Law Firm News

January 2010 –Arnold & Itkin LLP won more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients in 2009

In 2009, Arnold & Itkin LLP's trial lawyers continued their proven track record of winning cases. In fact, the firm won more than $100 Million in verdicts and settlements last year. We plan to build on last year's success by continuing to fight for those people who have suffered catastrophic personal injuries or been harmed in bad business deals.

January 2010 – Arnold & Itkin LLP wins $1.72 million jury verdict for industrial worker injured in a crane accident

Arnold & Itkin LLP industrial lawyers Cory Itkin and Michael Pierce are pleased to announce a $1.72 million jury verdict on behalf of Ernesto Tamez and his wife. Mr. Tamez was seriously injured in a crane accident at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas on January 18, 2005 when a Maxim Crane Works crane operator negligently swung a heavy oil burner into him. Mr. Tamez was pinned between the burner and a nearby handrail and injured his back, neck, and shoulder. Prior to the trial, Maxim Crane Works made no settlement offer. The company argued that the accident was entirely Mr. Tamez's fault and that his injuries were not as serious as he claimed. They also claimed that some of his injuries could have been caused by simple "wear and tear" on the 60 year old Tamez's body. The case was made more complicated by the fact that Mr. Tamez and his wife do not speak English and had to testify with the aid of a translator. After a week long trial in Galveston, Texas, the jury found that Maxim Crane Works was 100% responsible for the accident and awarded Mr. Tamez and his wife $1.72 million dollars. Arnold & Itkin LLP stood by their clients for 4 years and helped Mr. Tamez get the medical attention he needed and the compensation he deserved. The case was pending in Galveston County, Texas with the Honorable David E. Garner presiding.

December 2009 – Arnold & Itkin LLP lawyer successfully represented three trial plaintiffs in $100 million verdict against BP.

Houston industrial injury lawyer Gabe Vick of Arnold & Itkin LLP was part of the trial team that obtained a $100,365,000.00 verdict in Galveston federal court in an industrial accident case against BP (LSE: BP). Mr. Vick represented three of the ten trial plaintiffs who were exposed to a toxic substance at BP's Texas City refinery in April 2007. The plaintiffs, who were working for various contractors at the refinery, were exposed to an unknown, unidentified chemical released into the refinery by BP. The chemical exposure resulted in more than 100 people being sent to the hospital. After nearly three weeks of trial, the jury deliberated just one day before returning its verdict. The jury awarded each plaintiff all requested damages and unanimously agreed to a punitive damage award against BP. The trial took place in Judge Kenneth Hoyt's court in the Southern District of Texas.

December 2009 – Arnold & Itkin LLP announces $1,200,000 settlement for injured seaman.

Houston maritime lawyer Kurt Arnold filed suit against a large operator in the Gulf of Mexico on behalf of a floor hand who sustained a neck injury. The plaintiff required neck surgery after a pipe that came loose on an inland drilling barge hit him. The company denied medical care and responsibility for the accident, and refused to pay the injured seaman’s medical bills. The plaintiff attempted to work the issue out with the company for more than a year. When the company refused, he hired Arnold & Itkin LLP who filed suit the very same day in Galveston County Court. The seven-figure settlement was reached within ten months of filing the suit.

November 2009 – Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully resolves production operator’s post-traumatic stress disorder case for $700,000.

Kurt Arnold and Cory Itkin, maritime lawyers at the Houston-based firm of Arnold & Itkin LLP, successfully resolved a case on behalf of a Houma, Louisiana production operator for $700,000. The firm’s client was near a separator vessel on a production barge when the vessel overpressurized and exploded. He was diagnosed with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ("PTSD") and barred from returning to work in the oil and gas industry by his doctors. The defendant argued that Arnold & Itkin LLP's client was to blame for the incident and that he was faking his injuries. The accident happened in St. Charles Parish, and the case was filed in Galveston County, Texas. The case settled just 3 days before trial.

November 2009 – Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully settles offshore platform worker’s shoulder injury case for $770,000.

Houston maritime lawyer Mike Pierce is pleased to announce that he has successfully reached a $770,000 settlement on behalf of a Danos & Curole employee injured while working aboard a Chevron platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The incident occurred when the employee fell down a stairway on the platform, seriously injuring his shoulder. A post-accident investigation revealed that the stairway in question did not have adequate slip protection, and the handrail of the stairway did not meet ANSI standards. The injured worker underwent three surgeries to correct the damage to his shoulder. The case settled three weeks before trial was set to begin in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.

October 2009 – Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully settles an injured offshore platform worker’s back surgery case for $1.75 million.

Houston maritime lawyers Jason Itkin and Kurt Arnold are pleased to announce that they have won a $1.75 million settlement for an employee of Wood Group who was injured in an offshore crane accident. The incident occurred aboard an offshore platform when a crane operator caused the boom crane he was operating to jerk. Without warning, the crane struck the firm’s client in the face, knocking him off the railing he was standing on. In the fall, the plaintiff herniated a disc in his back, which ultimately required lumbar fusion surgery. The worker also had post concussion symptoms related to being struck in the head. The case was litigated in the federal court for the Southern District of Texas. It settled 2 weeks before trial.

