http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-20T00:20:23-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/with_1b_fee_unpaid_plaintiff_lawyer_in_18b_enviro_case_is_now_pro_se_agains/ Attorney Steven Donziger could earn $1 billion, his opposing counsel says, if an $18 billion foreign judgment against Chevron Corp. concerning environmental damage in Ecuador is upheld. Meanwhile, Donziger is unable to afford to pay his own counsel as Chevron continues with a bruising U.S. district court counterattack against the… Appellate Practice, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, International Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Evidence, Verdicts & Settlements, 2nd Circuit Court, International Courts/Tribunals, International, South America, States, New York Mon, 06 May 2013 15:15:43 -0500 44049.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/fatal_fertilizer_plant_where_explosion_caused_100m_in_damage_had_pathetic/ As state and federal officials look into an apparent lack of regulatory scrutiny of a Texas fertilizer facility that exploded in a fiery blast last month, killing 15 people and injuring another 200, a further issue has come to the attention of outside lawyers representing victims of the disaster. The… Environmental Law, Insurance Law, Real Estate & Property Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, States, Texas Mon, 06 May 2013 12:15:46 -0500 44036.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/fertilizer_plant_explosion/ Updated: As responders continue searching for more survivors in the decimated remains of a Texas fertilizer plant and its surrounding neighborhood after a Wednesday night explosion, authorities have recovered 12 bodies and say more than 200 people were injured by the blast, according to the Associated Press… Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Executive Branch, Government Law, Labor & Employment, States, Texas Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:02:09 -0500 43827.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/fatal_explosion_at_texas_fertilizer_plant_does_massive_damage/ An explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant Wednesday night could be heard at least 45 miles away, causing massive damage and killing and injuring an unknown number of people in and around the small farming town of West. Officials estimate that up to 15 people have been killed, although a… Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Government Law, Labor & Employment, States, Texas Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:46:29 -0500 43813.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyers_236m_verdict_against_exxonmobil_isnt_her_first_big_win/ The lead lawyer who obtained a $236 million verdict against ExxonMobil in a groundwater contamination case last week had another high-profile win in 2005 against Wal-Mart. Being a lawyer was a childhood dream for 44-year-old Jessica Grant, who used to play make-believe court in her bedroom when she was 11… Environmental Law, Government Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, States, New Hampshire Tue, 16 Apr 2013 05:35:01 -0500 43730.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/frog_phobia_testimony_helped_man_win_1.6m_verdict_in_land-runoff_case/ Nobody knows for sure how much Paul Marinaccio's testimony about his frog phobia may have upped the ante in a $1.6 million jury award over a land runoff case. However, the 65-year-old's detailed explanation of how "petrified" he is by the small creatures now proliferating on his property wasn't enough… Environmental Law, Government Law, Real Estate & Property Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Evidence, Verdicts & Settlements, States, New York Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:30:24 -0500 43654.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/booted_from_big_enviro_case_covington_appeal_blames_ex-client_for_not_prote/ A Minnesota judge last year agreed with 3M Co. that its longtime counsel, Covington & Burling, could not continue to represent the state in a big environmental lawsuit against the corporation. But even if a legal ethics rule would otherwise have prohibited the representation, Covington should be allowed to continue… Appellate Practice, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Law Firms, Large Firm, Legal Ethics, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:36:50 -0500 43619.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/should_scotus_overrule_case_requiring_courts_to_defer_to_agency_interpretat/ The U.S. Supreme Court is siding with the Environmental Protection Agency—and the timber industry—in a decision holding that timber companies don’t have to obtain Clean Water Act permits to channel stormwater runoff from logging roads. The court ruled in a 7-1 decision (PDF) finding that the EPA’s interpretation… Administrative Law, Environmental Law, U.S. Supreme Court Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:11:36 -0500 43367.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/federal_judge_sides_with_whooping_cranes_in_water_rights_case/ A federal judge has ordered Texas officials to put the needs of an endangered flock of whooping cranes first when determining whether to grant water-use permits to new users. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times provides a link to Monday's 124-page opinion (PDF) by Senior U.S.… Environmental Law, Government Law, Real Estate & Property Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Evidence, Verdicts & Settlements, 5th Circuit Court, States, Texas Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:00:36 -0500 43236.