Hess Corp. subsidiary Honx Inc. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization Thursday in Houston federal court, citing asbestos claims brought by contractors and employees at a former oil refinery in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
American Airlines Flight Attendant Gets Day in Court
A jury trial that began Monday in Fort Worth state court will determine whether American Airlines will be held liable for an alleged sexual assault that one of its longtime flight attendants said was encouraged by airline executives. The night in question involves British celebrity chef Mark Sargeant. Natalie Posgate has the details.
Sunoco Wins Defense Verdict in Dallas County
A jury trial in Dallas County concluded Wednesday with a take-nothing verdict in favor of a Sunoco affiliate.
K&L Gates Hires IP Partner in Houston
Collin Rose has joined the Houston office of K&L Gates, the firm announced Monday. Rose, who joins from Chamberlain Hrdlicka, was chair of his prior firm’s intellectual property practice group.
Judge Preserves Bulk of False Claims Case Against Afghan War Defense Contractor
The ruling in the Southern District of Texas paves the way for a group of qui tam whistleblowers to continue alleging that a Dallas-based defense contractor billed the government more than $100 million for military support in Afghanistan that it did not actually provide.
AZA’s Name Shortens with Departure of Two Name Partners
Two name partners have departed Houston litigation boutique AZA, The Texas Lawbook has learned. Firm leaders declined to comment on why.
Toyota Settles EDTX Lawsuit with Hybrid Vehicle Owners
Toyota and a proposed class of hybrid-vehicle owners have settled a class action lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas. The case had originally been set for trial this July before the court ordered mediation for the parties.
Jury Awards Port of Houston $22M in Equipment Damage Case
A Houston federal jury found Friday that French agricultural merchant Louis Dreyfus Co. breached a contract with the Port of Houston Authority when it returned a damaged grain elevator and other equipment it had leased to handle its Houston-based exports.
BMC-IBM Trial Closes with a Menu of Damages Options
Lawyers in a showdown between BMC Software and IBM concluded Thursday their cases with hundreds of millions of dollars in potential damages for presiding judge Gray Miller to ponder over whether IBM committed fraud. Natalie Posgate was in the courtroom for closing arguments.
AZA Associate Sets Precedent in Fifth Circuit for Sexual Harassment Victims
Kelsi Stayart White set new precedent as an associate with the Houston-based AZA firm in the Fifth Circuit when a three-judge panel this month found for her client, a former Houston female firefighter. The unanimous holding broadens sexual harassment protection in part by allowing her complaint to proceed after she discovered an intimate video taken from her laptop had been circulating among her firehouse colleagues for nine years.