September 2009 - Arnold & Itkin reached a confidential settlement on behalf of a Jones Act seaman who contracted a bacterial infection while in service to a pleasure craft.

Jason Itkin and Mike Pierce, maritime lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP, are pleased to announce they have reached a confidential settlement on behalf of a Jones Act seaman who contracted a bacterial infection while in service to a pleasure craft. The infection rendered the injured crew member paralyzed for more than a year. Thankfully, through advances in medicine, Arnold & Itkin LLP's client can now walk, and the settlement will ensure that the Plaintiff will be able to pay his future medical bills, which will likely exceed $2 million. The settlement also will provide the seaman with money to compensate him for his pain and suffering.

September 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP reaches partial settlement of $1,050,000 for industrial worker suffering a back injury.

Houston industrial injury lawyers Jason Itkin, Kurt Arnold, and Mike Tilton are pleased to announce they have reached a partial settlement of $1,050,000 for a client who suffered a herniated disk in a crane collapse industrial accident. The horrific incident occurred when the cab of a crawler crane sheared away from the crane’s base forcefully ejecting the terrified occupant. The crane operator was lucky to survive. Because the workers’ compensation carrier refused the injury claim and would not pay the plaintiff’s medical bills, Arnold & Itkin LLP helped their client survive during the pendency of the lawsuit. The firm’s innovative approach to establishing liability and circumventing the workers’ compensation bar allowed the plaintiff to recover a substantial award. The rest of the case is set for trial in April 2010.

September 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully settles Louisiana Jones Act seaman's case for $2,500,000 for orthopedic injuries.

Kurt Arnold represented a Louisiana Jones Act seaman who was injured in Louisiana inland waters on an inland drilling barge. Arnold & Itkin LLP filed suit in Galveston County and the defendant attempted to transfer to Harris County. The defendant lost in both the trial and appellate courts on the venue issue and the case was set for trial in Galveston County Court. The plaintiff sustained injuries which necessitated neck and back surgery. Plaintiff reached a settlement before trial for $2,500,000.

August 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP and The Wyly Law Firm recover $875,000 for a severely burned worker.

Industrial injury lawyers Kurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek from Arnold & Itkin LLP and Brad Wyly from the Wyly Law Firm recovered $875,000 for a worker who suffered catastrophic burns to his head and body. The settlement was recovered from a major oil company and fuel delivery company. Suit arose because the delivery company and oil company delivered diesel fuel to the worker's jobsite that was contaminated with gasoline. That type of contamination renders the diesel fuel extremely volatile. Consistent with that, the worker went to check the diesel level and the diesel ignited engulfing the worker in flames. The suit was pending in the 125th District Court in Harris County, Texas in front of judge Kyle Carter.

August 2009 - Truck Accident lawyers at Arnold & Itkin LLP settle commercial trucking case for $935K.

Houston truck accident lawyers, Jason Itkin and Mike Tilton, of Arnold & Itkin LLP are pleased to announce that they settled a commercial truck accident case for $935,000. Arnold & Itkin LLP's clients suffered herniated discs when an 18-wheeler truck slammed into a sedan driven by the plaintiff. Arnold & Itkin LLP claimed that the driver of the semi-truck caused the accident when she went straight in a "turn only" lane. Even though the plaintiff was cited by police for the accident, Arnold & Itkin LLP were able to show that the defendants were at fault by tracking down several eye witnesses who blamed the driver of the semi-truck for causing the accident.

August 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP maritime lawyers settle Jones Act case with calf injury for $925,000.

Houston maritime lawyers Kurt Arnold and Gabe Vick secured a $925,000 settlement for a maritime worker injured while working on a vessel. While handling lines on the vessel, the seaman's calf was crushed when the boat began to move, putting tension on one of the lines. The resulting injury required reconstructive surgery. The Jones Act case was pending in Galveston County, Texas and settled a few days before trial.

July 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP lawyers wins $9,649,957 jury verdict in Harris County for worker injured in industrial accident.

Arnold & Itkin LLP industrial injury lawyers Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Michael Pierce obtained a $9,649,957 jury verdict in Harris County against Occidental Chemical Corporation on July 1, 2009. The firm represented an operator at the Equistar Bay port facility who had glacial acetic acid sprayed in his eyes in a workplace accident. The Plaintiff lost nearly all of his vision in one eye as a result of the industrial accident. The jury found Occidental Chemical Corporation negligently designed the acid addition system to which the technician was adding acid when the industrial accident occurred. Occidental's system lacked a pressure indicator and it failed to have a proper means to vent pressure to prevent worker injury. The faulty design vented pressure near the technician's face. The trial lasted longer than two weeks, but the jury only deliberated for a day and a half before returning the sizable verdict. The trial took place in Judge Tracy Christopher's court, the 295th in Harris County.

