We post jury verdicts and settlements from Texas and Louisiana to help our clients and potential clients understand the range of verdicts and settlements available to them. Remember, the value of each case depends on the unique facts of that case.

Oilfield Injuries

Kenneth B. et al. v. Paccar, Incorporated, d/b/a Peterbilt Motor Company
Verdict: $6.7 million

Mr. LaGarde obtained a jury verdict of $6.7 million for his client, Kenneth B. His client was preparing to erect an oil rig derrick when a Peterbilt truck backed up without warning and crushed him against a bulldozer. Mr. LaGarde’s client’s right arm was amputated above the elbow. Mr. LaGarde established that the truck should have had a backup alarm to alert workers that the truck had shifted into reverse.

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Auto and Truck Accidents

Jo Ann G. v. Jacquelyn R.:
Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde represented a client whose husband was killed in a motorcycle collision. The elderly driver hit the client’s late husband head-on after making wide right-hand turn. The LaGardes were successful in negotiating a confidential pre-trial settlement that was very favorable for their client.

Genaro G. v. Michael M. et al.:
Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde represented a client who suffered injuries when his truck rear-ended another truck that had stalled on the road. Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde were able to establish that the driver of the stalled truck was busy making phone calls and sending text messages when he should have been monitoring his gauges. Had he monitored his gauges, he would have received a warning that his alternator was no longer working. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

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Maritime and Offshore

Shane B. v. Diamond Offshore Services
Verdict: $801,648

Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde represented a member of the crew of an offshore jackup drilling rig who suffered a herniated disc at L5-S1 while cleaning the rig’s mud pit. The LaGardes introduced evidence at trial showing that his client had been sent into the mud pit without safety goggles or a face shield, that his supervisor was splashing drilling mud and chemicals into his client’s eyes and that, just before he fell, the supervisor hit his feet with the high pressure spray from a fire hose, causing him to stumble backwards and fall. The jury returned with a verdict of $801,648 in damages.

Devon Energy v. Global Santa Fe Drilling Company et al.:
Mr. LaGarde represented Devon Energy in a damage lawsuit against the owner of an offshore jackup rig that broke loose during Hurricane Rita. The broken rig destroyed a production platform, causing loss of production from an entire offshore block. A favorable, confidential settlement was reached before trial.

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Defective Products

Mark L. v. Home Depot:
Mr. LaGarde obtained a jury verdict of $2,371,500 for a client who suffered a back injury when a ladder on which he was standing collapsed. Mr. LaGarde’s client underwent a fusion at the L5-S1 level of his back. Mr. LaGarde was able to show that the ladder had been sold to his client by Home Depot after the date Home Depot received notice of a safety recall of the product.

Jose J. v. Ford Motor Company and Firestone Tire:
Mr. LaGarde represented a client who suffered severe injuries when the Ford Explorer SUV he was driving rolled over as the direct result of the tread separation of a defective tire manufactured by Firestone. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

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Insurance

Donald O. v. Farmers Insurance Company:
Mr. LaGarde represented a client whose vehicle was hit head-on by a drunk driver travelling in the wrong direction on a divided highway. The client had underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage with Farmers Insurance. Farmers initially refused to pay the amount of damages claimed by Mr. LaGarde’s client. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

Contract Claims

Tradewinds Oil & Gas v. ATI:
Mr. LaGarde represented a Texas company in a federal court lawsuit alleging breach of a confidentiality and non-circumvention agreement over offshore oil and gas development off the coast of Vietnam. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

Workplace Injuries and Deaths

Aamir L. v. Forever 99 Cent Store:
Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde represented a store clerk who suffered severe burns when he attempted to rescue a disabled veteran in a wheelchair from a burning thrift store. The LaGardes alleged that the owners of the store failed to exercise reasonable care to keep smoke alarms in working order and failed to keep aisles in the store cleared for emergency exit by wheelchair-bound customers in case of fire. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

Elizabeth R. v. Estes Express:
Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde represented a client whose husband was killed at work when the jack holding up a forklift collapsed, causing the forklift to fall on him. The LaGardes alleged, and were prepared to prove at trial, that the company had failed to properly train their client’s late husband and had failed to institute a proper lock-out/tag-out procedure that would have prevented the incident. A favorable, confidential settlement was reached before trial.

Dangerous Buildings and Walkways

Catherine B. v. TMAT Corporation:
Mr. and Mrs. LaGarde represented a client who suffered severe injuries resulting in spine surgery after tripping over an old door mat with curled edges that was placed in the entrance of an office building. The LaGardes intended to prove at trial that the management of the building knew that the door mats were old and defective but delayed replacing them, thereby putting visitors to their building in danger. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

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Oil and Gas Claims

Charles K. v. FW Oil:
Mr. LaGarde represented a petroleum geologist in a suit to recover overriding royalty interests (ORRI) promised to him by his employer. Mr. LaGarde was prepared to prove at trial that the offshore oil and gas leases in question fell within the definition of those leases to which his client was owed an override. A favorable, confidential pre-trial settlement was reached.

Dan L. et al. v. Crimson Oil & Gas:
Mr. LaGarde represented three petroleum geologists in negotiations to recover overriding royalty interests (ORRI) promised to them by their employer. Mr. LaGarde was prepared to prove that the offshore oil and gas leases in question fell within the definition of those leases to which his clients were owed overrides. A favorable, confidential settlement was reached before suit was filed.

Helicopter Crashes

Comorant Alpha Helicopter Crash:
Richard LaGarde represented the widow of the co-pilot of a Bristow’s Supa Puma helicopter that crashed in the North Sea while transporting oilrig workers from a production platform to a floating hotel. Of the fifteen passengers and two crew members in the helicopter, only five passengers and one crew member survived. Mr. LaGarde was prepared to prove, at trial, that Shell and Exxon were negligent in permitting the helicopter to operate in extreme weather conditions. The wind speeds were in excess of 50 knots gusting to 60 knots and wave heights were at least 13 meters. A favorable confidential settlement agreement was negotiated in London just prior to the first set of depositions.

Steven M. v. HHI:
Richard LaGarde represented an offshore worker who suffered serious injuries when the helicopter transporting him to a production platform in the Gulf of Mexico crashed into the water. Mr. LaGarde was prepared to prove, at trial, that the defendant failed to properly maintain the helicopter and used spare parts that had been red-flagged and should not have been used. A favorable confidential settlement was reached before trial.

Sarah G. v. Bell Helicopters:
Richard LaGarde represented the widow of an Air Logistics pilot who died when his Bell 206B Jet Ranger helicopter crashed while landing on an offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana. Mr. LaGarde was prepared to prove, at trial, that the crash was caused by a defective bond joint in the helicopter’s tail rotor drive shaft. A favorable confidential settlement was reached before trial.