Tyler Personal Injury Lawyer - Wrongful Death

WIDOW AWARDED $18.9 MILLION IN WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM

Bruce Roberts — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 10:11:59 GMT

The widow of a construction worker killed in an explosion at the Texas Industries Inc. plant in Midlothian, Texas was awarded $18.9 million by a jury. The widow of Gordon Rutherford, 34 had accused TXI of negligence and reckless conduct in the death of her 34 year old husband. A Dallas County jury agreed with her and after a four-week trial awarded the widow almost $19,000,000.00.

The verdict was the result of a four-week trial in which TXI was accused of negligence and recklessness in the death of the worker, 34-year-old Gordon Redford, a welder working for a TXI contractor. Mr. Redford died in the industrial accident when a fire broke out at the plant. Three other welders were burned in the incident.

Mr. Redford's attorney accused TXI of ignoring basic safety principles by sending the welders into a very dangerous situation without adequate warning or properly maintained equipment.

In a separate statement, TXI vice president and treasurer Ken Allen said: "TXI is sorry for this tragic accident. "TXI takes workplace safety very seriously and has won numerous safety awards for its overall safety record." TXI executives declined to say whether the company would appeal the verdict.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bruce Roberts

Medical malpractice lawsuit alleges that patient died from lethal combination of drugs.

Bruce Roberts — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:55:37 GMT

The children of the Waco, Texas man who died after undergoing routine knee replacement surgery have filed suit claiming up to $12,000,000.00 in damages for the death of their father. The man, Thomas L. Nate, Sr., age 75 had previously undergone a successful knee replacement surgery in May of 2002. His children had expected a similar outcome this procedure.

The children's attorney however claims that the doctors prescribed two pain medications including one that was stronger than the recommended dose. In addition to the pain medications a blood thinner was also prescribed that may have interacted with blood pressure medication that the patient was already taking. The children's attorney, Daryl Zook, claimed the doctors ignored a "black-box warning" from the drug manufacturer that some of these drugs should not be used in combination with the other drugs.

"We think it was an injustice the way these doctors cavalierly prescribed these medications, did not consider the interaction of these medications, and Mr. May died as a result," Zook said.
May developed a condition known as sepsis, caused by inflammation, problems with blood clotting and low blood pressure. The sepsis led to respiratory problems, organ failure, pneumonia and an eventual heart attack, Zook said. He died from what is known as adult respiratory distress syndrome, Zook said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bruce Roberts

Mother Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit against Daughter's Killer

Bruce Roberts — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:23:10 GMT

A mother has filed a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit against the man who murdered her pregnant daughter and her seven year old grandson.

Also named in the suit are Barbee's accomplice and two ex-wives. The lawsuit seeks to determine if Barbee transferred assets to his ex-wives to shield money and property from future lawsuits. Both women deny the accusation.

"If we're going to recover any money, we are going to have to find the assets," said David Dowell, attorney for Sheila Underwood.
Mr. Dowell said the lawsuit - filed just days before the statute of limitations expired - should allow him to examine financial documents and determine what happened to Mr. Barbee's interest in two businesses, as well as other property he accumulated. Sheila Underwood declined to comment through her attorney.
Last year, Barbee was sentenced to death for the 2005 suffocation death of the woman and her son at their Fort Worth home.

The accomplice named in the lawsuit has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for helping Barbee to dispose of the bodies

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Bruce Roberts