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Navy Veteran-Turned Lawyer Takes on VA Policy That Denies Education Benefits

Luke Schamel became an officer in the U.S. Navy to serve his country. Now a Houston associate at Yetter Coleman, Schamel is continuing his public service in a different uniform. He is representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars on a pro bono basis in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that challenges a rule that petitioners say denies veterans the full education benefits that they have earned.

At the center of the case is the VA’s “break-in-service” rule, which petitioners argue improperly requires veterans to have a gap in military service before they can access the full 48 months of education benefits available under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. 

KKR sells CoolIT Systems to Ecolab for $4.75B

Minnesota-based Ecolab has agreed to acquire CoolIT Systems, a Calgary-based provider of liquid cooling technologies for AI and high-performance computing, from investment firm KKR for about $4.75 billion cash.

Kirkland & Ellis advised KKR and CoolIT, while Covington & Burling advised Ecolab.

Dallas Jury Awards $1.1B in Child Assault Case

The three-day trial ended Wednesday, with the jurors deliberating for a day before awarding parents and their young son $1.1 billion in damages. The boy was assaulted by his stepfather, a great-grandson of one of the original investors of Humble Oil, and suffered life-altering injuries.

DOBS’ Washington Mesothelioma Case Against J&J Settles

A daughter’s lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, alleging its product contained asbestos that caused her mother’s life-ending mesothelioma cancer, has concluded in a settlement. The settlement reached during the first week of trial was “unexpected.”

Fort Worth Bankruptcy Partner Joins Bonds Ellis 

Bailey C. Pompea, a bankruptcy and commercial litigation partner, has joined Bonds Ellis Eppich Schafer Jones in Fort Worth from Michael Best & Friedrich. She will focus her practice on bankruptcy, restructuring and complex business disputes.

Texas Lawbook Leadership Symposium Announces Speakers

The Texas legal community has a history of great leaders.

To identify, celebrate and teach leadership skills, challenges and successes, The Texas Lawbook, with the support of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s DFW Chapter, has created the Texas Lawbook Leadership Symposium.

The launch event on April 13 will feature two panels of extraordinary leaders.

Hilgers Launches New Practice With Dallas Litigator

Leanne Thoreson, a labor and employment senior counsel, has joined Hilgers in Dallas from Bradley Arant. She will focus her practice on employment litigation and counseling, including workplace disputes, compliance and risk mitigation strategies, according to a news release. Her arrival marks the launch of Hilgers’ Labor & Employment practice as the firm expands its capabilities to meet the demand for employment services.

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