CASE RESULTS

"We got everything we asked for and I ended up with a lot more money than I thought I could get. If anyone needs a super lawyer, hire Eric Marye because he is the best.” Carolyn Moreno

“When my wife was killed by an eighteen-wheeler, my family and I hired Eric Marye. Not only was he a great lawyer, but he also became a friend.” Milton Jensen

“I was in a one-car accident on the job and had a head injury so I couldn’t remember what happened. Eric Marye found two witnesses and sued my company. My life would be much different if I hadn’t hired Eric Marye’s firm.” Robby Thomas

“I hit an 18-wheeler that ran a stop sign on a highway in Louisiana. Eric Marye settled my case for almost two million dollars! I am getting a check each month for the rest of my life.” Lusty Harris

“I got hurt on a cotton gin when the rollers on the condenser unit caught my arm and pulled me into the machine. Eric Marye and he worked on my case for about two years. He got my medical bills paid and I am getting a check every month from the insurance company for the rest of my life.” Jerry Alvarado

The Law Offices of Eric H. Marye & Associates have successfully represented clients in a variety of large settlements, including the following cases:

Toxic Tort: William Tramel et. al. vs. Best Group, Inc. and TXU Electric Company, Cause No. 97-66, In the District Court, Henderson County, Texas.

This was a 28-plaintiff toxic tort case in which the plaintiffs were injured by both lead and asbestos exposure at a TXU power plant demolition site in Trinidad, Texas. Texas Utilities hired a Michigan demolition company, Best Group, Inc., to perform the demolition, after Best Group submitted the lowest bid for the job. Despite knowledge of the existence of lead paint, TXU allowed Best Group to cut through pipe and other apparatus without breathing equipment. Eventually, OSHA cited Best Group with intentional safety violations. Several workers who were tested had high levels of lead in their systems. The case eventually settled for $2,800,000 at the second mediation.

Automobile Accident: Kimberly Beemer vs. Life Like Corporation, Cause No. 56544, In the District Court, Ellis County, Texas.

This accident was caused when a fatigued driver with sleep apnea who had just left work fell asleep behind the wheel and hit Ms. Beemer head-on. The employer, Life Like, tried to deny responsibility because the driver was not on the clock. The company could not produce the employee’s punch list from a new computerized payroll system. After meeting with the software manufacturer in Florida, we hired an expert who refuted the explanation from the Life Like representative as to how the punches from the week of the accident were lost. Under Texas law, if an employee is on the way home, the employer has no vicarious liability; however Marye & Associates was able to successfully force a settlement of $1,400,000.

Trucking Injury: Lusty Harris vs. Trism Transportation, Inc.

Mr. Harris was involved in wreck with an 18 wheeler that had run a stop sign in southern Louisiana. He suffered a fractured skull that required the insertion of metal plates in his head. Mr. Harris was initially represented by a Louisiana attorney who had estimated the value of his claim at $600,000 and recommended he seek treatment from a chiropractor. Mr. Harris contacted Marye & Associates, who referred Mr. Harris to a shoulder specialist. The specialist immediately diagnosed a torn rotator cuff which was surgically repaired. Marye & Associates also consulted with a neurologist and a neuropsychologist who evaluated Mr. Harris for, and diagnosed him with, a brain injury. The case eventually settled without litigation for $1,900,000.

Work Injury / Non-subscriber: Jerry Alvarado vs. Consolidated Cotton Gin Co.

Mr. Alvarado was employed by a company that did not subscribe to workers’ compensation. Mr. Alvarado was a member of the assembly department and had not been trained in service when he was called to Muleshoe Coop to assist with a start-up of new cotton gins. He was attempting to rid green cotton from condenser rollers on a gin stand when his gin stick became stuck between the rollers. His right hand and arm became caught in the machine and his arm was crushed up to the elbow. Mr. Alvarado developed RSD/CRPS in his arm. Marye & Associates worked with several experts on workplace safety and mechanical design to develop a life-care plan for Mr. Alvarado. The case settled for $1,500,000 at the second mediation.