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/states_top_court_tosses_1b_punitives_award_against_exxon_in_community_gas-s/ Maryland's top court has nixed a $1 billion punitive damages award against ExxonMobil Corp. in an environmental case brought over a 2006 gasoline spill in Jacksonville, finding that the fraud claims on which the 2011 verdict was based were not proven. In a 129-page opinion (PDF), the Maryland… Appellate Practice, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Evidence, Verdicts & Settlements, States, Maryland Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:29:58 -0600 43036.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/federal_bench_trial_begins_to_apportion_fault_for_gulf_oil_spill_among_bp_a/ A federal judge in New Orleans began hearing opening statements Monday in a trial to determine how to apportion blame between BP Plc and its subcontractors for the massive oil spill that began April 20, 2010 with a blowout of an undersea well after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded… Admiralty & Maritime Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Government Law, Oil Spill, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 5th Circuit Court, States, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:16:31 -0600 42993.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_approves_guilty_plea_in_gulf_oil_spill/ A federal judge in Houston has approved a plea agreement with Transocean, the Swiss-based owner and operator of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, for its role in the 2010 oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico that left 11 workers dead and resulted in… Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Natural Disasters Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:05:46 -0600 42896.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/golden_age_for_texas_oil_and_gas_transactional_lawyers/ Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Careers, Contracts, Corporate Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Science & Technology Law, Features Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:59:36 -0600 42364.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_oks_bp_plea_deal_despite_objections_pollution_case_looms/ A federal judge on Tuesday approved a plea deal in which BP agreed to pay $4 billion to resolve criminal charges over the Gulf oil spill. U.S District Judge Sarah Vance of New Orleans approved the deal on Tuesday despite emotional testimony and letters from several dozen… Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:48:25 -0600 42613.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/transocean_to_pay_1.4b_to_end_doj_criminal_probe_and_other_federal_claims/ The company that owned the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and safety equipment involved in the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill nearly three years ago has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle federal claims over the fatal environmental disaster. Transocean Ltd. will plead guilty to violating the Clean Water… Administrative Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Legal History, Oil Spill, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 5th Circuit Court, States, District of Columbia, Louisiana Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:52:01 -0600 42215.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer_with_famous_name_backs_solar_panels_in_every_home--and_less_regulato/ Environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is calling for the installation of solar panels in homes being rebuilt after Hurricane Sandy—and less “regulatory red tape” to make it happen. In a New York Times op-ed titled "Solar Panels for Every Home," Kennedy sees a solution for… Environmental Law, Natural Disasters Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:46:43 -0600 42023.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/king_coals_violent_reign_century-old_labor_strife/ Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Government Law, Labor & Employment, Legal History, Legislation & Lobbying, Military Law, Trials & Litigation, Features Sat, 01 Dec 2012 06:10:22 -0600 41576.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/wet_behind_the_ears_chicago_aquarium_offers_legal_fellowship/ Careers, Environmental Law, Law Students, Opening Statements Sat, 01 Dec 2012 05:00:22 -0600 41583.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_says_it_will_pay_4.5b_to_resolve_federal_criminal_and_securities_allegat/ Updated and corrected: BP has announced it will pay $4.5 billion to resolve federal criminal and securities allegations in connection with the Gulf oil spill. The company will pay $4 billion over five years in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and $525 million over three… Attorney General, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Securities Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements Thu, 15 Nov 2012 11:38:53 -0600 41650.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bp_said_to_be_near_federal_plea_deal_in_oil_spill_with_record_criminal_pena/ U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is reportedly set to announce a plea deal with BP that will include a record criminal penalty for its actions in the Gulf oil spill. A source tells Reuters the penalty will top the record amount of $1.3 billion paid in 2009 by… Attorney General, Criminal Justice, Environmental Law, Oil Spill, Securities Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:43:46 -0600 41645.abajournal.com