These aren’t necessarily our biggest cases, but they are results that we are proud of because of their individual facts.
Auto Accidents.
We represented an individual involved in an apparently minor rear-end collision in Round Rock, Texas. Prior to hiring us, the insurance adjuster for the driver who had caused the wreck had offered the client $924.12 to settle the case. Within six months of hiring us, we had resolved the case for a confidential amount that included the other driver’s insurance company and the client’s underinsured motorist carrier each paying their policy limits. While this case is extreme, it is a good example of showing that clients who hire attorneys usually do better than those who are not represented by attorneys.
We represented a husband whose wife was one of three teachers killed in an automobile wreck. After originally retaining another attorney, the client hired us. After a lengthy fight, we resolved the claim for a significant, confidential sum. We are proud of the work because our client recovered a total sum an estimated one and one-half times more than that recovered for the husbands of the other two deceased teachers. Additionally, this case is a good example of us being able to help a client after the client was represented by a prior attorney.
We represented an individual who was injured in a wreck in Dallas, Texas. The case was complicated, involving claims against a number of insurance policies and issues regarding pre-existing health damages. This was also a case where the client was represented by another lawyer before becoming dissatisfied with the lawyer and coming to us. We were able to resolve the claims, and after paying attorneys’ fees, expenses, medical providers and reimbursing Medicare for payments it made, the client netted $95,820.97.
On The Job Injury.
We represented a gentleman who worked for a North Texas utility hanging transformers on utility poles. As he was hanging a transformer on a pole at a construction site, the pole fell. He survived, but he experienced severe personal injuries that prevented him from continuing this type of employment. We sued the company that set the pole, an electrical contractor that had installed conduit up to the pole, and the general contractor for the job. We’re proud of this case for two reasons. We were able to obtain a significant settlement (in excess of seven figures, with the client netting $424,174.54 after the reimbursement of a large worker’s compensation lien) that allowed our client and his family to maintain a future despite our client not being able to continue in his employment. But perhaps more importantly, we were able to help the client when other lawyers were not. Prior to our hiring, the client had hired another attorney in the Dallas/Fort Worth area who thought the case was too hard and sat on the case for a significant period of time.
Trip and Fall Case.
We represented an Austin Lake Patrol police officer who tripped on a boat dock that was not properly maintained and repaired. The officer sustained significant injuries, and we were able to obtain a significant recovery on his behalf despite very difficult liability facts. But we are most proud about this case because we were again able to help the client when other lawyers were not. Prior to hiring us, the officer had retained another lawyer who essentially sat on the case for over ten years. (Yes, you read that right — TEN years.) Once we were hired and began pursuing the case, we were able to obtain a settlement within fourteen months, and the client netted $175,000.00 after payment of attorneys’ fees and other expenses.
Business Dispute.
We represented a small business in a lawsuit against Computer Sciences Corporation (“CSC”), a Fortune 500 corporation. Our client was a computer consulting firm that worked, in part, for companies that used CSC software. To work on the software, our client’s consultants had to obtain non-disclosure agreements. CSC eventually canceled those non-disclosure agreements, essentially shutting our client’s business down. The dispute was whether CSC was justified in canceling those agreements. The dispute between the parties arose in September 2001, and working diligently, we were able to take the case to trial in June 2002. We prevailed at trial, and the jury verdict included an award of $8,000,000.00 for punitive damages. Because of Texas law, the punitive damage award was capped at $250,000.00 (the client ultimately recovered $191,103.55). The case was featured in Stephanie Mencimer’s book, Blocking the Courthouse Door: How the Republican Party and Its Corporate Allies Are Taking Away Your Right to Sue.
Sexual Assault Case.
We represented five women who were sexually assaulted by a deputy in East Texas. In a very difficult case, we were able to obtain some justice for our clients through a significant, but confidential settlement. As part of the settlement, our clients offered $10,000.00 towards therapy for the officer to help protect other women. In addition, the case served as the inspiration for the movie Scared Silent, which was part of the Lifetime Television channel’s campaign to stop violence against women and to help put rapists behind bars. Mark Perlmutter was an executive producer for the movie.