June 2009 - Arnold & Itkin resolves case on behalf of injured maritime worker for $900,000 for a one level back injury.

Kurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek recovered $900,000 in an offshore case on behalf of an injured maritime worker who was dropped from a personnel basket and sustained a lower back injury, which required surgery. Specifically, the worker was dropped 6 to 8 feet onto his back as a result of a crane operator not lining up the boom, which caused the basket to swing in midair. The incident was compounded by the crane operator deciding to make the transfer during heavy fog and limited visibility.

The case was pending before the Honorable Gray Miller in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. The case was resolved within a year of filing.

May 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP resolves unoperated neck case for $850,000.

Kurt Arnold filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Galveston longshoreman after he sustained injuries due to a brake chamber malfunctioning while it was being inspected. The plaintiff sustained facial lacerations and a bad disk in his neck due to the impact. The case was pending in front of the Honorable Ewing Werlein in Houston Federal Court. The case was resolved for $850,000 a few weeks before trial.

May 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP lawyers Kurt Arnold and Cory Itkin settle an injured seaman case for $2 million dollars in Nueces County.

Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Kurt Arnold and Cory Itkin recovered $2 million on behalf of a Carencro, Louisiana man who was injured doing seismographic work in the Gulf of Mexico. Our client was a party chief aboard a survey vessel. The captain of the ship crashed the vessel into an unlit caisson off the coast of Galveston, Texas. The impact tossed the injured party chief around the wheelhouse of the vessel and he injured his neck. He eventually needed a one-level fusion surgery to treat the injury. The defendants claimed that our client was actually helping to drive the boat at the time of the collision and argued that his injuries were not very serious. It took more than 3 years of litigation to resolve his case and the case settled just 2 days before trial was scheduled to start. During those 3 years, Arnold & Itkin LLP stood by its client by arranging for the medical attention he needed along with helping his family manage financially while he was off work due to his injuries. The case was pending in Texas state court in Nueces County before the Honorable John B. Martinez.

April 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP lawyers settle Jones Act lawsuit for $750,000 in Harris County.

Lawyers Kurt Arnold and Jeff Seely settled a Jones Act case on behalf of an injured seaman who was hurt during a flaring operation. The seaman sustained primarily second degree burns to his body. Arnold & Itkin LLP filed the case in Harris County where it was settled after fifteen depositions a few weeks before trial.

April 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP resolves wrongful death case for $5,900,000 against a Southeast Texas Plant prior to Arbitration.

Kurt Arnold represented a widow and her family after her husband was tragically killed in a workplace accident in Southeast Texas. The case was filed in Harris County and the case was ultimately compelled to arbitration due to an arbitration clause in the deceased's employment agreement. After several depositions and just a few weeks before arbitration, the case was successfully resolved on behalf of the family for more than twelve times the special damages in the case.

March 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Jeff Seely and Michael Pierce secure $650,000 settlement in an unoperated back injury case. ***Disbursement Pending***

Jeff Seely and Michael Pierce recovered $650,000 on behalf of a Wood Group service technician who was injured when a third party failed to properly hang a blowout preventer on a land rig. His job was to cut through the casing to allow the rig to be moved. Because it was not secured properly, the 15 ton blowout preventer swung, pinned him up against the wall, and injured his back. The case was pending in Harris County. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

March 2009 - $1.45 million recovered on behalf of injured Jones Act seaman ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Jason Itkin, Kurt Arnold, and Cory Itkin recovered $1.45 million on behalf on an injured Jones Act seaman. The case settled just days before going to trial. Our client was severely injured when he fell out of the ship's trash dumpster which had been suspended in the air. He broke his hip and wrist in the fall and developed Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. He has not been able to return to work.

The shipping company argued that the injured worker had already recovered from his injuries, but had not returned to work because he had been battling alcoholism for several years. Arnold & Itkin LLP showed they were wrong. We also helped our client get the medical treatment he needed and the compensation he deserved. The case was pending in federal court in Baltimore, Maryland. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

March 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP files second case against Hercules over injury from falling pipe

Kurt Arnold and Paul Skrabanek filed the second case against Hercules on behalf of an injured seaman. A pipe was tack welded to a rig and not properly removed prior to drilling operations. The pipe fell 100 feet and struck two seamen, seriously injuring both. The first case was handled by Kurt Arnold and settled for $14 million on the eve of trial. Arnold & Itkin LLP has now filed the second case in Galveston County court on behalf of the other injured seaman.

