Hurricane Harvey

Dale Felton: Texas Lawyers’ Facebook friend

After Hurricane Harvey, Dale Felton shared tips, insights and advice about flood insurance claims on the Texas Lawyers Facebook page.

Feb 1, 2018 12:10 AM CST

Social media unites lawyers to help those in need

Hurricane Harvey, and then Hurricane Irma, proved to be the coming of age for social media as tools for court systems and the legal profession to deal with such emergencies.

Feb 1, 2018 12:05 AM CST

Legal community meets relief challenges after hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Attorneys affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma have risen to the occasion in ways personal, professional and altruistic, even when dealing with storm damage of their own. And four months after two hurricanes hit Puerto Rico, the situation for lawyers there is still hard to assess.

Feb 1, 2018 12:00 AM CST

Churches are now eligible for disaster aid; FEMA changed policy after lawsuits

Churches are no longer excluded from disaster aid as a result of a policy change by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA announced the policy change earlier this month and said it is retroactive for disasters on or after Aug. 23. FEMA said churches can obtain the aid if they…

Jan 10, 2018 1:23 PM CST

Judiciary’s handling of sexual harassment complaints will be evaluated, Chief Justice Roberts says

The judiciary will evaluate the way it handles complaints of sexual harassment and its own standards of conduct regarding inappropriate behavior, according to Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

Jan 3, 2018 11:49 AM CST

Suits target government’s decision to release reservoir water during Hurricane Harvey

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Houston homeowners seeking compensation as a result of a federal decision to release water from two reservoirs during Hurricane Harvey. The homeowners contend the release by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers amounts to an improper taking under the Fifth Amendment,…

Oct 24, 2017 8:00 AM CDT

Jailed defendants await resumption of jury trials after Hurricane Harvey

Jury trials in criminal cases in Harris County, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey could resume next Monday, but logistical problems will continue to slow the system. The delays are causing concern for some jailed defendants and their lawyers, who argue that justice delayed is verging on justice denied, the Texas Tribune…

Oct 10, 2017 1:06 PM CDT

Texas judges reportedly get in tiff over shared bench after Hurricane Harvey

Two judges in Harris County, Texas, reportedly clashed while sharing a bench in the civil courthouse after the main criminal court was damaged in Hurricane Harvey. Judge Jim Wallace wanted Judge Nikita Harmon to step down so he could take some criminal pleas, a story both sides agree is true,…

Sep 18, 2017 2:06 PM CDT

Legal aid hotline opens for Hurricane Irma victims

Updated: A legal aid hotline has opened for Hurricane Irma victims in Florida who can’t afford a lawyer. The hotline number is 866-550-2929, report the Orlando Sentinel and an ABA press release. The hotline is operated by young lawyers divisions of the ABA and the Florida Bar, in conjunction with…

Sep 14, 2017 10:27 AM CDT

First responders sue chemical plant owners for failing to warn of dangers from fire

A group of seven first responders have filed a lawsuit against the owner of the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, for alleged negligence and failure to warn about the dangers of fumes from explosions and fires that erupted after Hurricane Harvey. The lawsuit, seeking at least $1 million in…

Sep 8, 2017 12:40 PM CDT

Who is responsible for hurricane damage? Suits could be based on climate-change science

Pioneering lawsuits based on climate-change science could blame hurricane damage on municipal planners, architects and engineers who failed to plan for foreseeable damages, some lawyers say.

Sep 7, 2017 7:40 AM CDT

3 Texas churches sue FEMA over exclusion from disaster relief

Three churches in Texas have filed a lawsuit seeking equal access to disaster relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair their buildings after Hurricane Harvey. The Becket religious liberty group filed the suit on behalf of three churches who say FEMA violates the free exercise clause when it…

Sep 6, 2017 12:05 PM CDT

Lawyers offering help to Hurricane Harvey victims include 1,600 volunteers from across the nation

Lawyers from legal-aid organizations and law firms have been working shifts at Texas shelters to offer free help for Hurricane Harvey victims, while at least 1,600 lawyers from across the nation have filled out a state bar form to offer their volunteer help. Among those fielding questions is Saundra Brown,…

Sep 6, 2017 7:45 AM CDT

Some BigLaw firms in downtown Houston reopen after Hurricane Harvey

Some large law firms in downtown Houston were open or planning to reopen next week after weathering Hurricane Harvey with little or no damage. Kenneth Broughton, managing partner at Reed Smith, tells Bloomberg Big Law Business that the firm plans to reopen on Tuesday, but he has been in the…

Sep 1, 2017 10:25 AM CDT

Have you ever had to cope with a natural disaster?

Updated: Hurricane Harvey has devastated coastal Texas, causing at least 38 deaths and damaging tens of thousands of homes. Lawyers, paralegals and law students who want to lend their skills to help those affected should check here for information on how to do so. But this week we’d also like…

Aug 30, 2017 2:19 PM CDT