The Ammons Law Firm Files Lawsuit Against Heritage Hotels and Resorts Inc. Following Slip and Fall at Taos Hotel

The Ammons Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against M.W. Rentals & Services, Inc. and DOS Oilfield Services, LLC following the death of a worker who was electrocuted at a remote oilfield worksite. According to the lawsuit, the worker suffered fatal injuries while performing maintenance on a generator powering a cooling shack. The complaint alleges the decedent was electrocuted while attempting to install a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) on a generator unit. The equipment was allegedly being used to supply electricity to a cooling area intended for use by DOS Oilfield Services employees. The lawsuit claims that the worksite lacked appropriate safeguards, and that the generator system was not managed in accordance with accepted safety practices. The filing raises multiple claims against M.W. Rentals & Services, Inc., including failure to provide proper safety training related to electrical work and failure to ensure workers had access to personal protective equipment…

James M. Anderson (RAND Corporation), Maya Buenaventura (RAND Corporation), Amy Mahler (RAND Corporation), & Nicholas M. Pace (RAND Corporation) have posted Empirical Tort Law (and Theory)-An Essay in Honor of Deborah Hensler on SSRN. Here is the abstract: In this essay to honor Deborah Hensler, we summarize an update to her classic study on claiming behavior and explore its policy implications. More specifically, we empirically document how those with significant medical conditions utilize the civil liability system, particularly in terms of making claims against others, seeking the advice of legal professionals, and initiating litigation. We find that few who are injured or fall ill believe that another party is responsible, and even among that group, relatively few seek compensation against that party. Still fewer contact attorneys or file a lawsuit. Our findings have implications for the social welfare system, the role of tort law, and the way the selection of…

The Ammons Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against Johnny Steele-Design Inc. following a serious bicycle crash in Houston, Texas. According to the complaint, a company-owned truck allegedly struck a cyclist while turning into a private driveway. The lawsuit states that the driver failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn and collided with the cyclist, causing significant injuries. The injured individual reportedly sustained facial abrasions, trauma to the legs, hands, and chest, and two broken fingers that required surgical repair with screws and plates. Legal claims against Johnny Steele-Design Inc. include both direct and vicarious liability. The lawsuit alleges the company failed to adequately train and supervise its driver and may be held vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior for the driver’s actions while performing job-related duties. The driver allegedly breached multiple duties of care, including failure to maintain a proper…

There are so many tall tales in personal injury law. Things which you hear from your friends, family, therapists, neighbours, acquaintances, or random people in your community are so far off from the reality of what actually happens behind the scenes, and the work involved in a personal injury case. The only people who really know what happens, and how things happened are the lawyers themselves. There are a lot of reasons for this. For starters, personal injury cases deal with new litigants, who are unfamiliar with personal injury cases, or how the law works. This is completely normal as for the majority of clients, it’s their first time hiring a personal injury lawyer, or a lawyer all together. When you are new to litigation, it’s hard to understand how things get done. It’s perfectly ok to be a first time litigant. In fact, if you’re a multiple time litigant for a personal injury case, it will give your lawyer cause for concern. You must be terribly…

The Ammons Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against M&J Transport Lines, LLC, and its driver following a collision where a commercial truck allegedly failed to yield the right of way when exiting a private driveway onto a public roadway. According to the complaint, the tractor-trailer was turning left from a private driveway and allegedly failed to keep a proper lookout. The driver reportedly entered the roadway without yielding, causing a crash that left the occupant of a passenger vehicle with serious injuries. The lawsuit seeks to hold M&J Transport Lines liable under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which allows a company to be held responsible when its employee causes harm while acting within the scope of employment. In addition, the company faces direct negligence claims, including failure to properly train and supervise the driver, inadequate safety protocols, and negligent entrustment of the commercial truck. The injured plaintiff is seeking damages for…

The Ammons Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against Orozco Trucking Inc. following a serious collision involving a commercial tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle on U.S. Highway 70 in Choctaw County, Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges multiple counts of negligence against both Orozco Trucking and its driver. According to the complaint, the tractor-trailer driver allegedly attempted to pass a vehicle on the left while that vehicle was preparing to turn left at an intersection. This maneuver led to a crash involving the passenger vehicle. The lawsuit further alleges that the truck driver failed to yield the right of way and violated multiple Oklahoma traffic safety laws. At the time of the incident, the commercial driver was reportedly operating a 2019 Volvo truck tractor within the scope of employment. As a result, Orozco Trucking may be held vicariously liable under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which allows an employer to be held responsible for actions taken by an…

The Question Notice Paper for the forthcoming General Synod in July 2025 included the following Q&A exchange on gluten-free bread/non-alcoholic wine issue raised in February. Q172 Mrs Abigail Ogier (Manchester) to ask the Chair of the Liturgical Commission: What progress has been made to ensure that people who are unable to consume gluten and/or alcohol in even trace amounts can receive holy communion? The Bishop of Lichfield to reply as Chair of the Liturgical Commission: A Thank you for this question which in its precision helps us to clarify several points: Reduced-gluten bread and reduced-alcohol wine are appropriate matter for the celebration of Holy Communion in the Church of England. With reference to these, it may be helpful to repeat my answer to a supplementary question at General Synod in February this year, when I said: ‘Many Church of England churches across the country routinely offer what is described as ‘gluten free’ bread or…