February 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP recovers $850,000 for seaman injured on an offshore jack up rig ***Disbursement Pending***

Cory Itkin and Kurt Arnold recovered $850,000 on behalf of a League City, Texas seaman who slipped on hydraulic fluid. Arnold & Itkin LLP's client was the mate on a jack up rig. The rig's crane had been leaking hydraulic fluid for days, but his employer failed to fix the problem. As a result of the company's negligence, the injured worker needed back surgery and could not return to work offshore. The case was pending in Texas state court in Galveston County. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

February 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP recovers $825,000 for roustabout injured on an offshore drilling barge ***Disbursement Pending***

Cory Itkin and Kurt Arnold recovered $825,000 on behalf of a roustabout from Lufkin. He was severely injured on a drilling barge when an improperly secured spinner hawk hit him from behind. As a result of the accident, the injured worker needed neck surgery and cannot return to work offshore. The case was pending in Texas state court in Galveston County. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

February 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP wins $2.9 million verdict for wrongful death in a workplace accident ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP is proud to report that the firm won a $2.9 million verdict in a workplace injury case involving the wrongful death of a 58-year-old man. Jason Itkin and Jeff Seely tried the case for 6 days in Houston, TX. The Defendants final pre-trial offer was only $200,000.

The case involved a long term employee who fell 12 feet in a parking lot to his death. The parking lot violated the applicable OSHA and ANSI regulations because it did not have a guardrail to protect people from falling.

Arnold & Itkin LLP's hard work and dedication helped hold another irresponsible company accountable for workplace safety. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

February 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP settles $14 million Jones Act seaman case. ***Disbursement Pending***

Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Mike Pierce resolved a Jones Act seaman case for $14 million two days before trial. Arnold & Itkin LLP represented the seaman after he suffered a head injury on the Hercules 15 inland barge. The Hercules 15 was located in Lake Washington, Louisiana at the time of the incident. Hercules employees tack welded a three foot pipe to the derrick and then forgot to remove it before starting drilling operations. The pipe was jarred loose and hit Plaintiff in the head.

The case was filed in Galveston County Court in March 2008. The case was set for trial February 2, 2009. Hercules settled the entire case for $14 million on the eve of trial. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

January 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys recover $1.2 million for maritime worker with serious neck injury. ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys helped a dredge worker recover $1.2 million for a serious neck injury he suffered while working in Nigeria. Our client lives in Arnaudville, Louisiana and was unspooling heavy cable from a winch when he herniated a disk in his neck. He eventually needed surgery to correct the injury. The case was made more complicated because the dredge worker had previously injured his neck while working for a different company. Moreover, most of the witnesses lived in Nigeria. The case was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, with the Honorable Lynn Hughes presiding. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

January 2009 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Wins an $810,000 for Worker Who Hurt His Back ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP is proud to report that it won an $810,000.00 verdict on behalf of John Carter. Mr. Carter injured his back and suffered a concussion when he fell off of a ladder. He had a 1 level back fusion. The defendant, Niche Oilfield Services, had only offered $10,000.00 to settle the case. Jason Itkin and Mike Pierce tried the case for Mr. Carter. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

December 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Recovers $850,000 for Crew Boat Captain with Back Injury ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP's lawyers successfully represented a Louisiana crew boat captain who slipped and fell while walking on his vessel's gangway. The vessel captain needed back surgery, but the vessel owner argued that it should not be held liable since the gangway complied with all applicable safety regulations and the captain had been on the gangway several times before. Despite this, Arnold & Itkin LLP was able to recover $850,000 on behalf of their client. The case was pending in Texas state court in Galveston County. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

August 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Mike Pierce secure $2. 25 million dollar settlement in an unoperated back injury case. ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Mike Pierce secured a
$2.25 million dollar settlement in an unoperated back injury case. The plaintiff was ordered to climb on top of a large machine in order to assist a crane operator in removing ballast tanks. Plaintiff, however, was not provided with proper fall protection equipment and no job safety analysis was performed to determine how the job could be safely completed. The crane operator involved in the operation failed to control the crane line causing the headache ball to swing toward plaintiff. When the plaintiff moved to dodge the headache ball, he fell 8 to 10 feet to the deck of the vessel, severely injuring his lower back. After undergoing months of rehabilitation, the plaintiff returned to work but was forced to work in conditions that were inconsistent with the physical restrictions imposed by plaintiff's doctor. After enduring these conditions for several months, plaintiff reinjured his back so severely that he was no longer able to work. Arnold & Itkin LLP filed suit on behalf of the plaintiff in Hidalgo County, Texas and, after extensive discovery, obtained a $2.25 million settlement. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

July 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP recovers verdict with interest of 1.2 million dollars for Tugboat Captain ***Appeal Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys recovered 1.078 million dollars for a tugboat captain injured during a poorly planned crew change operation. Plaintiff, a relief captain employed by defendant, was asked to perform a crew change in a jon boat across a half-mile wide stretch of the Mississippi River in an area with heavy ship traffic. Despite the fact that a large crewboat was available for use, the off-going captain chose to organize a crew change using the jon boat. Shortly after the on-coming crew entered the jon boat, they were swamped by the wake of a large tanker and nearly drowned. As a result of this incident, the relief captain suffered from severe post traumatic stress disorder and anoxic brain injury from oxygen deprivation. After a four day bench trial, Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys recovered a verdict of 1.078 million dollars for the relief captain. With interest, the total verdict is approximately 1.2 million dollars. *** Appeal Pending***

