Updates: Recent Success

Decision in Brown et al. v. Offshore Specialty Febricators, Inc. et al.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision in Brown et al. v. Offshore Specialty Fabricators, Inc. et al., No. 10-40936, affirming dismissal of all claims against all defendants by Judge David Folsom of the Eastern District of Texas. The case was a putative class action brought against companies that provide services in connection with oil and gas projects in the Gulf of Mexico, and companies that provide labor in connection with same. Plaintiffs claimed defendants violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) by allegedly employing unauthorized foreign workers on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Larry Stuart served as lead counsel for two of the defendant companies in the underlying case, with Glen Rigby serving as lead counsel in connection with the appeal. Click here for the 5th Circuit’s Opinion.

Victory in Buhr v. Stewart Title of Spokane, LLC et al

Stuart & Associates P.C. and Paine Hamblen LLP secured a defense verdict following ten days of trial in Spokane, Washington. The plaintiff claimed violations of the Washington Law Against Discrimination, the Washington Minimum Wage Act and Wage Rebate Act, among other claims, and asked the jury to award more than $2.5 million in damages during closing argument. Larry Stuart and Jim Kalamon served as trial counsel, with critical support from Tonja King and Brook Cunningham. Buhr v. Stewart Title of Spokane, LLC et al, No. 09-2-04455-9, Washington Superior Court, County of Spokane.

Victory in Dugas et al. v. Oceaneering Int’l, Inc. et al.

Larry Stuart and Cheri Thomas secured summary dismissal and final judgment in favor of the firm’s client in a Title VII case in which the plaintiffs – a former employee and an employee of a contractor – claimed they were subjected to racial harassment by the crew of a chartered vessel while working in the Gulf of Mexico. Dugas et al. v. Oceaneering Int’l, Inc. et al., No. H-09-1725, District Court for the Southern District of Texas.