News: Indiana National Guard Troops File Suit Against Defense Contractor KBR After Exposure to Carcinogen Sodium Dichromate in Iraq
In early 2003 soldiers from the Indiana National Guard were tasked to protect civilian contractors working at a water treatment plant in Southern Iraq. Although the plant was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, one of the most potent carcinogens known to man, KBR kept the exposure secret from the soldiers from Tell City, Indiana, as well as the civilian contractors they were guarding. The Tell City Guardsmen never shirked their responsibilities to their families, the State of Indiana, or this Nation. A number joined up in a tradition of military service dating back to the Revolutionary War. The Tell City Guardsmen have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty for their fellow citizens, year after year, many for decades, responding to natural disasters; serving after 9-11 to protect the home front; and proudly putting themselves on the line in Iraq. The Tell City Guardsmen and their fellow soldiers accepted the hazards from enemy action while doing their part to assist the United States in restoring freedom to Iraq, but could not even imagine that KBR's managers would act in a manner that directly and continuously exposed them to serious health impacts for the rest of their lives. They filed the complaint in federal court in Indiana because they believe that KBR, having profited handsomely, should be held accountable for these costs it has imposed on the Tell City Guardsmen, and the burdens should not just be dumped by KBR on the Tell City Guardsmen, their families, or the United States taxpayer.
News: Doyle Raizner LLP Files Suit on Behalf of Survivors of a Helicopter Crash in the Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of Brazil
The survivors of a forced water landing in a Bell 412 helicopter have filed suit against aircraft manufacturer Bell Helicopter Textron in Fort Worth, Texas. The aircraft was ferrying a crew to an oil production platform off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when it crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. Doyle Raizner LLP, along with co-counsel Advocacia Tejo & Associados of Rio de Janeiro represent the survivors in the suit.
News: Court of Appeals Affirms Jury Verdict for a Boat Captain Injured in a Mutiny on the Coast of Angola
The Texarkana Court of Appeals has affirmed a San Augustine County jury's verdict in favor of a Doyle Raizner LLP client, rejecting Defendant Rigdon Marine Company's factual sufficiency challenges to the jury's decision. Rigdon had sent Captain Roberts to Angola to take over a work boat following reports of drug use and illegal activities by the crew. Once aboard ship, however, the outgoing captain stoked a mutinous melee that resulted in severe injuries to the captain. By its opinion of October 7, 2008, the Court found Rigdon's arguments to the trial court "misleading embellishments" to the law and fully affirmed the verdict in favor of Roberts.
News: Court of Appeals Rejects Liberty Insurance Corporation's Attempt to Disqualify Doyle Raizner LLP from Bad Faith Cases
The San Antonio Court of Appeals has denied Liberty Insurance's mandamus of a trial court decision refusing to disqualify Doyle Raizner LLP. Liberty Insurance attempted to disqualify the firm from a bad faith case on the ground that a Doyle Raizner LLP attorney had a junior associate role on several Liberty Mutual files while employed by Vinson and Elkins LLP. The evidence demonstrated that the cases were not substantially related, and the San Antonio Court of Appeals upheld the trial court's decision to refuse disqualificaiton. For more information, see the August 27, 2008 opinion.
News: Court of Appeals Affirms Jury Decision Finding Texas Mutual Knowingly Broke The Law
For the second time in as many months, Texas Courts of Appeals have upheld jury decisions finding that Texas Mutual Insurance Company knowingly committed bad faith. In March 2006, a jury found in favor of a volunteer fire fighter who had injured his back in the line of duty, but nevertheless had his workers' compensation claim denied by Texas Mutual. The insurer failed to contact either the firefighter or his doctor before denying the claim, and even hid important medical records from a reviewing physician. The jury awarded actual and treble damages, and the Court of Appeals modified and affirmed that award. For more informaiton, see the August 26, 2008 opinion from the Court of Appeals.
