Texas Trial Lawyers Association
This service sponsored by Trialsmith

November 15, 2017

Like TTLA on Facebook Follow TTLA on Twitter

TTLA Home

List Servers

Search

Online CLE

Submit an Article





Upcoming Online CLE
15
Nov
List Server Tools and Tips Webinar
21
Nov
Improv for Lawyers
30
Nov
Taking Your Jury to YouTube University: Using Video to Persuade and Educate Your Jurors
7
Dec
Showing the Story: How Video Killed the Paper Demand
13
Dec
Determining Reasonableness of Medical Expenses
14
Dec
Handling the Traumatic Servicemembersâ?? Group Life Insurance Claim
Announcements

TTLA Annual: What You Absolutely Positively Gotta Know About...
TTLA Annual CLE Seminar: Dec 7th & 8th at the Ã?ilan Hotel and Spa, San Antonio, TX. Earn up to 9.00 hours MCLE credit including 1.75 hour Ethics credit. Click on the headline to learn more and register.

TTLA's Experts and Services Connection
Stay ahead with TTLA. TTLAâ??s Experts and Services Connection connects you hundreds of fellow TTLA professionals and corporate members. Click on the headline to learn more.

TTLA Pioneers: Frank Abraham
TTLA Founding Member Frank Abraham served in the Army during World War II. As his unit advanced in the European theatre, Frank liberated his brother from a German prisoner of war camp. Frank recounted this experience during a veteransâ?? event in Houston years ago. Thanks to TTLA Board member Daniel Horowitz for finding a video of Frankâ??s story and sharing it with TTLA. Click on the headline to learn more.

Texas Tribune Daily Brief

The Brief for Nov 15
spacer image

CASSANDRA POLLOCK, Texas Tribune 11/15/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: Texas Tribune


Issues

Arkema Documents Show Planning, Mechanical Failures Led to Chemical Fires During Harvey
spacer image
Prior to the chemical fire at its Crosby plant, Arkema underestimated the potential for storm damage and failed to keep essential backup power protected from rising floodwaters, documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle show. The Chronicle obtained Arkema's internal records from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and conducted interviews with government employees with knowledge of ongoing investigations of the events at the plant. The emerging picture reveals nine days of chaos, culminating with the decision to intentionally burn chemicals that posed a danger to the public.
Matt Dempsey and Jacob Carpenter, Houston Chronicle 11/15/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: Houston Chronicle

How Safe is Seafood Caught Near the San Jacinto Waste Pits?
spacer image
High levels of cancer-causing dioxin found near the San Jacinto Waste Pits in the wake of Hurricane Harvey have Harris County officials concerned about the safety of seafood caught in the area. In September, the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that a concrete cap used to cover the pits since 2011 had sprung a leak during Harvey's floods. Agency officials found dioxin in sediment near the pit at a level more than 2,000 times the EPA standard for clean-up. Two weeks later, EPA officials announced they would permanently remove tons of toxics from the waste pits. That process, however, will take years. In the meantime, county officials believe residents should know what they're consuming.
Alex Stuckey, Houston Chronicle 11/15/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: Houston Chronicle


Laws/Cases

Air Force Could Be Held Liable in Mass Shooting at Texas Church
spacer image
The U.S. Air Force could face legal action over the recent mass shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, say legal experts. An Air Force veteran fatally shot 26 people and wounded 20 more at the church when he opened fire on the congregation earlier this month. According to experts, the Air Force could be held liable for the shooting because it failed to report that the man had been convicted five years ago of assaulting his then-wife and child. There have not yet been any lawsuits filed over the recent shooting.
Tina Bellon, Reuters 11/09/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: Reuters


Products

Consumer Safety Group Unveils Its 'Worst Toys' List
spacer image
World Against Toys Causing Harm, or WATCH, unveiled the top 10 list Tuesday at a Boston children's hospital. The nonprofit organization has been releasing the lists for more than four decades.
Associated Press, Houston Chronicle 11/15/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: Houston Chronicle

FDA Warns of â?˜Deadly Risksâ?? of the Herb Kratom, Citing 36 Deaths
spacer image
The Food and Drug Administration issued a strong warning Tuesday to consumers to stay away from the herbal supplement kratom, saying regulators are aware of 36 deaths linked to products containing the substance. Consumers are increasingly using the supplement, which comes from a plant in Southeast Asia, for pain, anxiety and depression, as well as symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Laurie McGinley, The Washington Post 11/15/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: The Washington Post


Wrongful Death

VA Settles Veteran Overdose Lawsuit with Family for $2.3M
spacer image
The Department of Veterans Affairs has settled a lawsuit regarding the overdose death of a veteran for $2.3 million. The wrongful death and negligence lawsuit was filed by the family of the Marine Corps veteran who died after taking a combination of 16 different opiates and other risky sedating drugs that were prescribed by a VA hospital in Tomah, Wisconsin. According to the settlement, the department is not admitting liability in the man's death.
Art Levine, Newsweek 11/09/2017 Facebook iconTwitter iconLinkedIn Icon
Read Article: Newsweek



Like TTLA on Facebook Follow TTLA on Twitter
YOU RECEIVED THIS EMAIL BECAUSE YOU ARE SUBSCRIBED TO THIS SERVICE FROM THE TEXAS TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION.
UNSUBSCRIBE FROM ECLIPS

PUBLISHED BY TRIALSMITH, LITIGATION TOOLS FOR TRIAL LAWYERS
5113 SOUTHWEST PARKWAY, SUITE 285 AUSTIN, TX 78735
800-443-1757