Medical Malpractice / Wrongful Death: Estate of Jeffrey Leonard vs. Baylor Hospital

Mr. Leonard, a 29-year-old man, died from complications related to bacterial endocarditis at Baylor Hospital. The hospital claimed Mr. Leonard died of a drug overdose based on a blood screen performed on Mr. Leonard’s blood several hours after he had been admitted to the emergency room. However, his common law wife and parents alleged that Mr. Leonard was denied proper medical care due to his lack of insurance. Marye & Associates filed a wrongful death claim and submitted an initial demand of $7,000,000. The case eventually settled for a confidential amount.

Work Injury/Non-subscriber: Robby Thomas vs. Dalworth Carpet Cleaning, Inc.

Mr. Thomas was involved in a one-car accident while driving his employer’s vehicle. According to two witnesses, Mr. Thomas lost control and hit a concrete support under a bridge at highway speeds. He was ejected and suffered a serious, degloving leg injury. Marye & Associates consulted with multiple experts who testified that the van in which Mr. Thomas was riding was unsafe and was not loaded correctly. Marye & Associates also alleged that Mr. Thomas suffered a head injury and lost consciousness at the scene. The initial demand for damages was $5,000,000, and the case was settled confidentially during arbitration.

Products Liability: Gary Estep vs. John Deere Company, Inc.

Mr. Estep had just purchased a brand new line trimmer and was using it when he heard a rattling sound. He took the plastic cover off the clutch and pulled the cord slowly to determine the source of the sound. The spot welds on the clutch assembly failed and a steel gear from the clutch struck Mr. Estep in the eye – permanently blinding him in that eye. Marye & Associates settled the case for $650,000.

Products Liability: Patrick Yates vs. McBride Electric Co., Inc., Hon Industries and Allsteel

Mr. Yates was shocked at work and suffered a series of seizures as a result of several issues related to workplace desks. The desks, made by Hon, were defectively manufactured so that the resistance required to unplug a socket from the outlet was out of proportion to the strength of the clips holding the outlets to the desks. The clips began to fail, causing the desk plates to drop between the outlet and the socket, producing an electric arc and fire. McBride Electric had miswired the Earthlink facility so that the arc and ensuing fire failed to trigger the breaker. Marye & Associates settled the case for $550,000.

Work Injury / Non-subscriber: Carolyn Moreno vs. Prestonwood Country Club

Ms. Moreno was instructed by her supervisor to turn on a stove by inserting a sharp implement to activate the electric starter. Ms. Moreno followed instructions and was severely shocked and thrown across the room into a steel table. As a result, she suffered from chronic pain. The case eventually settled in arbitration for a confidential amount.

Trucking/Wrongful Death: Estate of Sharon Jensen vs. Refrigerated Food Express, Inc.

Ms. Jensen was hired by a company called 3CZ, Inc. to drive for Refrigerated Food Express, Inc. She was killed when a truck driven by another owner-operator of Refrigerated Food Express, Inc. crushed her between the vehicle and the dock. Marye & associates eventually settled the case for a confidential amount.

Work Injury / Non-subscriber: Rusty Womack vs. Home Depot USA, Inc. and Exel, Inc.

Mr. Womack’s leg was amputated below the knee by a fellow forklift driver whose vehicle slid on a wet floor in a Home Depot warehouse. The floor of the warehouse was made of smooth, steel-troweled concrete with a sealant that made the floor extremely smooth. Due to changing temperatures, moisture would condense on the floor and when mixed with oil and dirt, would become very slick. Mr. Womack had just stepped off his forklift when the other driver tried to stop but slid into Mr. Womack’s leg. A former employee filed a public lawsuit against Home Depot, stating that she was asked to provide false information and that Home Depot knew about the problem with the floor, but did nothing until after Mr. Womack’s injury. Marye & Associates argued that both Home Depot and Exel, Inc., a third party logistics provider, knew of the floor problem. Marye & Associates issued an initial demand of $10,000,000 and the case eventually settled after three mediations for a confidential amount.