Recent Cases

Plaintiff takes nothing.  On April 28, 2015, the Honorable Judge Nancy Atlas granted Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment and dismissed Plaintiff’s negligence and premises liability claims. In particular, the Court determined Defendant did not owe Plaintiff any duties and did not breach any duties under Alaska law. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool, PC served as defense counsel for the Defendant production platform owner and successfully pursued the Motion for Summary Judgment. 

A Louisiana federal judge granted a London insurer’s motion to stay a case and to compel arbitration of a lawsuit filed by an electric power company, finding that the parties were required to arbitrate the dispute under the policy.

Plaintiffs take nothing. On February 2, 2014, a jury sided with three defendants who were blamed for an explosion that left three injured. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as defense counsel for CenterPoint Energy. 

J.N.O.V. upheld on appeal. On October 10, 2013, the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas affirmed the judgment of the trial court in favor of the defendant product manufacturer in a breach of warranty action. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as trial and appellate counsel for defendant TAMKO Building Products, Inc.

Plaintiffs, passengers on a bus that crashed en route to a Colorado ski trip with 46 children aboard, received a jury verdict over a million dollars less than they demanded and approximately $100,000 less than was offered prior to trial.

 Attorneys for Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool successfully argued that the trial court erred in admitting the testimony of the plaintiff's expert and that the evidence at trial was legally insufficient to support the jury's finding of gross negligence.

Favorable plaintiff settlement. In March 2013, after three weeks of trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, a favorable settlement for the plaintiffs was reached in a maritime tort action arising from an allision between an anchor from a MODU and an undersea gas pipeline in 2,200 feet of water. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as plaintiffs' counsel for Williams Field Services - Gulf Coast Company, LP and Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London.

Favorable settlement for partnership. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool defended a partnership in an action for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud and entered into a favorable settlement for the partnership during trial.

Jury awards damages well below Plaintiff's pre-trial demand. On December 19, 2012, a Travis County jury returned a verdict finding a security alarm monitoring company only 10% liable in a negligence trial. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as defendant counsel for the security company.

Plaintiff awarded jury verdict in breach of contract action. On July 10, 2012, a jury awarded the plaintiff a verdict against an investment company and its president and owner for breach of an oral contract. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as plalintiff's counsel.

No fault judgment. On March 27, 2012, a Harris County jury found no negligence on the part of the defendant tractor trailer driver or the defendant trucking company in a severe automobile accident. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as defendant counsel for both the driver and the trucking company.

Favorable plaintiff settlement. In June 2011, a favorable settlement was entered into for the plaintiffs in a product defect suit involving a failed fuel injection system on a V16 diesel motor, which ignited a fire and caused the destruction of five frac trucks at a frac job on a gas well. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as plaintiff's counsel for BJ Services Company and Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London.

Favorable settlement for plaintiff insurer and insured. In May 2010, a favorable settlement was entered into at mediation for the plaintiffs in a maritime tort action arising from a MODU that broke loose during Hurricane Rita and drifted into shallow water, dredging up two undersea pipelines and shutting in three undersea gas wells. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as plaintiffs' counsel for the pipeline company and Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London.

Plaintiff takes nothing. On September 3, 2009, a jury returned a verdict in favor of a defendant gas company which had been accused of causing a fire on the plaintiff's property. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as defense counsel for CenterPoint Energy.

Plaintiff insurer recovers favorable settlement. In March 2009, a favorable settlement was entered into for the intervening plaintiff in a product liability action involving a defective nitrogen gas supply system that allowed liquid nitrogen from an outside storage tank to enter into the dry gas system of a nitrating foundry, where the liquid nitrogen accumulated in a carbon steel purge tank, causing a low temperature brittle fracture of the tank and explosion. Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool served as plaintiff's counsel for Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London.