July 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP settles client with unoperated back for $985,000 ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP recently won a $985,000 settlement for an injured worker with an unoperated back. The worker was hurt while being transported by boat between platforms in rough seas. The case settled days before a jury trial was set to start in Houston federal court. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

May 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jeff Seely secure a $750,000 settlement for a sixty-four year old gas lift specialist, providing a net recovery of $414,000. ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin successfully recovered $750,000 for a 64-year-old gas lift specialist who was seriously injured while getting on a Tidewater vessel while exiting a Chevron platform offshore Africa. Unfortunately, Chevron delayed evacuating personnel until weather and seas were dangerous. As he was getting on the vessel, the seas swelled, which flew him into the air and caused his leg to dangle over the jacket. The vessel then came down and crashed down on his leg. Following multiple surgeries, doctors told him he could no longer work offshore, although he could work onshore. The case was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas with the Honorable Judge Gray H. Miller presiding. A portion of the verdict was placed in a structured settlement for net recovery to the client of approximately $414,000. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

May 2008 - Arnold & Itkin attorneys Kurt Arnold and Michael Pierce successfully recovered $900,000 for a woman and her daughter who were seriously injured in a wreck during a funeral procession.
***Disbursement Pending***

Plaintiffs retained a local funeral home to provide complete services for their mother's funeral. Unbeknownst to plaintiffs, the funeral home retained a fly-by-night limousine company to provide transportation from the funeral home to the cemetery. The limousine company had no insurance. The limousine driver failed to maintain control of his vehicle and struck a concrete support post at high speed. One of the plaintiffs suffered a fractured pelvis, which necessitated several painful surgeries. After months of extensive discovery and pretrial preparation, Mr. Arnold and Mr. Pierce were able to secure a $900,000 settlement against the funeral home. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

April 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP settles claim on behalf of two platform workers for $2.05 million ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP secured more than $2 million dollars on behalf of two riggers working off the coast of Louisiana. The two men were replacing a back pressure valve when the valve skyrocketed off the pipeline and hit one worker in the head and knocked the other worker to the ground. The companies initially tried to put all the blame on the injured workers. However, Arnold & Itkin LLP was able to prove that a production operator that worked for one of the defendant's failed to completely "bleed off" pressure that had accumulated inside the pipeline. The trapped pressure caused the explosion which injured the workers. Arnold & Itkin LLP was also able to show that the safety consultant hired to supervise the workers failed to properly do his job. One worker severely injured his lower back and the other work severely injured his neck and was diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome. The case did not completely settle until after trial had already begun. The case was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division, with the Honorable Judge Vanessa Gilmore presiding. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

January 2008 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Settles Claim for Death of seaman for $1.6 Million ****Disbursement Pending****

Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a $1.6 million settlement for the surviving spouse and minor children of a vessel captain killed in an explosion that occurred when a spud barge struck an underwater high-pressure gas line, which ruptured and caught fire. The case was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The claim was pursued as part of a limitation of liability action filed by the owner of the barge. Disbursement of the settlement is currently pending.

December 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Wins Jury Verdict of $1.95 Million for a Nurse Suffering Severe Injuries When a Piece of Oilfield Equipment Struck Her Car with a Net Recovery of $1,328,111

After a one week trial in Vermillion Parish, Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys won a jury verdict and accompanying judgment for $1.95 million in a claim against Moncla Well Service, Inc. The case was brought on behalf of a former nurse injured when an improperly secured piece of oilfield equipment fell from the back of a truck and struck her car. As a result of this accident, the plaintiff suffered severe injuries to her head, jaw, and back. Defendants argued that her back injuries and headaches were not related to the accident but the jury disagreed. The verdict was one of the largest awards in a personal injury matter in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana. A portion of the verdict was placed in a structured settlement for net recovery to the client of $1,328,111.

November 2007 – Arnold & Itkin LLP Wins $10.9 Million Jury Verdict against Union Pacific for Young Girl Paralyzed in Crossing Accident
*** Appeal Pending ***

After a three week trial, Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Kurt Arnold, Jason Itkin, and Jeff Seely won a $10.9 million jury verdict on behalf of a Louisiana family. The family filed suit in Beaumont, Texas following a tragic grade crossing accident that killed a mother of four and left her five year old daughter paralyzed. After the Court (Judge Sanderson, presiding) denied pretrial motions, plaintiffs set out to prove that the crossing was a unique and local safety hazard and that Union Pacific should have installed active warning devices at the crossing, which was only protected by street signs at the time of the accident. After presenting the jury with evidence that sight lines were deficient, the crossing’s orientation made it challenging to look to the left because the road approached the crossing at a thirty degree angle, and that there were four prior accidents, including two deaths, over the seven years prior to the accident, the jury found that the crossing was hazardous and that Union Pacific should have protected the crossing with active warning devices. Disbursement of funds will take place following resolution of the pending appeal.

