpal tunnel syndrome caused by ergonomic risk factors including setting handbrakes and lacing air hoses on railcars. Plaintiff alleged the Union Pacific failed to adopt and implement proper ergonomic programs to prevent these types of injuries. The jury returned a liability verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Willis v. White, (County Court at Law, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed by 18-wheeler driver who was struck by drunk driver. Plaintiff sustained injuries to his neck and back. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff and awarded punitive damages against the Defendant.
Hernandez v. Star Disposal Systems, (County Court at Law, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit resulting from motor vehicle collision. Plaintiffs sustained serious injuries including herniated discs when their vehicle was struck by a commercial garbage truck. At trial Plaintiffs’ asserted that the company was negligent in employing a driver who’s commercial license had been suspended as a result of vision problems. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiffs.
Norwood v. Holmes, (County Court at Law, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed to recover damages sustained as the result of a motor vehicle collision. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Harper v. Derk Harmsen Construction Co., Inc., (District Court, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of injuries sustained on a construction site. Plaintiff was a painter who was injured when he fell from a scaffold on jobsite. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Defendant.
Edwards v. Kansas Fire & Marine Ins. Co., (District Court, Lubbock County, Texas). Personal injury and insurance bad faith claim filed against Plaintiff’s insurance company for failure to pay underinsured motorist claim. Case was settled for policy limits on second day of trial and subsequent claim for extra-contractual damages were settled shortly thereafter.
Smith v. Cavalier Manufacturing Co., (American Arbitration Association). Personal injury claim filed against mobile home manufacturer. Plaintiff severely injured his knee when he stepped on an air conditioning vent that had been carpeted over in a brand new mobile home manufactured by Defendant. Suit was filed in federal court, but as a result of an arbitration provision in the purchase contract, the parties were forced to binding arbitration. The arrbitrator found in favor of Plaintiff.
Ruiz v. Medina, (County Court at Law, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed to recover damages sustained when Plaintiff’s vehicle was struck by a vehicle operated by a drunk driver that had run a red light. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff and awarded punitive damages against the Defendant.
Moores v. Shark Trucking, Inc., (District Court, Harris County, Texas). Malicious prosecution case filed by truck driver against former employer for damages resulting from his false arrest and imprisonment. Plaintiff was arrested as a result of a false police report filed by owners of trucking company, who later admitted on audio tape to a court appointed private investigator that they had falsified the report. Based on the audio tape, the District Attorney dismissed the charges against the Plaintiff who had been in jail five months pending a trial date. Upon release Plaintiff filed a civil suit to recover damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Wimberly v. Buffalo Construction Co., Inc., (District Court, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed by Plaintiff against general contractor of construction site as a result of personal injuries sustained when he was injured by live electrical wires running across the construction site. Plaintiff did not appear or testify at trial; however, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Chavez v. Kellogg Brown & Root, (District Court, Cameron County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of the death of decedent from Mesothelioma as a result of occupational exposure to asbestos while employed by Defendant. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiffs.
Lehr v. Drabek, (County Court at Law, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision allegedly resulting from “road rage” by the Defendant. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Elrod v. Jain, (District Court, Brazoria County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision. Plaintiff claimed she injured both knees when her vehicle was struck from behind by Defendant. Defendant alleged injuries were the result of pre-existing condition resulting from skiing accident several years before. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Logullo v. Ramirez, (District Court, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision resulting from Defendant’s failure to stop at a stop sign. Plaintiff sustained TMJ and tinnitus as a result of the collision. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff.
Martinez v. Ryland Homes, Inc.,et al. (District Court, Harris County, Texas). Personal injury suit filed as a result of injuries sustained on a construction site. Plaintiff suffered severe injuries to his hand when the circular saw he was using kicked back. The safety guard on the saw had been pinned back by the employer to speed up work on the jobsite. Claims against the general contractor were settled prior to trial and the case proceded to trial against the non-subscriber employer. A verdict was returned in favor of Plaintiff.