Authorlee, et al. v. Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc., et al.
Five years after settling their occupational lung disease claims, 11 Plaintiffs brought suit against our client Tuboscope Vetco International, Inc. and others seeking to set aside the settlements and reopen their claims. Plaintiffs alleged their settlements were part of an unlawful "aggregate settlement" and were void as against public policy. Plaintiffs also alleged that Defendants fraudulently assisted Plaintiffs’ former counsel in improperly obtaining their consent to the settlement. After researching the file’s history, we persuaded the court to abate the case. In an effort to avoid their settlement, Plaintiffs then filed a motion for new trial in the original settled case. Following discovery and a hearing, that motion was denied. On appeal to the First Court of Appeals in Houston, we obtained the affirmance of the trial court's denial of a new trial, thereby leaving the prior settlements intact. See Authorlee v. Tuboscope, 274 S.W.3d 111 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2008, pet. denied). Plaintiffs’ petition for review was denied by the Texas Supreme Court after full briefing on the merits.
In re Friede Goldman Halter, Inc.
We represented Defendants, former directors of Halter Marine Group, in a securities fraud matter arising out of the merger and subsequent bankruptcy of Friede Goldman and Halter Marine, two of the world's largest ship and rig-building companies at the time of the merger. Plaintiffs alleged hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. The matter was successfully resolved as part of a confidential settlement.
Victor L.X. Hall v. Dioncio M. Castillo, et al.
Represented a former state jail inmate on a pro bono basis for injuries he sustained while incarcerated. The allegations included violations of his constitutional rights as well as battery. The jury deliberated nearly six hours before delivering a defense verdict. After trial, Judge Hittner and his staff singled out Laura and her co-counsel, remarking that the prosecution was among the best he had ever seen in such a case.