October 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Recovers $750K on the Eve of Trial for a Platform Worker who Fell to the Deck of a Supply Boat Injuring his Neck and Back, Providing a Net Recovery of $460,036

Arnold & Itkin LLP recovered $750,000 for a production operator injured while assisting in cargo operations. The operator fell several feet to the deck of a supply vessel while attaching slings to a large container box being loaded onto the platform, severely injuring his neck and his back. He eventually needed a neck surgery to rectify the injuries. Arnold & Itkin LLP pursued the platform owner and the vessel owner because the cargo was not pre-slung and the weather was too rough to conduct cargo operations. The case was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, with the Honorable Judge Nancy Atlas presiding. The case settled two days before the start of trial.  The net recovery following deduction of trial expenses and fees was $460,036.

September 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP's Lawsuit Leads to Nationwide Improvements in the Transportation Industry

Arnold & Itkin LLP represented the family of a woman with mental disabilities who was brutally raped by the driver of a taxicab. The taxi was specially chartered to transport Arnold & Itkin LLP's client and other individuals with mental disabilities. The rapist had a prior criminal history and is currently in jail for his crime.

After over a year of litigation, the case settled for a confidential amount of money. As part of the confidential settlement, one of the defendants agreed to make substantial and important changes in the way that drivers are selected for programs like the one at issue in this case. Those changes deal with education, testing, and credentialing of drivers. These improvements should greatly reduce the chance that another innocent victim is raped by her cab driver.

September 2007 - The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirms verdict in Douglas O'Neill v. SeaRiver

Arnold & Itkin LLP represented an injured seaman who worked as a deckhand on SeaRiver's S/R Mediterranean (formerly known as the Exxon Valdez). Mr. O' Neill was exposed to Hydrogen Sulfide gas while performing gauging operations aboard the tanker. SeaRiver refused to use hermetically sealed gauges (as it uses in its Pacific Fleet) and allowed the young seaman to be exposed while the vessel was in Oman. Additionally, SeaRiver failed to warn the seaman that the cargo received in Oman had high concentrations of the dangerous Hydrogen Sulfide gas. SeaRiver contested liability and damages. Before trial, SeaRiver was offering to settle for less than the litigation expenses incurred in prosecuting the case. Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully tried the case and is pleased to announce that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed on all grounds. The final recovery following calculation of interest was $723,014.51.

September 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Secures $1.6 Million Settlement for Captain who Fell Through a Hatch and Injured His Back, Providing a Net Recovery of $1,099,513

Arnold & Itkin LLP obtained a $1.6 million settlement for a captain who injured his back when he fell through a hatch that had been left open by another captain. The defense argued that the open hatch was an "open and obvious danger". Arnold & Itkin LLP showed the weakness of the defense's argument by hiring one of the industry's top experts to evaluate the case and prepare an animation that demonstrated how the hatch would have looked from Arnold & Itkin LLP's client's viewpoint. The animation also showed how the defendant could have prevented the injuries by simply barricading the hatch. The case, which was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, with the Honorable Judge John D. Rainey presiding, settled within ten days of trial. The captain’s net recovery totaled $1,099,513.95.

August 2007 - Injured Seaman Receives $650,000 Settlement for Neck Injuries Suffered in the Gulf of Mexico with a Net Recovery of $378,171

Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a $650,000 for a seaman who injured his neck and shoulder working on a vessel in the Gulf of Mexico. The seaman suffered severe injuries when a defective pulley he was working on became jammed and jerked his shoulder and neck. His injuries were worsened when a defective chair he was sitting in tipped over backwards in rough seas. Through extensive investigations and depositions, Arnold & Itkin LLP discovered that the defective pulley had caused problems in the past, but was ignored by company supervisors. A week before trial, the vessel owner and the seaman's employer agreed to settle the case.  The net recovery to the injured seaman was $378,171.

June 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP represents investors in breach of fiduciary duty claim and successfully completes a $50 million real estate transaction

Arnold & Itkin LLP was able to put together a business deal gone bad. Arnold & Itkin LLP represented a group of investors seeking to purchase a large real estate investment in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Unbeknownst to Arnold & Itkin LLP's clients, their financing agent had sought to go behind their backs and structure the same transaction without them. Arnold & Itkin LLP sued the agent in California alleging breach of fiduciary duties and other causes of action.

Following intense negotiations, Arnold & Itkin LLP was able to restore its clients' interest in the transaction. Because Arnold & Itkin LLP was able to initiate and resolve the litigation within two weeks, its clients successfully completed the $50 million transaction.

