Significant Cases

All of our cases are as important to the lawyers at Doyle Raizner LLP as they are to our clients. We have been fortunate to have achieved a number of successes on the cases entrusted to us by our clients.

Media Coverage:

Soldiers Claime 1.2 Million From US Army

Nurse Awarded Millions for Injury

When Ransom Insurance Goes Awry

Worker's Abduction Brings Heartbreak and Legal Fight

British Soldiers Sue Pentagon

Troops Claim 1.25 Million Damages From US Army Over Iraq Crash Injuries

Recent Verdicts and Resolutions:

Lloyd Snyder v. Cunningham Lindsey Claims Management, Inc. -

After a successful career in the insurance industry, Lloyd Snyder chose as a second career to be a psychiatric nurse at a major Houston hospital. From his relationship with his family as a husband and father, to his service to his country as a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam, Lloyd could be counted on by all who knew him. He never asked for anything in return. In October 2002, however, Lloyd was attached at work by a psychiatric patient and suffered a painful, but manageable, injury to his cervical spine. His doctors, and even doctors hired by his workers' compensation claims handlers, agreed that Lloyd had suffered a significant injury and needed surgery. He needed his workers' compensation insurance company's help.

For two years, Cunningham Lindsey, the claims handling firm with the responsibility for adjusting Lloyd's workers' compensation claim, stonewalled him with repeat denials of his claim, his injuries and his needed surgery. They ignored doctors' opinions, and denied Lloyd the surgery and medical care he needed. They even falsely claimed to be out of business. When the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission rejected Cunningham Lindsey's delays and denials, Lloyd finally and belatedly received the surgery. But the damage was done, and after two years of neglect, Lloyd had suffered permanent, irreparable nerve damage.

The case went to trial in October 2006, and a Houston state court jury found Cunningham Lindsey and its adjuster fully responsible for Lloyds injuries, and awarded $4.3 million in damages.

Darold Burch v. Westerngeco Resources (Schlumberger)

Darold Burch had a long and successful carreer as a seismic gun mechanic, but was injured severely when he struck his head on an improperly placed beam in his work area.  The beam was placed too low across the slipway area of the gun deck on the seismic survey vessel WESTERN PRIDE.  Burch began to experience severe post traumatic headaches after the incident, and ultimatley was diagnosed with multiple cervical disc injuries that required surgical repair.  Westerngeco blamed Mr. Burch for the incident, but a Houston jury disagreed and returned a verdict in December 2007 against the Schlumberger subsidiary for $1.6 million in damages.

Bobby Roberts v. Rigdon Marine Corporation

After a Supply Ship Captain was viciously attacked by an unruly and inadequate crew off the coast of Africa, a major U.S. shipping company refused to honor its responsibilities to its employee who was suffering back, neck, head, and psychological problems as a result of the attack. A Texas jury returned a verdict in August 2007 for Doyle Raizner LLP's client of $1,505,000, which was more than ten times the highest settlement offer of the shipping company.

Lance Morris v. Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Lance Morris was a volunteer firemen in Justin, Texas, and gave his time to help others. When out on a call carrying a patient from an accident scene, Lance injured his lumbar spine. While Lance was at a hospital in the Texas Medical Center for emergency spine surgery, Texas Mutual denied his claim. The adjuster had been on the job for one day when she denied the claim, despite medical evidence documenting the need for surgery, and with no medical evidence whatsoever supporting any denial. In March 2006, a Houston state court jury decided that Texas Mutual had acted in bad faith, and awarded $750,000 in damages, including $500,000 in damages for insurance misconduct committed knowingly.

Timothy Ruttiger v. Texas Mutual Insurance Company

Tim Ruttiger sustained a documented and reported on-the-job injury while carrying a heavy load of material. He went to the hospital for treatment that same day, and there were witness statements taken. There was no legitimate question what happened, when it happened, and how. Nevertheless, Texas Mutual denied his claim, and asserted that no injury had occurred. They even made up a story about Tim getting hurt playing softball to justify their denial. Unfortunately, they never spoke to Tim or his co-workers before they denied his claim. Tim needed surgery for the hernia he suffered, but Texas Mutual delayed payment for months, until they finally conceded that Tim had suffered an injury at work. A Galveston state court jury found Texas Mutual to have acted in bad faith, and awarded almost $400,000 in damages.

• Tanker Fleet Chef v. Major Shipping Company - Houston, Texas
  When a major U.S. shipping company refused to honor its responsibilities to a long-time employee who suffered career-ending injuries in a tanker in the Gulf of Alaska, Doyle Raizner LLP took the case to trial. A Texas jury returned a verdict for Doyle Raizner LLP's client of over $2.5 million, which was more than ten times the shipping company's highest settlement offer.
• Family of South American refinery worker v. Texas oilfield services company
  • Confidential settlement with an energy company and its insurer in a suit arising out of the kidnapping and presumed death of an employee in South America. [that's all we can say on the website, but please link here to the Angustia article]

Maritime Dredge Worker v. National Dredging Company

Settlement of $1.25 million on behalf of a dredge worker who suffered spinal injuries requiring surgery.

