Dallas Business Lawyer Blog tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1823491 2012-02-09T10:09:03-08:00 Texas Legal News and Information - Published by Dallas Business Attorney Jonathan M. LeBlanc TypePad DallasBusinessLawBloghttp://feedburner.google.com Lawyer Awarded On Defamation Claim Against Former Employee - Dallas, Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b0168e70d214e970c 2012-02-09T10:09:03-08:00 2012-02-09T10:09:03-08:00 A jury awarded $1.25 million to an attorney on his countersuit against a former paralegal who accused him of sexual harassment. Allison Moreno sued Ostly, Murphy & Vu LLP — now known as Murphy, Vu, Thongsamouth, Chatterjee LLP — alleging that attorney Thomas Ostly sexually harassed her and wrongfully terminated her in 2006. She claimed that Ostly made unwanted sexual advances toward her and fired her after she ended their intimate relationship. Ostly contended that they had a consensual relationship and that Moreno voluntarily resigned when it ended. After Moreno filed suit, Ostly cross-complained against her for defamation, intentional infliction... Jonathan LeBlanc

A jury awarded $1.25 million to an attorney on his countersuit against a former paralegal who accused him of sexual harassment. Allison Moreno sued Ostly, Murphy & Vu LLP — now known as Murphy, Vu, Thongsamouth, Chatterjee LLP — alleging that attorney Thomas Ostly sexually harassed her and wrongfully terminated her in 2006. She claimed that Ostly made unwanted sexual advances toward her and fired her after she ended their intimate relationship. Ostly contended that they had a consensual relationship and that Moreno voluntarily resigned when it ended. After Moreno filed suit, Ostly cross-complained against her for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.
For more information go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

 

 Woman Wins Suit Over Honda Hybrid Civic False Claims About Mileage - Dallas, Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b0168e69147ac970c 2012-02-02T10:29:24-08:00 2012-02-02T10:29:24-08:00 The California owner of a Honda Civic Hybrid car has won her unusual small-claims court lawsuit against the auto giant over the vehicle's failure to deliver the promised mileage. A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner has awarded Heather Peters $9,867. Peters opted out of a class-action lawsuit so she could try to claim a higher payment for the failure of her Civic to deliver the 50 miles per gallon (21.26 kilometers per liter) that was promised when she bought it. Informed of the decision by The Associated Press, Peters exulted, "Wow! Fantastic." "I am absolutely thrilled. Sometimes big justice comes... Jonathan LeBlanc

2007 Hond...

The California owner of a Honda Civic Hybrid car has won her unusual small-claims court lawsuit against the auto giant over the vehicle's failure to deliver the promised mileage.

A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner has awarded Heather Peters $9,867.

Peters opted out of a class-action lawsuit so she could try to claim a higher payment for the failure of her Civic to deliver the 50 miles per gallon (21.26 kilometers per liter) that was promised when she bought it.
Informed of the decision by The Associated Press, Peters exulted, "Wow! Fantastic."

"I am absolutely thrilled. Sometimes big justice comes in small packages," she said. "This is a victory for Honda Civic owners everywhere."

Peters, a former lawyer, hoped to inspire a flood of such lawsuits by the other 200,000 owners of the Hybrid Honda Civic model sold in 2006. She said that if all 200,000 owners of the cars sued and won in small claims cost, it could Honda Motor Co. $2 billion.

For more information go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

 Office Worker Sexually Harassed By Boss Wins At Trial - Dallas, Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b0162ff68af0d970d 2012-01-11T13:13:07-08:00 2012-01-11T13:13:07-08:00 An office worker who claimed that her boss subjected her to myriad instances of sexual harassment during her five months of employment was awarded $868,000. In 2006, Lynda Beck, then 42, worked for Guardian Leasing Inc. in Houston. Beck claimed that her boss, who was the vice president, made sexually suggestive gestures with his tongue and put his hands on her. The last straw, she said, was when he fell to his knees, rubbed and sniffed her leg, and asked her, “Do you shave it?” She said she told him to “get the hell out” of her office, and she... Jonathan LeBlanc

Sex harrasm

An office worker who claimed that her boss subjected her to myriad instances of sexual harassment during her five months of employment was awarded $868,000. In 2006, Lynda Beck, then 42, worked for Guardian Leasing Inc. in Houston. Beck claimed that her boss, who was the vice president, made sexually suggestive gestures with his tongue and put his hands on her. The last straw, she said, was when he fell to his knees, rubbed and sniffed her leg, and asked her, “Do you shave it?” She said she told him to “get the hell out” of her office, and she complained to the owner. Beck said she was fired after a one-day investigation. The company claimed she was fired for poor job performance. Of the award, $750,000 was for punitives.

