Notable Cases

Land Based Drilling Rig Injury
The plaintiff was a driller on a land based rig. He sustained severe abdominal injuries when a thin, highly pressurized stream of water tore through his mid section, causing him to permanently require use of a colostomy bag and delivery of his nutrition through liquid formulas. Mr. Stevenson and his associates extensively developed the case, and established liability for negligence against several parties for failure to properly conduct and supervise pressure testing as well as for providing inadequate tools. The case was developed and prosecuted under both Louisiana and Texas law. Seven defendants ultimately contributed to the settlement of this case, totaling 16.425 million dollars. After deducting case expenses of $262,886.00, a comp lien of $600,000.00 and total attorney’s fees of $6,424,845.60, the injured plaintiff recovered $8,737,268.40 and his minor son recovered $400,000.00

Industrial Accident
The plaintiff in this case was rendered a quadriplegic when he fell from a ladder into an open containment pit. Although the accident occurred at a Valvoline plant in Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Stevenson strategically filed the case in Texas, establishing venue in the district where the plaintiff and the plaintiff's employer resided. The plaintiff sustained approximately $477,000 in medical expenses. Battling allegations of contributory negligence and independent contractor status by the defendants, Mr. Stevenson secured an $8.3 million settlement. In addition, the workers compensation lien was completely satisfied by the defendants. The plaintiff made a net recovery of $4,924,376.57 after subtracting case expenses of $92,679.95 and attorney fees of $3,282,943.48

Workplace Injury
In this case, Mr. Stevenson's client recovered significant damages in a confidential settlement as a result of a bombing that occurred in the jungles of Columbia by unknown person(s). Jurisdiction was heavily contested and fought for over a year. The case was substantially made on the basis of a witness tracked down and deposed in Scotland and another who was discovered as a result of artful lawyering. Mr. Stevenson forced the major defendant into the position of producing its chairman/CEO. To avoid this embarrassment, and with their liabilities mounting, the defendant settled the case for a significant and confidential amount.

Jones Act/Maritime
While working aboard a jack-up drilling rig, the plaintiff sustained injuries when a piece of a equipment fell from a crane. He incurred approximately $15,000 in medical expenses, but had no surgery. The case was fraught with inconsistent eye witness and medical evidence. Mr. Newell and Mr. Beckcom, who previously practiced with Mr. Stevenson, tried the case to a Harris County jury, which returned a $738,000 verdict. The defendant appealed, but the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston affirmed the trial court’s judgment. The defendant appealed further to the Texas Supreme Court, who refused the petition for review. Following these appeals the final award amounted to $747,500 with prejudgment and postjudgment interest. Of that amount, expenses of $53,735.02 and attorneys fees of $299,000 were deducted, providing for a total recovery by the plaintiff of $394,764.98.

Wrongful Termination
In this case, the plaintiff sustained an on-the-job injury at an oil services company. The defendant company assured the plaintiff that he would not be adversely treated as a result of his workplace injury and strung him along for months delaying reimbursements for medical treatment. Ultimately, the plaintiff had to file a claim and he was terminated the following day. The firm obtained 1.165 million dollars for this wrongfully terminated employee. He netted $548,536.68 after attorney’s fees of $466,000.00, cases expenses of $110,463.32 and a medical lien of $40,000 were deducted from the total recovery.