• Refinery Worker v. Petroleum Company -
  Houston, Texas
  In March 2000, a refinery unit in Houston exploded, killing one worker and severely injuring 71 others. Attorneys with Doyle Raizner LLP represented one individual who had suffered severe burns as a result of the explosion. The lawsuit was settled for a confidential, multi-million dollar amount, and was reported to be among the highest settlement of all of the men injured in the incident.

• Widow of Ship's Engineer v. Shipping Company - Galveston, Texas
  Award after trial in excess of $1.6 million on behalf of the widow of a ship's engineer who suffered a fractured hip and pelvis off the coast of Antarctica and who ultimately died as a result of the shipping company's wrongful failure to evacuate him for proper medical treatment.
• UK Resident Engineer v. Vessels and Oilfield Services Companies - Galveston, Texas
  Recoveries through judgments and settlement of over $2 million for a UK resident, German national seismic engineer who suffered a crushed arm and other injuries in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Oilfield Service Company v. Lloyds Syndicates - Galveston, Texas
  Recoveries of over $2.7 million on behalf of a UK oilfield services company against certain Lloyds Syndicates and their New York and Texas lawyers in an insurance bad faith, legal malpractice and fraud dispute.
• Closed Head Injury v. Negligent Driver -
  Houston, Texas
  Settlement of $ 1.5 million on behalf of passenger on a motorcycle who suffered a closed head, traumatic brain injury as a result of a road traffic incident.
• Injured Employee v. National Food Processing Company

Settlement of $1 million on behalf of a factory worker who sustained a closed head traumatic brain injury against his non-subscriber employer.

Family of Manufacturing Worker v. National Pipe Supply Company

Settlement of $1 million on behalf of family of a manufacturing facility worker killed at work, against his non-subscriber employer.

• Five year old boy v. Private Hospital Organization -
  Galveston, Texas
  Doyle Raizner LLP represented a little boy injured during birth at a private, chain hospital in Texas. The lawsuit alleged that the hospital organization permitted a nurse with a known addiction to narcotics to control the keys to the drug cabinet on a labor and delivery floor. During labor, the nurse took the expectant mother's Demerol, then administered a lethal overdose of the drug Magnesium Sulfate. After a period of respiratory distress, the little boy was born by emergency cesarean section, but suffered significant brain injuries as a result of his birth ordeal. The case was recently settled for a confidential amount.
• A Texas Family v. Private Hospital Organization - Galveston, Texas
  In April 1995, a 49 year-old man recovering from back surgery received a fatal overdose of morphine at a private, chain hospital in Texas. In addition, the lawsuit alleged that after the patient's death, which was documented simply as a complication of his surgery due to a pulmonary embolism, nursing administrators required the nurses responsible for the patient's care and involved in the administration of the morphine through the PCA pump to have a new chart created. The organized fabrication of a new chart and attempted cover-up of the morphine overdose was not revealed until depositions in a wrongful death suit handled by Doyle Raizner LLP attorneys. The case was settled for a confidential amount.
• Another Texas Family v. Private Hospital Organization - Galveston, Texas
  In September 1997, a 59 year-old woman was recovering from surgery in the Intensive Care Unit of a chain hospital in Texas. The lawsuit alleged that the nursing staff at this hospital administered lethal overdoses of Valium and Morphine to the patient, and that the massive overdosing continued even after the patient went into respiratory distress. The lawsuit also alleged that the hospital understaffed its facility and failed to monitor the patient after the lethal overdoes. As a result, the patient suffered a devastating brain injury and never regained consciousness. The lawsuit was settled for a confidential amount.
• Widow of granite quarry worker v. Granite Quarry Company - Austin, Texas
  A confidential settlement on behalf of the widow of a granite worker who died as a result of silicosis. For decades the employer knew of the dangers of silica exposure, but did virtually nothing to protect its employees from this known hazard. This is the most recent settlement of multiple claims arising from this same Texas granite quarry. Doyle Raizner LLP lawyers have represented four employees and their families from the same quarry who suffered and died as a result of this type of exposure.
• A Texas Family v. Water Heater Manufacturer - Houston, Texas
  In September 1998 a family was devastated when a hot water heater exploded and started a fire in a Houston residence. Tragically, a number of family members, including a child, were severely burned in the fire. The lawsuit alleged that the fire was the result of a defective water heater and improper installation. The suit was settled for a confidential amount.
• Houston Oilfield Service Company v. U.K. Oilfield Service Company - Houston, Texas
  A Doyle Raizner LLP attorney participated in obtaining a jury verdict of over $18 million on behalf of a Houston oilfield services company. The Defendant, a large Scottish oilfield services contractor agreed to sell certain subsidiaries to the Plaintiff in a letter agreement. Instead, however, the Scottish company sold the subsidiaries to the Plaintiff's chief competitor for more money. The jury found the Defendant breached the contract and committed fraud, and awarded actual and punitive damages.

Some results achieved while Doyle Raizner LLP attorneys were affiliated with other law firms.

Results obtained depend on the facts of each case.