Lawyers Weekly Top 10 Jury Verdicts of 2001: 2nd Highest, Grefer v. Alpha Technical. A six week trial resulted in a $1.056 billion verdict against Exxon Mobil in favor of four property owners who leased property to an oil field services company, which performed services for Exxon Mobil. The plaintiffs proved that Exxon had knowingly sent radioactive contaminated pipe and equipment to the property for service and storage, which resulted in extensive contamination of the property. This is the highest jury award on record for an individual property owner.
IN RE: OIL SPILL by the OIL RIG “DEEPWATER HORIZON” in the GULF OF MEXICO, on April 20, 201: Represented 4,000+ clients for economic, property, and toxic exposure damages. The majority of the claims have settled.
Craft v. Intracoastal Tubular Services, Inc., et al.: Concerned survivors of a former pipeyard worker who contracted lung cancer from exposure to Radium-226 and other radioactive materials. A four week trial resulted in a $15 million verdict.
Patrick Joseph Turner, et al. v. Murphy Oil USA, Inc.: Executive Committee Member of class action that resulted in a monetary compensation and cleanup settlement valued in excess of $300 million.
Sandra Wilson v. Jani-King, Inc.: The law firm represented an employee at trial for a serious personal injury caused by a fall while at work. The jury awarded a verdict of $1.5 million.
Rathborne Properties, LLC v. Exxon Mobil, et al.: The law firm represented a property company concerning radioactive materials (TENORM) contamination and successfully negotiated a settlement that resulted in significant cash payment to the client and full remediation of the property.
Hazelwood Farm v. Chevron, et al.: This civil action concerned property polluted by oil field exploration and production operations. A four week jury trial resulted in a verdict in excess of $2 million.
Benoit v. Exxon Mobil, Inc., et al.: The law firm represented 100+ former workers and their survivors for cancer and other disease claims related to on the job exposure to radioactive and other toxic materials. The matter settled for a confidential amount before trial.
Texaco Exploration and Production, Inc. v. Hilcorp Energy Company: The law firm was hired by property owners to address environmental contamination of family property by ChevronTexaco in Erath, Louisiana. ChevronTexaco operated a gas processing plant on a portion of the property and oil and gas wells on other portions of the property. A pit area and the associated drainage ditches were highly contaminated with radium, arsenic, hexavalent chromium, dioxins, lead, and other heavy metals as well as salts. The shallow aquifers underlying the property were also polluted putting the deeper Chicot aquifer at risk.
Henry Leon Sarpy and Robert Henry Sarpy, Jr. et al. v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, et al.: The law firm was hired by a family to address pollution of family property by historic oil and gas operations. Exxon installed and improperly closed over 50 pits on the property located in a cypress swamp. The law firm successfully negotiated settlement prior to trial.
Lakeshore Estates: The law firm represented over 100 households totaling over 240 individuals in the Lakeshore Estates Subdivision to litigate damages caused by concrete crushing operations. The firm secured an injunction requiring defendants to implement measures to reduce noise and vibrations, alleviate airborne dust, and implement other measures to improve air and water quality in the area. The law firm later negotiated a settlement with several defendants to compensate the residents for damages caused.