Blanca Monica Villareal, accused in a civil suit of faking her husband’s death in Mexico City to swindle insurers Transamerica and Prudential, claimed that she knew nothing about his finances. Testifying in Spanish, she told Houston jurors she couldn’t read the insurance policies and didn’t know what they were when she found them, because they were in English.
Mikal Watts Grills Investigator Who Concluded $26M Life-Insurance Claim Was for Mexico City Man Still Alive
If a Mexico City businessman faked his death in 2016 to steal $26 million from two U.S. life-insurance giants, he’s done a remarkable job of lying low since, the lawyer
Investigator to Jury in $26M Life-Insurance Case: Two People Identified the Insured as Alive More than a Year After His ‘Death’
A private investigator testified Wednesday that two people at a Mexico City office where he was searching for the supposedly dead Eduardo Rosendi, flashing Rosendi’s photo, told him the man in the photo worked there as an accountant – and one had seen him earlier that day. The investigator was a critical witness in the third day of a federal trial in which a $26 million insurance payout is in the balance – if Rosendi is not dead. But Mikal C. Watts, the beneficiary’s attorney, should get his chance at cross-examination Thursday.
$26M Insurance Claim: Fraud ‘So Obvious,’ or Investigation Not ‘Indisputable’
The plaintiff’s attorney, Mikal C. Watts, on cross-examination of the insurers’ lead witness, attacked his investigator’s thoroughness and his conclusions as hardly indisputable.
Two Laredo Doctors, Three Dallas-area Labs Accused of $300M Kickback Scheme
A federal indictment in Fort Worth charges 10 people with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Investigators say the labs bribed doctors to order needless tests, which were billed to Medicare and other federal health-insurance programs.
Longtime Colleagues Form Heard Merman, a Houston Plaintiffs’ Firm
Denman Heard and Derek Merman have worked side by side on cases across the country. Their new firm, they say, will specialize in catastrophic personal-injury claims.
Paralyzed Airport Worker’s Family Accepts Houston Judge’s Suggested Reduction of $352.7M Judgment
Randy Sorrels, the lawyer for Ulysses Cruz, his wife, and their 2 children, said they’ll consent to the $117.5 million remittitur – but will seek the full jury verdict if the other side appeals.
$15M Investment Fraud Lands Dallas Con Man 17½ Years in Prison
In sentencing 69-year-old Rudy Avila, Chief U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn read the names of his 417 victims and the amount each lost to him.
Ex-Client Sues Slack Davis Sanger for ‘Grossly Inadequate Representation’ in Deadly Air Crash
The longtime girlfriend of a rich Houstonian who died with 4 others when his helicopter crashed claims she doesn’t owe her former lawyers any part of a multimillion-dollar settlement.
‘I Will Be Putting Someone in Jail,’ Dallas Judge Warns Bickering Lawyers in Volatile Civil Suit
Judge Ashley Wysocki defers ruling on sanctions motion in assault case against former NFL player, but cautions lawyers on both sides that personal attacks must cease.