For more information about sexual harassment, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034.

 Do You Have A Will Prepared For The State of Texas? tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b0154384d41fd970c 2011-12-14T13:26:22-08:00 2011-12-14T13:26:22-08:00 If you reside in the State of Texas and do not have a will, your family may not be protected in the event of your death. For more information as to why you should have a will go to www.willslawyerdallas.com or call 214-855-0034. Jonathan LeBlanc

Contract 4

If you reside in the State of Texas and do not have a will, your family may not be protected in the event of your death.  For more information as to why you should have a will go to www.willslawyerdallas.com or call 214-855-0034.

 Citigroup Agrees to Pay Millions For Investment Fraud Claim - Dallas, Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b015436487fee970c 2011-10-20T07:17:02-07:00 2011-10-20T07:17:02-07:00 As the housing market began its collapse, Wall Street firms and sophisticated investors searched for ways to profit. Some of them found an easy method: Stuff a portfolio with risky mortgage-related investments, sell it to unsuspecting customers and bet against it. Citigroup on Wednesday agreed to pay $285 million to settle a civil complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had defrauded investors who bought just such a deal. The transaction involved a $1 billion portfolio of mortgage-related investments, many of which were handpicked for the portfolio by Citigroup without telling investors of its role or that it... Jonathan LeBlanc

Fraud 2

As the housing market began its collapse, Wall Street firms and sophisticated investors searched for ways to profit. Some of them found an easy method: Stuff a portfolio with risky mortgage-related investments, sell it to unsuspecting customers and bet against it. 

Citigroup on Wednesday agreed to pay $285 million to settle a civil complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had defrauded investors who bought just such a deal. The transaction involved a $1 billion portfolio of mortgage-related investments, many of which were handpicked for the portfolio by Citigroup without telling investors of its role or that it had made bets that the investments would fall in value.

In the four years since the housing market began its steady descent, securities regulators have settled only two cases related to the financial crisis for a larger sum of money. This is also the third case brought by the S.E.C. accusing a major Wall Street institution of misleading customers about who was putting together a security and about their motive. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase & Company both settled similar cases last year.

If you need help with a civil fraud claim in Texas, call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com or go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com

 Do You Need A Business Attorney Located In Dallas or Throughout Texas To Represent You? tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b0162fbbad463970d 2011-10-18T09:30:11-07:00 2011-10-18T09:30:11-07:00 If you have a business matter that requires legal consultation or the hiring of a lawyer to represent you or your business, please call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com or www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com for more information or assistance. Jonathan LeBlanc

If you have a business matter that requires legal consultation or the hiring of a lawyer to represent you or your business, please call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com or www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com for more information or assistance. 

 Woman Recovers For Sex Discrimination For Being Fired Due To Pregnancy - Dallas, Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b014e8b8525b9970d 2011-09-13T08:12:27-07:00 2011-09-13T08:12:27-07:00 A jury awarded $113,830 to a consultant who alleged George Lucas' company rescinded a job offer because of her pregnancy. In 2008, Julie Gilman Veronese accepted a job offer from Lucasfild Ltd., as an assistant to a manager at Lucas' estate in San Anselmo. Veronese claimed the manager withdrew the offer for the 30-day position, for which Veronese had signed a contract, when she disclosed that she was pregnant. Veronese sued Lucasfilm, alleging pregnancy discrimination, as well as retaliation and failure to accommodate a pregnancy-related disability. Lucasfilm denied that its decision to withdraw the offer had anything to do with... Jonathan LeBlanc

