Suit Filed For Truck Accident Head Injury

The firm announces the filing of a suit against Alan Ritchey Trucking Company for damages arising from an accident. The suit alleges that the truck driver failed to maintain a proper look out, resulting in him crashing into the rear of the client’s vehicle which was stopped in traffic. The client and her son were both injured. Her son sustained a serious closed head injury requiring extensive rehabilitation.

Tags: Closed Head Injury, litigation, Truck Accident

Settlement Announcement

The firm announces the settlement of a suit arising from the negligent operations of a tree trimming truck. The driver of the truck failed to maintain a proper look out and entered an intersection immediately in front of the client’s vehicle resulting in an accident and serious injuries. The case was settled pre-suit for a confidential amount.

Tags: Car Wreck, Motor Vehicle Accident, Settlement

Kobs, Haney & Hundley Announce Suit Over Explosion of Oil Tank

The firm has recently filed suit regarding injuries arising from an explosion of an oil tank. The suit alleges that a waste water disposal company located in Bowie, Texas failed to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of the tank prior to allowing a contract welder to attempt to make a repair to a leak on the tank. The company, Gilbow Oil Field Services, Inc., did not have a hot work permit process in place, did not have a hazard communication system in place, and failed to clean and vent the tank prior to telling the welder it was safe for the welding to occur. The tank exploded seriously injuring the welder and an employee of the company. The suit seeks to effect changes to the policies of the company in addition to compensation for the welder. The company was cited and fined by OSHA for several safety related violations that contributed to cause the explosion.

Tags: Hot Work Permit, Oil Field Explosion, Oil Tank Explosion, OSHA, Suit

Accidents While Texting and Driving

The City of Arlington is joining a number of cities looking to pass ordinances associated with curtailing texting and driving. Distractions, such as texting on cell phones or other mobile devices, poses a serious risk of causing accidents and injuries. Kobs, Haney & Hundley supports efforts to curtail such practices, especially in school zones. If you suspect that you or someone you love was injured as a result of such practices please contact us. Records of texting and cell phone use is potentially critical evidence in today’s environment and has to be preserved. We have experience securing such evidence in cases handled by this firm and can assist you in protecting your interests.

Tags: automobile accidents, city ordinances, school zones, Texting and driving

Ground Water Contamination

The firm is tracking litigation involving ground water contamination arising from oil and gas development. The firm is currently studying oil and gas development best practices designed to prevent ground water contamination. Many land owners are being affected by ground water contamination arising from oil and gas development. The contamination of their ground water is destroying a significant portion of the value of their property, often endangering livestock and preventing their property from being used for agricultural purposes. The firm welcomes the opportunity to assist those who have been adversely affected by ground water contamination arising from oil and gas development.

Tags: Barnett Shale, Ground water contamination, litigation, Oil and gas development

Barnett Shale Settlement Annoucement

The firm announces the settlement of a case involving the leasing of Barnett Shale mineral interests from a residential sub-division. The suit alleged that Carrizo, an oil and gas development company, tied up an individual’s mineral interests by leasing it through a separate firm engaged by them them to acquire leases. The suit alleged that the original lease was signed and accepted by the property owner, but that the company subsequently refused to honor the lease and pay the agreed lease bonus, after they prevented the property owner from leasing their mineral interests to other interested oil and gas development companies. The settlement, though confidential, required the company to honor the original lease terms. The suit was filed in Tarrant County, Texas and was resolved within 6 months of being filed.

Tags: Barnett Shale, Carrizo, Settlement

Barnett Shale Settlement Announcement

The firm announces the settlement of a significant case involving the leasing of mineral interests in the Barnett Shale. The firm represented a prominent local family that was one of the largest mineral interest owners in Hill, Johnson, and Tarrant counties. The suit alleged that a well known Fort Worth attorney breached his fiduciary duties to the family. The suit alleged that while representing the family in oil and gas lease negotiations the attorney took an undisclosed interest in wells drilled on their property. The suit sought disgorgement of the interests taken as well as disgorgement of the significant profits the attorney had derived through taking the interests. The suit also sought to recover punitive damages. The suit was vigorously defended by two prominent local law firms. One firm represented the attorney individually, while the other firm represented family trusts and entities created by the attorney to hold the interests. The case was set for trial on August 1, 2011 in the 348th District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. It was anticipated to be a multi-week trial with testimony from numerous fact witnesses as well as from multiple experts. Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Deborah Hankinson served as the pre-trial mediator, however, the case was ultimately resolved in the days prior to trial through direct negotiations between the parties. Although the amount of the settlement is confidential, it included repayment as well assignment of interests back to the family. The firm believes that this case highlights some of the questionable practices that were employed in Barnett Shale leasing. The firm welcomes the opportunity to serve others who may also have been victimized by such practices.

Tags: Barnett Shale Litigation, Firm News, Settlement