2011: Year in Review for Arnold & Itkin
The year of 2011 was yet another monumental year for Arnold & Itkin, LLP. Over the years, we have been proud to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients and this was no different in 2011. In fact, we are proud to announce that we successfully recovered over $250 million in the last year alone; an enormous success and a true testament to our dedication to our clients, as well as our unwavering commitment to always providing the highest quality of legal representation.
Recovering this much comes from pairing aggressive out-of-court negotiation skills along with a “never say never” attitude. Our opponents know that we are not willing to settle for an unsatisfactory amount, that we will always be willing to prepare and take a case to the courthouse if that is what is required to obtain justice for our clients. Better yet, they know that when we say this, we actually mean it because we have done so before. We often will claim that it is this level of uncertainty that gives us the upper edge in negotiations.
Still, in some cases even this upper hand isn’t always enough to come to a fair out-of-court settlement. In some cases, we have to back up our word and fight for clients in trial – and we have proven that we are more than willing to do so. Take for example a case that we settled in 2011 involving Diamond Offshore. Our client had been working aboard the Ocean Yorktown at the time of the injury when he had been unexpectedly hoisted over twenty feet into the air and had his fall protection fail. This resulted in serious injuries such as a loss of consciousness, a crushed arm, three fractured vertebrae, three herniated discs, broken ribs and a closed head injury. We tried the case in the 157th District Court in Harris County, TX before Judge Wilson. The case lasted for a week and a half and resulted in the jury returning with a unanimous verdict of $4.9 million.
It was cases like this that made 2011 the success that it was and we were proud to represent clients such as this in their fight for justice. As always, we are proud to help clients get the compensation that they deserve – helping them to receive the medical treatment that is required. Such was the case as we continued to work to defend those who were aboard the Deepwater Horizon at the time of the April 20, 2010 explosion. In fact, we have been honored to represent over a fifth of the entire crew during this time.
We are compassionate to the tragedy that has victimized our clients and their families and we have worked tirelessly to provide them with supportive guidance while aggressively fighting to hold negligent companies liable. During this time, we are grateful to have gotten to know these crew members and have fought tooth and nail to help them get the maximum recovery that they deserve. We encourage you to watch some of the videos from clients involved in Deepwater Horizon case to learn more about their experience with our firm:
- Clients Talk About Their Experience with Arnold & Itkin
- Deepwater Horizon Clients Discuss Their Situations
- The Outcomes: How Pleased Were Our Clients?
While a colossal year, 2011 is just the beginning. We at Arnold & Itkin, LLP are prepared to face 2012 full force and look forward to the challenges that the new year will bring. If you have recently been injured or have suffered from the negligence of a third party, do not let another minute go by without receiving the high quality legal assistance from a maritime attorney that you deserve. Contact an offshore injury lawyer from our firm to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. We are here to help you. Call today.
In Alaska, October means the start of the crabbing season. Consumers often take for granted the process gone through to place the delicacy on plates across the country, but the harsh conditions that affect the Bering Sea can present fishermen with an array of hazards not faced by those who work on boats in warmer waters. In an effort to reduce accidents, and possible subsequent legal claims, the Coast Guard has teamed up with personnel from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to observe and inspect crabbing vessels and to offer additional safety training.
The system is expected to be in place within the next 5 years, but in parts of Florida, pilots are already using the satellite-based GPS data to obtain the same information air traffic controllers can see on their monitors. The GPS allows controllers to locate the position of an airplane far more accurately than they currently do with data from ground-based radars. With the new system, pilots and air traffic controllers will be able to access data generated by the second.
for close to 7.5 hours before help arrived. The investigation found that the accident was caused because of the pilots' slow response when the first engine failed. The board concluded that the slow response was probably due to high stress levels because of the timing of the crash - one week after hurricane Katrina made landfall. The chaotic conditions soon after Katrina hit caused delays in the communication network at Houston Helicopters Inc, the company that operated the helicopter. According to the Board's report, there were several violations at Houston Helicopters Inc. which contributed to the delayed rescue efforts. Post Katrina, other offshore helicopter operators serving drilling companies in the Gulf of Mexico made alternative arrangements, so they could continue supporting helicopter flights. Houston Helicopters Inc., however, failed to make any substitute arrangements. Instead, management at the company recommended that pilots use their own cell phones to transmit important flight information to the control center. The board also found that although Houston Helicopters Inc. had a record of 8 accidents, 3 incidents and at least 18 FAA surveillance violations, there were no follow ups made to check if the company was in compliance with rules regarding alternate methods of flight following procedures. 