Child 

A jury awarded $113,830 to a consultant who alleged George Lucas' company rescinded a job offer because of her pregnancy. In 2008, Julie Gilman Veronese accepted a job offer from Lucasfild Ltd., as an assistant to a manager at Lucas' estate in San Anselmo. Veronese claimed the manager withdrew the offer for the 30-day position, for which Veronese had signed a contract, when she disclosed that she was pregnant. Veronese sued Lucasfilm, alleging pregnancy discrimination, as well as retaliation and failure to accommodate a pregnancy-related disability. Lucasfilm denied that its decision to withdraw the offer had anything to do with Veronese's pregnancy, but the jury found otherwise.

For more information about sex discrimination and pregnancy discrimination in Texas, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

 Know Your Rights Under The Fair Debt Collection Act - Dallas, Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b015390f5dcf5970b 2011-08-24T08:25:13-07:00 2011-08-24T08:25:13-07:00 If you owe money and are being harassed by a debt collection agency, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act offers you various forms of protection. The Act applies to family, personal, and household debts. Debt collectors can be prohibited from contacting you at work and are limited as to how often and when they can contact you. To know more about your rights when facing a debt collection, call 214-855-0034 or go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com Jonathan LeBlanc

Fraud 2 

If you owe money and are being harassed by a debt collection agency, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act offers you various forms of protection.  The Act applies to family, personal, and household debts.  Debt collectors can be prohibited from contacting you at work and are limited as to how often and when they can contact you.  To know more about your rights when facing a debt collection, call 214-855-0034 or go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

 Sales Director Fired For Retaliation For Filing Worker Compensation Claim Awarded Compensation tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b015433d6e566970c 2011-07-19T08:20:52-07:00 2011-07-19T08:20:52-07:00 A judge awarded $765,000 to a regional sales director who claimed Hertz wrongfully fired him in retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim. In 2007, Kyle Barousse, then 43, was let go. Hertz claimed that the decision to terminate him was part of a workforce reduction. The plaintiff noted that all of his fellow regional sales directors were offered alternative positions when they were notified of the reduction in force. Barousse was involved in an on-the-job car crash in 2006. When he was ready to return to work, he claimed that he was fired and offered an enhanced severance plan... Jonathan LeBlanc

Retaliation 


A judge awarded $765,000 to a regional sales director who claimed Hertz wrongfully fired him in retaliation for filing a workers' compensation claim. In 2007, Kyle Barousse, then 43, was let go. Hertz claimed that the decision to terminate him was part of a workforce reduction. The plaintiff noted that all of his fellow regional sales directors were offered alternative positions when they were notified of the reduction in force. Barousse was involved in an on-the-job car crash in 2006. When he was ready to return to work, he claimed that he was fired and offered an enhanced severance plan in exchange for a full release of claims against Hertz.

For more information about retaliation, go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com

 

 Supreme Court Makes Non-Compete Agreements More Enforceable In Texas tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a01053713fe25970b015433b02838970c 2011-07-13T07:55:29-07:00 2011-07-13T07:55:29-07:00 The Texas Supreme Court has determined that, under the Texas Covenants Not to Compete Act, a covenant not to compete signed by a current employee in consideration for stock options is not unenforceable as a matter of law. The Court found the consideration is reasonably related to the company’s interest in protecting its goodwill, a business interest the Act recognizes as worthy of protection. Marsh USA v. Cook, No. 09-0558 (Tex. June 24, 2011). For more information about non-compete agreements in Dallas, Texas go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or e-mail jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com Jonathan LeBlanc

Courthouse 

The Texas Supreme Court has determined that, under the Texas Covenants Not to Compete Act, a covenant not to compete signed by a current employee in consideration for stock options is not unenforceable as a matter of law.  The Court found the consideration is reasonably related to the company’s interest in protecting its goodwill, a business interest the Act recognizes as worthy of protection.  Marsh USA v. Cook, No. 09-0558 (Tex. June 24, 2011).

For more information about non-compete agreements in Dallas, Texas go to www.businesslawyerdallastexas.com or call 214-855-0034 or e-mail jonathan@theleblanclawfirm.com