Our Case Results

On May 21, 2014 the District Court in Midland, Texas entered the Final Judgment from a jury trial victory on behalf of Pathfinder Oil & Gas. Great Western sued Pathfinder seeking to avoid their obligation to pay Pathfinder its alleged 25% interest in Oil & Gas leases known as the Linker Field. Great Western claimed that Pathfinder breached the agreement related to the leases. Patterson countersued on behalf of Pathfinder and after a two week trial the Jury came back in less than three (3) hours awarding all damages requested by Pathfinder amounting to $4,047,079.30 for past damage, interest and attorney fees, as well as, a 25% interest in any and all future income on the leases. The Jury denied all relief to Great Western.

Patterson successfully prosecuted a minority shareholder’s rights against a retail food company and its top executives for minority shareholder oppression and fraud. The Arbitration concluded with an award of monetary damages, stock forfeiture, costs and attorney fees amounting to $2.7 Million against the Majority Shareholder and Company. This matter was arbitrated in Los Angeles, California. Patterson was Lead Counsel.

Drunk driver, commercial 18 Wheeler vehicle, death

Ruth Hill v. City of Houston – Patterson prosecuted a Texas Tort Claims Act suit against the City of Houston for the death of two children, four and five years of age, in a house fire in Acres Homes on January 4, 1996. The Jury determined that the children died of carbon monoxide poisoning before the Fire Department arrived with an operable Pumper truck. The original Pumper at the scene had a defect (fuse) that had been previously reported and which would not allow the truck to pump water onto the burning home. This delayed an attempted rescue until the second truck arrived minutes later. The children died during the intervening minutes.

Under the Texas Tort Claims Act all damages for any one incident are capped at $500,000. However as a result of the firm’s use of all available State and Federal legal remedies, after appeal, the City of Houston ultimately paid more than the cap to resolve the claims made against the City.

Toward the end of the prosecution of this case, the City of Houston allocated an additional $27 Million dollars to upgrade and maintain it’s Fire Equipment in poor and minority neighborhoods, including Acres Homes. This is the only known trial verdict in Texas history upheld on appeal against a Texas municipality in the death of citizen attempting to hold the City responsible for such municipal functions.

Schultea v. The City of Tomball After a two week trial in Schultea v. The City of Tomball, the Jury deliberated for only 45 minutes before awarding Former Tomball Police Chief Joe Schultea all of the $1,400,000 requested by Patterson in closing arguments. The Jury then asked to meet with Pete and his client, Chief Schultea. This case was successfully tried only weeks after significant changes in the Texas Whistleblower Act.

The City of Tomball appealed the verdict to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals but to no avail and the City eventually paid Patterson’s client to resolve this matter.

Whistleblower action Joe Schultea v. City of Tomball, et al on behalf of the Former-Chief of Police against the City of Tomball as a result of the City’s wrongful demotion and eventual termination of the Chief after he had reported unlawful actions on behalf of a Tomball City Council member. This is one of the first cases successfully tried under the new laws enacted in 1996 dealing with revisions to the Texas Whistleblower Act. The jury deliberated less than 45 minutes before returning this award.

IAQ – Exposure to formaldehyde fumes in commercial construction.

Patterson prosecuted a Texas Tort Claims Act suit against the City of Houston for the death of a four year old child in a house fire in Acres Homes on January 4, 1996. The child died of carbon monoxide poisoning. A known water pump defect delayed an attempted rescue until a second truck arrived minutes later. The child died in the intervening minutes.

Under the Texas Tort Claims Act all damages for any one incident are capped at $500,000, however as a result of the firm’s use of all available State and Federal legal remedies, after appeal, the City of Houston ultimately paid more than the cap to resolve this claim.

Toward the end of the prosecution of this case, the City of Houston allocated an additional $27 Million dollars to upgrade and maintain it’s Fire Equipment in poor and minority neighborhoods. This is the only known trial verdict in Texas history upheld on appeal against a Texas municipality for failing to respond and protect the public.

Patterson succeeded at trial in a Texas Tort Claims Act wrongful death verdict for $1.2 Million Dollars. However, the trial court Judge overturned the verdict and entered judgment for the City of Houston. Patterson filed and argued the Appeal to the United States Fifth Circuit District Court in New Orleans. The Fifth Circuit unanimously reversed and rendered the trial court’s decision. This reinstated the Jury’s trial verdict and the client was eventually paid.

Individually and d/b/a Becker Accounting and Tax Service a/k/a Becker’s Tax Service and Financial Management Company, Inc. – Sexual harassment, negligence action against Zaldivar’s boss after he assaulted her.

Negligence action the defendants for the electrocution injury to Jose Rueda while working on a residential roof.

Broker fee dispute; settled in less than six months, after several previous counsel had failed to advance the client’s claim.

Contested Red light, No Seat Belt

Fractured hip and leg

Disputed Suicide

Single acute exposure to airboarne chemicals

Refusal to commit an illegal act

Employee of Apartment community against co-worker

Texas Tort Claims Act –Capped Recovery – Suicide
$240,000.00 of possible $250,000.00; resolved in less than 120 days.

Refusal to commit an illegal act; Resolved in 45 days

Resolved in 30 days

Case No. 2009-11223, 65th Judicial District Court for Harris County, TX

Patterson represented the Ted Ashford family against Life Insurance Agent Wayne Weaver who sold Ashford $10 Million worth of life insurance that was financed through a “third party” lender. Unbeknownst to the family, Weaver actually “financed” the premium payments by lending the money to the “third party” finance company thereby putting himself in a position to both sell the policies and loan the money on same.

Weaver sued Ashford for payment of the note. The Ashford family sued Weaver for fraud, violations of the DTPA and the Texas Insurance Code. The case was heard in the 165th Judicial District Court, Judge Josefina Rendon Presiding. On the third day of trial, after Ashford’s case in chief, including Patterson’s three hour cross examination of defendant Weaver; defendant Weaver settled the entire matter before the next day’s testimony was to begin.

Successfully certified class and negotiated confidential settlement against National Cellular Phone company based on inaccurate, and unintelligible billing practices.

After Patterson’s cross examination of the Plaintiff on the stand, The Court dismissed all fraud and individual claims against Patterson’s client.

Plaintiff (Counter-Defendant) Graham agreed to disgorge his 40% interest in the company at issue. This resolution occurred in the middle of trial during a break in Graham’s trial cross by Patterson’s co-counsel, John Kim.

Graham sued minority partners Woefel and Rogers for conspiracy. Again, during a break in trial, Graham (the original plaintiff) agreed to personally pay Woefel & Rogers $1,000,000.00 for their minority interest in the company.

During Jury selection, Patterson negotiated the dismissal of the Plaintiff’s entire case. This included the Plaintiff paying all court costs to Patterson’s client.

Fifth Circuit (New Orleans) — After Federal District Judge Kenneth Hoyt awarded $62MM jointly and severally against seventeen (17) defendants, Patterson’s client is the only one to successfully overturn the Court’s Judgement.

Patterson argued to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on December 5, 2011. On January 10, 2012 the Court ruled in favor of Patterson’s client and reversed and remanded the case back to Federal District Court in Houston.

Hanna Skye and Al Moreno are the only defendants out of seventeen (17) to have successfully appealed and reversed the Federal District Judge’s Judgment.