May 2007 – Arnold & Itkin LLP Wins $38.2 Million Jury Verdict for Houston Businessman in Claim for Breach of Fiduciary Duty
*** Appeal Pending ***

Arnold & Itkin LLP attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin won a $38.2 million jury verdict on behalf of their client, Richard Foreman, a Houston investor who was secretly cut out of a deal to acquire Honsador Lumber Corporation, one of Hawaii's largest lumber suppliers. The jury found Key Principal Partners LLC and its parent Key Corporation guilty of breaching their fiduciary duties, intentionally interfering with Foreman's efforts to acquire the Honsador Lumber Corporation, and violating Hawaii's unfair competition statute. Read more about the trial and verdict as covered in the press by the Houston Business Journal. Disbursement of funds will take place following resolution of the pending appeal.

April 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Settles Claim for $1.85 Million on Behalf of a Maritime Worker Who Suffered Severe Ankle and Foot Injuries When Forced to Jump Overboard to Avoid Other Injury, Providing a Net Recovery of $1.06 Million

Arnold & Itkin LLP settled a general maritime claim for $1.85 million on behalf of a worker injured while participating in cargo operations on a barge. The worker suffered severe injuries to his ankles and feet when he was forced to jump overboard to avoid a riser joint flung through the air from a negligently operated crane. The case settled one week before trial providing a net recovery of $1,061,687.47.

April 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Negotiates $1.5 Million Settlement for Offshore Worker who Sustained Open Leg Fracture while using Defective Equipment, Providing a Net Recovery of $1.1 Million

Arnold & Itkin LLP negotiated a $1.5 million settlement for an operator who suffered an open leg fracture while using a defective grinder that was given to him to use during his employment. The case settled on the day before trial netting the client $1,102,228.91 including the proceeds from a structured settlement.

March 2007 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Wins $1.2 Million Jury Verdict in Houston Federal Court for Seaman Who Underwent Neck Surgery After Falling Off A Ladder
*** Appeal Pending ***

After a week long trial, Kurt Arnold & Jason Itkin of Arnold & Itkin LLP won a jury verdict in excess of $1.2 million on March 1, 2007. Arnold & Itkin LLP’s client, a seaman, was injured while working alone on a ladder. He fell off the ladder and injured his neck and back. As a result of the fall, the Plaintiff underwent a one level fusion of his cervical spine. The Defendant made no offer to settle the case before or during trial. The jury found some contributory negligence on the part of the Plaintiff.  Disbursement of funds will take place following resolution of the pending appeal.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Settles Claim on Behalf of Injured Platform Worker

Arnold & Itkin LLP brought a claim on behalf of an injured worker that hurt himself on a drilling platform while pulling slips. The client had to undergo a back surgery at two levels. Arnold & Itkin LLP prosecuted the case and was able to achieve a confidential result for its client that ensured his future was secure.

Texas Monthly Magazine Honors Arnold & Itkin LLP Lawyer Selected as "Rising Star" by Law & Politics Magazine in 2007

Jason Itkin was recognized as a "Rising Star" of the Texas legal community in 2007, according to a statewide survey conducted by the publishers of Law & Politics and Super Lawyers magazines.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Named Top Lawyers for the People by H Texas Magazine in 2007

H Texas magazine in Houston named Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin as "Top Lawyers for the People" in 2007.

According to the magazine, Arnold & Itkin LLP quickly assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each case and then makes strategic decisions about how to win. “Because Arnold & Itkin LLP understands the importance of winning, the firm usually structures its fee agreements so that it shares the risk of litigation with its clients."

Arnold & Itkin LLP Recovers $7.2 Million for a Client with a Traumatic Brain Injury With a Net Recovery of $4.1 Million ***Disbursement Pending***

Arnold & Itkin LLP represented a Louisiana oilfield worker who suffered brain damage and memory loss after he fell through the grating on an offshore platform. The case involved several complex legal issues due to the nature of the injuries, number of defendants, and volume of medical records. The case proceeded to trial in October of 2006. After jury selection began, the case was settled for $7.2 million.  More than $4 Million was received by the client, with $2.5 million of the net recovery invested in a structured fund to ensure the client’s future needs would be met.

Arnold & Itkin LLP wins a $ 3.7 Million Jury Verdict for the Family of a Longshoreman Killed at the Port of Houston
*** Appeal Pending ***

Arnold & Itkin LLP won a $3.7 million verdict for the family of Abelino Ponce, a longshoreman who was killed in a tragic accident at the Port of Houston. Mr. Ponce was helping to transport steel pipe from a ship to the dock when a wire struck him in the side and threw him to his death. On the eve of the October 2006 trial, the defendants offered to settle the case for $250,000. The plaintiffs, at Arnold & Itkin LLP's urging, rejected the settlement offer. After a three day trial, the jury awarded Mr. Ponce's family $3.7 million.  Disbursement of funds will take place following resolution of the pending appeal.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Secures Verdict for Seaman Who Was Exposed to Hydrogen Sulfide

Arnold & Itkin LLP represented a member of the Exxon Seamen's Union who was exposed to Hydrogen Sulfide while working aboard an oil tanker in the Middle East. When the defendants failed to offer any reasonable money to settle the case, Arnold & Itkin LLP held them accountable by winning at trial.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Secures $1.75 Million Settlement During Trial for Injured Seaman who Suffered Herniated Discs in Neck and Back When a Lifeboat Malfunctioned, Providing a Net Recovery of $1,015,917

Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a net settlement of $1,015,917.34 for an individual who herniated discs in his neck and back after the lifeboat he was riding in malfunctioned. Before trial, the defendants’ final offer would have only provided a net recovery of $480,000. Midway through the July 2006 trial, the defendants met the individual's settlement demand by more than doubling their previous offers.

