DALLAS – Reality TV star Camille Grammer won a real-life verdict Wednesday against the ex-boyfriend she says assaulted her in 2013. A federal jury ruled in a civil case that former corporate lawyer Dimitri Charalambopoulos had, in fact, attacked her in Houston at the Hotel ZaZa, and that she had not defamed him by reporting that he had. Natalie Posgate was in the courtroom.
Baker Hughes and Bracewell Fend Off A Patent Challenge
Eleven years ago, Baker Hughes hired an innovation firm to design for them a motor-based safety valve for use in their wells. Once the valve was developed, one of the designers claimed the patent as his own. In-house patent attorney Anthony Matheny and a team from Bracewell used a lot of law and a good deal of finesse to fend off the claim. Now Baker Hughes, Matheny and the Bracewell attorneys are finalists for Business Litigation of the Year in the 2019 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards.
Grammer Defamation Trial Pits Real Housewife vs. ‘Real Life’
The legal battle stems from an October 2013 incident in which Camille Grammer alleges her ex-boyfriend assaulted her in a Houston hotel room after they got in an argument. The defamation trial is U.S. District Judge Karen Gren Scholer’s second jury trial since joining the bench last year. Natalie Posgate is in the courtroom.
Houston Judge Orders Ex Execs to Pay Superior Energy $72M in Global Kickback Saga
A state district judge in Harris County has ordered two former executives of a Superior Energy subsidiary to pay $72 million, after a jury ruled in December that they committed fraud, breached their fiduciary duties and misappropriated trade secrets against their former company. Natalie Posgate reports.
Richard Rosenberg: GC of U.S. Zinc and Public Service Champion
In 2015, when Richard Rosenberg became board president of the 65-year-old Center in Houston, the nonprofit was a mess. It had no cash reserves, a $6 million debt and its deteriorated campuses had been badly punished by Hurricane Harvey. Flash forward the loan is paid, the campuses are flourishing and Rosenberg, GC of Houston’s U.S. Zinc, is sole finalist and worthy winner in the Public Service category of the 2019 Corporate Counsel Awards.
Shell’s Kevin Feeney and T&K’s $200M Arbitration Win
One of Kevin Feeney’s first issues when he became Shell Oil senior counsel of upstream litigation was a $200 million arbitration. After a 250,000 document dump and a 17-day hearing, Shell walked away with a take-nothing judgment in their favor. Natalie Posgate profiles the deal, which is a finalist for the 2019 Corporate Counsel Awards Business Litigation of the Year.
Judge Allows Neiman’s Defamation Suit Against Marble Ridge to Continue
A Dallas judge has declined to dismiss a lawsuit by Neiman Marcus that alleges hedge fund Marble Ridge Capital hurt its business by issuing defamatory and false statements about Neiman being in default with its indentures.
Ed Tomko’s Exit Interview: A White Collar Law Expert On Both Sides of the Charge
With the Forest Park Medical Center case now in the hands of the jury, white collar veteran Ed Tomko may have seen his final trial. As a veteran prosecutor and well-regarded defense attorney, Tomko has witnessed much from both sides. He shares his insights in a sit-down with Lawbook litigation writer Natalie Posgate.
Jared Levinthal’s Peachy, Perfectly Pleasant, Potentially Profitable Good Week
After a week of perfect spring weather, a 20-year anniversary and a $15 million coda to a fraud trial that had lasted nearly a fortnight, Houston lawyer Jared Levinthal was ready to celebrate a very, very good week.
K&L Gates Wins Defense Verdict for Range Resources, Breaks 21-Year Record
The unanimous verdict does far more than exonerate Range from the $17.5 million that the plaintiff royalty owners had sought. The verdict also marks the first time in 21 years for a producer to win a case tied to Oklahoma’s marketable product rule. Litigation writer Natalie Posgate explains.