COLLABORATE! TTLA’S 2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE! | COLLABORATE! Join TTLA President Mike Guajardo at TTLA’s 2014 Annual Conference in Austin, June 11-13. ALL MEMBERS are invited and encouraged to attend a very important meeting of our Board of Directors Meeting on June 12th. In addition, the CLE Committee has once again planned three dynamic programs. We’ll start things off with The Jury Bias Model™ - From Car Wrecks to the Complex Case presented by Greg Cusimano and David Wenner on June 11th, followed by a ½-day CLE on June 12th with some of TTLA’s brightest stars sharing their best tips. The conference will wrap up with our Annual Med Mal program with all the latest updates and insights, before closing with an evening of Magic and Music. Click here to see all we have planned for you! Two days. Three great seminars. TTLA’s 2014 Annual Conference. Click on the headline for more information and to register. | North Texas Rancher's Power Line Battle Gains Attention | | A North Texan’s battle to budge the power line that he says was built in the wrong place on his ranch is gaining attention from landowners and utilities as Texas regulators prepare to decide the line’s fate. This week, the PUC of Texas will consider a complaint that Johnny Vinson, an 82-year-old rancher, lodged against Oncor. The case concerns this question: After landowners sign off on a power line routes, can a transmission company install it somewhere else? Jim Malewitz, Texas Tribune 05/14/2014 | Read Article: Texas Tribune | Suit Filed Against Teacher Who Broke Student's Arm While Arm Wrestling | | A California high school senior has filed a lawsuit against a former teacher who challenged the student to an arm wrestling match which broke his arm. The incident took place in June 2013 when the history teacher challenged the plaintiff to an arm wrestling match in front of the class and then used both hands and his whole body weight, breaking the plaintiff's arm. The lawsuit, which alleges negligence on behalf of the district and the school, was filed Monday in Orange County Superior Court. Vik Jolly, Orange County Register 05/13/2014 | Read Article: Orange County Register | Longstanding Lawsuit Ordered Into Settlement Talks | | A lawsuit filed against the state of Tennessee back in 1995 over the rights of people with intellectual disabilities is one step closer to being resolved. A judge has ordered both sides to finalize the lawsuit within 120 days. The lawsuit began when disability advocates filed suit against the state over the conditions at three state institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. The judge will make each side submit an "estimate of the human and economic costs to be incurred by failing to reach a settlement" if a settlement is not reached by the end of the 120 days. Anita Wadhwani, Tennessean 05/12/2014 | Read Article: Tennessean | Family Files Suit Over Firefighter's Severe Injuries in Motel Fire | | The family of a firefighter from Houston, Texas who was severely injured in a motel fire last year has filed a lawsuit. Their suit names the motel's owner and the operator of a restaurant that burned at the site as defendants and seeks over $1 million in damages. Four firefighters were killed in the fire and the Houston Fire Department is still conducting an investigation to identify its cause. Scott Noll, KHOU-TV 05/12/2014 | Read Article: KHOU-TV | Lawsuit Alleges Teacher Abused Autistic Teen | | The family of an autistic teen from California has filed a lawsuit alleging that the boy was sexually assaulted by his special education teacher. The lawsuit contends that a male teacher sexually abused the student during the 2011-12 school year and that the school district ignored warning signs that the teacher "posed a risk of sexual abuse to students." The lawsuit seeks medical and legal costs and unspecified damages for physical, psychological and emotional injuries as a result of the abuse. David DeBolt, San Jose Mercury News 05/13/2014 | Read Article: San Jose Mercury News | No Charges or Discipline for Bastrop Deputy who Used Taser on Teen | | Two investigations into a deputy sheriff’s use of a Taser stun gun on a high school student that left the 17-year-old with a brain injury have concluded with no action against the deputy or the teen. A grand jury decided Tuesday that Deputy Randy McMillan will face no state criminal charges for his action, which caused Noe Niño de Rivera to fall backward and hit his head on the floor of Cedar Creek High School. Additionally, Niño de Rivera and his family have filed a federal lawsuit against Bastrop County, the Bastrop school district and McMillan. That case is pending. Tony Plohetski , Austin American Statesman 05/14/2014 | Read Article: Austin American Statesman | Judge Rules Wrongful Death Suit Can Continue | | On Thursday, a federal judge ruled that a wrongful death lawsuit over the shooting death of a man from Charlotte, N.C. by a police officer can continue. The officer who shot the man is facing a voluntary manslaughter charge in connection with the September shooting and the court will not permit his questioning as part of the civil lawsuit. Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the police officer, the police department and the city. Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer 05/13/2014 | Read Article: Charlotte Observer | Jury Rules In Favor Of Doctor in Wrongful Death Suit | | A jury has ruled in favor of a Las Vegas doctor who was named in a wrongful death lawsuit over the case of a professional golfer found dead in her home in May 2010. The lawsuit, filed by the golfer's parents, cited wrongful death and medical malpractice claims against the doctor who found the woman after she committed suicide. After an hour of deliberation, the jury determined that the doctor "did not breach the standard of care in his treatment." Tommy Hicks, AL.com 05/14/2014 | Read Article: AL.com | | |