News: Dallas County Jury Determines AIG Entities Engaged in Bad Faith
A Dallas County jury ruled that AIG's Commerce and Industry Insurance Company and AIG Claims Services Inc. wrongfully denied a Brady, Texas man's workers' compensation benefits and unnecessarily delayed spinal surgery. On June 20, 2008, the jury awarded damages of $400,000 to a Doyle Raizner LLP client, and since the misconduct was committed knowingly, the judge will award an additional amount for attorneys' fees.
News: Brazoria County Jury Awards Damages to a Doyle Raizner LLP Client for Injuries Suffered in a Helicopter Crash
A Brazoria County jury determined that Houston Helicopters, Inc. must pay damages to a Foxworth, Mississippi man for injuries he suffered in the downing of a Sikorsky 76A rig helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico on September 6, 2005. Ten passengers and two crewmembers survived the crash, but were not rescued for over seven hours due to the failure of Houston Helicopters to properly track and communicate with its aircraft. The Plaintiff sustained chemical burns and physical injuries that required spinal surgery. Following a stipulation of liability, the case was tried on damages, and the jury returned its verdict in favor of Doyle Raizner LLP's client on February 15, 2008
News: Court Finds that Texas Mutual Insurance Co. Committed Litigation Fraud
A Texas Court has found that Texas Mutual Insurance Co. engaged in litigation fraud by "knowingly and intentionally" falsifying a medical record. The Court entered a sanctions order requiring Texas Mutual to pay a monetary fine to a Doyle Raizner LLP client, and to post the Court's order on the Texas Mutual website. For more information, read Doyle Raizner LLP press release issued January 9, 2008.
News: Court of Appeals Affirms Jury Verdict Finding Texas Mutual Insurance Co. Knowingly Acted in Bad Faith and Violated the Texas Insurance Code
Finding that Texas Mutual knowingly violated the Texas Insurance Code, the Houston First Court of Appeals on January 17, 2008 affirmed a Galveston jury's verdict in favor of a Doyle Raizner LLP client. The Court determined that the evidence supported the jury's decision that Texas Mutual made misrepresentations, engaged in unfair claims practices and committed deceptive acts in its handling of an insurance claim. The Court also rejected Texas Mutual's bid to eliminate any legal resibility to act in good faith while handling workers' compensation insurance claims. For more information, read the January 17, 2008 opinion.
News: Houston Court Enters Judgment Against Schlumberger Subsidiary Following Jones Act Jury Verdict
A Houston trial court entered a judgment against Westerngeco Resources, Inc., affirming a jury's verdict in favor of a Doyle Raizner LLP client in a Jones Act suit. The jury found that the Schlumberger subsidiary was negligent in its design and operation of a seismic survey vessel, M/V WESTERN PRIDE, and that a seismic gun mechanic suffered permanent, disabling spinal injuries when his head struck a beam improperly placed across a busy workplace. For more information, see the January 18, 2008 judgment.
Maritime Law Attorney, International Injury Lawyer
At Doyle Raizner, our team of trial lawyers is committed to representing working people in catastrophic injury cases. Our practice is focused on select cases in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, international personal injury, insurance bad faith, and aviation law.
Today’s legal world is a challenging environment for men and women who have been injured. Big business and insurance companies have put basic legal rights to compensation in peril. When facing the challenges of bringing a claim to court, there is no more important decision than choosing a law firm with the strength and determination to stand up for your rights.
Making the Foreign Familiar
We represent men and women injured at sea, families from the United Kingdom and Europe injured in the U.S. on holiday, and working people hurt at home and abroad. Whether our clients are forced to file a lawsuit either at home or half a world away, we understand the hardships they face during this difficult time, and we make the foreign familiar.
Our strength comes from our ability to combine proven trial experience with sophisticated legal work. We have the experience, confidence, and determination to achieve success against the difficult odds presented in today's legal environments.
Whether you were injured at sea, on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, or while traveling or working abroad, the admiralty lawyers and personal injury attorneys of Doyle Raizner can help. From offices in Houston, Texas, we represent injured clients from around the world. Contact us today to discuss your injury case.