May 2006 - Arnold & Itkin LLP Reaches Confidential Settlement on Behalf of Dentist who was Injured by a Defective Hockey Mask

Arnold & Itkin LLP filed suit in Dallas County on behalf of a dentist who suffered eye injuries due to a failure in his goalie mask. The client hired Arnold & Itkin LLP to hold the defendant accountable to ensure that more people were not injured by this defective product and to financially compensate him for his injuries.

Arnold & Itkin LLP met both goals. Arnold & Itkin LLP reached a confidential settlement with defendant. Additionally, the product was recalled in the United States.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Obtains $1.67 Million for a Client who Injured his Back Rescuing a Co-worker, Providing a Net Recovery of $928,924

Arnold & Itkin LLP represented a Louisiana worker who hurt his back while rescuing a co-worker from danger. The case settled during jury selection providing the client’s family with a net recovery of $928,924.62. Arnold & Itkin LLP managed to achieve this excellent result even though the client had preexisting injuries to the same part of his back.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Wins $2 Million for an Offshore Worker who Suffered Severe Injuries When a Canister Exploded in his Face, Providing a Net Recovery of $1,073,840

Arnold & Itkin LLP secured a $2 Million settlement for an offshore worker who broke several facial bones after the lid of a metal canister exploded into his face. The net recovery after fees and expenses was $1,073,840.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Named Top Lawyers for the People by H Texas Magazine in 2006

H Texas magazine in Houston named Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin as "Top Lawyers for the People" in 2006.

According to the magazine, Arnold & Itkin LLP quickly assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each case and then makes strategic decisions about how to win. “Because Arnold & Itkin LLP understands the importance of winning, the firm usually structures its fee agreements so that it shares the risk of litigation with its clients."

October 2005 - Arnold & Itkin LLP recovers $2.5 million for a businessman in a breach of oral contract claim against a telecom company, with a net distribution to the client of $1.6 million

Arnold & Itkin LLP was hired by a businessman who had agreed to help a large telecom company acquire another company. The terms of the business man's engagement were discussed and agreed to orally, but they were never formalized in writing. Upon winning the bid, the telecom company offered to pay Arnold & Itkin LLP's client less than 1/50th of the oral terms.

Arnold & Itkin LLP litigated this case for nearly a year and a half against one of the nation's largest law firms. Ultimately, Arnold & Itkin LLP reached a $2.5 million settlement for its client, providing a net recovery of $1,624,295.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Negotiates $900K Settlement for Injured Seaman Following Fusion of Lumbar Spine, Resulting in a Net Distribution of $561,840

On the eve of a July 2005 trial, Arnold & Itkin LLP negotiated a $900K settlement for a worker injured on a crew boat making platform turns in the Gulf of Mexico. The client was injured when a co-worker was negligently operating the crew boat on which he was sleeping causing him to fall from his bunk, seriously injuring his back.  The net distribution was $561,840.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Secures $1.72 Million Settlement for Offshore Workers Exposed to H2S on the Job, With a Net Recovery of $1.01 Million Shared Among Claimants

Arnold & Itkin LLP successfully recovered $1.72 million for individual contractors injured on the job in the Gulf of Mexico in 2004 when they were exposed to Hydrogen Sulfide. The case was confidentially resolved in June 2005.  A net recovery of $1,011,119.44 was shared among the claimants.

Arnold & Itkin LLP Named Top Lawyers for the People by H Texas Magazine in 2005

H Texas magazine in Houston named Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin as "Top Lawyers for the People" in 2005.

According to the magazine, "Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin are known for the unique blend of energy, skill, and passion that they bring to each case. They founded Arnold & Itkin LLP to represent plaintiffs and defendants in complex business disputes, offshore injury cases, class actions, and product liability cases. The firm and its cases have attracted national, regional, and local media attention... Their past experiences working with well-known Judges, United States Senators, elite trial firms and the Attorney General combined with their tireless work ethic allows them to achieve extraordinary results."

Texas Monthly Magazine Honors Arnold & Itkin LLP Lawyers Selected as "Rising Stars" by Law & Politics Magazine in 2005

Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin were recognized as "Rising Stars" of the Texas legal community in 2005, according to a statewide survey conducted by the publishers of Law & Politics and Super Lawyers magazines.

According to the publications, leading Texas attorneys were "asked to nominate the best lawyers they have personally observed in action— whether as opposing counsel or co-counsel, or through other first-hand observation in the courtroom."

To learn more about our firm or to speak with one of our lawyers, please contact our Houston office.