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TX Supreme Court Finalizes TX Rule of Judicial Administration 16 |
| Texas Supreme Court finalizes Texas Rule of Judicial Administration 16, which outlines how lawyers and judges can seek extra resources for highly complex cases. The court issued its final approval for a new judicial rule allowing trial courts presiding over highly complex cases to ask for extra resources like staff attorneys, a bigger courtroom or additional technology. (Texas Lawyer, Angela Morris) Click on headline to learn more. |
Volunteer to End Distracted Driving |
| The American Association for Justice and the non-profit group End Distracted Driving (EndDD) have teamed up to engage plaintiff’s lawyers in helping to spread the message about the dangers of distracted driving, and to get attorneys involved in the movement to end this dangerous practice. As April has been designated National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, TTLA is encouraging our membership to get involved and become advocates for safer driving in our Texas communities. Please see the message below, and click on the links to find out how you can volunteer to help end distracted driving in Texas. Click on the headline to learn more. |
TTLA is accepting nominations for the Making a Difference Award. |
| TTLA, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, presents the Making a Difference Award to recognize and honor those clients whose cases demonstrate the critical role of the civil justice system in protecting the rights of Texas families. Any client (past or present) of a current TTLA member is eligible for this award. Click on the headline to learn more and download the nomination form. |
Laws/Cases |
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Exonerated Man Entitled to Almost $750,000 |
| A Louisiana judge has approved a settlement and compensation for a New Orleans man who spent almost 30 years in prison, convicted of a rape he did not commit. Under state guidelines, the man, who was exonerated by DNA evidence, will be entitled to almost $750,000 in compensation; what he receives will be capped at $250,000. Earlier this month, the same judge exonerated three other men who were wrongfully convicted of a 1993 murder. Paul Purpura, New Orleans Times-Picayune 03/09/2012 | Read Article: New Orleans Times-Picayune |
Insurance |
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Allstate Receives TDI Approval to Raise Home Insurance Rates |
| TDI Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman has approved Allstate Insurance’s increased premiums for homeowners coverage, including a hike between 3.5 percent and 7 percent in the Dallas area. All three of the state’s major home insurers — Allstate, Farmers and State Farm — have now won approval from Kitzman in recent months to increase their homeowners rates. Alex Winslow of Texas Watch criticized the recent rate decisions by Kitzman.“More than half of all homeowners have seen their insurance rates go up recently — many by double-digit percentages. And, what are insurance customers getting for these higher prices? Junk policies that cost more but cover less,” Winslow said. TERRENCE STUTZ, The Dallas Morning News 03/20/2012 | Read Article: The Dallas Morning News |
Labor/Employment |
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Coca-Cola Fosters Discriminatory Work Environment, Suit Says |
| A group of Hispanic and African-American employees at Coca-Cola plants in the New York area have filed a lawsuit against their employer, claiming they work in a "cesspool of racial discrimination." The lawsuit claims Coke relegates minorities to "less favorable assignments" and that many of the employees are constantly subjected to racial epithets. The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages. John Marzulli , New York Daily News 03/16/2012 | Read Article: New York Daily News |
Jobseekers Get Asked for Facebook Passwords |
| In their efforts to vet applicants, some companies and government agencies are going beyond merely glancing at a person's social networking profiles and instead asking to log in as the user to have a look around. Questions have been raised about the legality of the practice, which is also the focus of proposed legislation in Illinois and Maryland that would forbid public agencies from asking for access to social networks. Since the rise of social networking, it has become common for managers to review publicly available Facebook profiles, Twitter accounts and other sites to learn more about job candidates. Shannon Mcfarland, AP, USA Today 03/20/2012 | Read Article: USA Today |
Personal Injury |
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UH Player Settles Lawsuit Over Game Injury |
| A former football player at the University of Houston has settled a lawsuit against Conference USA, Marshall University and a football official over a compound leg fracture he suffered in a game against Marshall in 2008. The plaintiff, Patrick Edwards, suffered the injury when he collided with a metal service cart that had been left just behind the end zone while attempting to catch a pass. Edwards accused the defendants of negligence. Sam Khan Jr., Houston Chronicle 03/19/2012 | Read Article: Houston Chronicle |
Wrongful Death |
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Suit: Seat Belts Could Have Prevented Fatal Wreck |
| A lawsuit has been filed against a school bus company in Indiana over a fatal school bus wreck on March 12; the suit claims the deaths could have been prevented if the bus had seat belts. The driver and a five-year-old boy were killed in the crash, and others were hospitalized. The suit says the company, Miller Transportation "operated an unsafe bus because it didn't have seat belts." The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages. John Tuohy, Indianapolis Star 03/20/2012 | Read Article: Indianapolis Star |
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