Federal lawsuit attacks pro-animal law already approved by voters and upheld by Supreme Court kblocher@human… Thu, 07/10/2025 - 19:05 By Sara Amundson and Kitty Block No political stunt will bring down the cost of eggs, which is still badly affected by an avian flu epidemic that has decimated the hens in the egg industry across the U.S. and caused severe market shortages. And yet, in a lawsuit filed last night, the U.S. Department of Justice has tried to resurrect—without warrant and without real facts—a long-ago settled legal fight over California’s cage-free egg laws that have been supported by voters, farmers and advocates for animal welfare and other causes across the board. This lawsuit seeks to undo the cage-free eggs provisions of California’s Proposition 12, despite many similar losing lawsuits filed over the last decade, and even though Proposition 12 was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States just two years ago in…

"A judge’s actions, even when done in her official capacity, do not bar criminal prosecution if the actions were done in violation of the criminal law." The post Wisconsin Judge Who Helped Illegal Alien Avoid ICE Suffers Legal Setback in Federal Criminal Case first appeared on Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion.

The Ammons Law Firm has filed a lawsuit against Arnold Transportation Services, Inc., and others following a serious motor vehicle accident in Harris County, Texas. According to the complaint, a commercial vehicle owned by Arnold Transportation Services was operated by a company driver who changed lanes unsafely. The maneuver caused a chain reaction that ultimately led to a collision with the plaintiff’s vehicle, resulting in serious injuries. The lawsuit alleges the commercial driver failed to maintain a proper lookout, performed an unsafe lane change, and did not ensure the lane was clear before attempting the maneuver. These actions allegedly caused the crash and the plaintiff’s resulting harm. Arnold Transportation Services is also named as a defendant under a legal principle known as respondeat superior, which can hold employers liable for their drivers’ actions when performed within the scope of employment. The lawsuit further alleges independent…

At UpLevel Ops, we take a vendor-agnostic approach, adapting to the tools our clients already use rather than steering them into rigid ecosystems. This flexibility allows us to develop scalable, effective AI solutions across various platforms, including Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, with a focus on what works best in real-world workflows. Six months ago, I built a simple planner integration using Microsoft’s CoPilot bot-building features. The experience was rough, but functional. That early proof of concept suggested the platform might evolve into something more powerful over time. Recently, our engineering team revisited CoPilot to test that assumption. We wanted to see if it could match the performance of custom GPT-based tools we’ve deployed successfully in legal and enterprise contexts. But what we found was not an improved or matured experience. It was, in many ways, a regression. This raised a bigger question: Is the broader enterprise push to…

To help employers, the California Chamber of Commerce has put together a webpage with links to federal, state and CalChamber resources about immigration law. Federal resources on the page include links to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services I-9 Central; the M-274 handbook for employers; guidance for employers conducting internal employment eligibility verification Form I-9 audits; and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Form I-9 inspection fact sheet. California resources include links to the Department of Industrial Relations page explaining rights for all workers; joint guidance from the Justice and Industrial Relations departments about the Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450); and the Civil Rights Department immigration rights fact sheet. Also available are links to the Immigration Compliance for Small Businesses webinar presented by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, in partnership with…

Navigating the world of grandparent visitation rights in Texas can be an emotional and complex journey. Grandparents often find themselves caught in the middle of family dynamics and legal hurdles while simply wanting to spend quality time with their grandchildren. The desire to maintain a loving bond with grandchildren can be met with various challenges, especially when disagreements arise with the children’s parents. Understanding the ins and outs of this process is key to ensuring that grandparents can preserve their important role within the family. For many, the legal aspect can seem daunting without proper guidance. The state of Texas has specific laws pertaining to grandparent visitation rights, and knowing these laws is crucial for those who wish to pursue time with their grandchildren through the court system. It’s important to explore how the law supports grandparent rights and the potential roadblocks that may arise. Professional advice can provide…

Illustration with Canva AIWhile many of us prepared to celebrate Independence Day last week, a group of employees from the Environmental Protection Agency were bravely speaking out about what they see as their boss “recklessly undermining the EPA mission” of protecting human health and the environment. In a now-infamous letter sent to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, hundreds of current and former employees outlined five main concerns about the agency’s direction (undermining public trust, ignoring scientific consensus to benefit polluters, etc.) and expressed interest in working with him, along with members of Congress, to “restore EPA’s credibility as a premier scientific institution.” Instead, about 140 of these federal employees were placed on administrative leave just before the Fourth of July holiday, for a 10-day period — the maximum amount of leave for such an investigation — and are waiting anxiously to hear what the…

Seyfarth Synopsis: The freshly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill” introduces two above-the-line tax deductions for tips and overtime wages. While these deductions offer potential savings for eligible workers, they come with new compliance obligations and nuanced legal considerations that employers will need to navigate carefully. With Sharpie in hand and military jets overhead, President Trump marked Independence Day by signing H.R. 1, best known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or “OBBB”—into law. Among the bill’s myriad provisions are two long-promised pledges: no tax on tips, and no tax on overtime. Starting with the 2025 tax year, OBBB will allow workers below certain income thresholds to deduct up to $12,500 in “qualified overtime compensation” ($25,000 for on a joint return), and $25,000 in “qualified tips.” To emphasize the benefit for impacted workers, the White House has launched a calculator…

Duarte-Hernandez v. Rodriguez Divorce Case: Insights from a Dallas Divorce Attorney Divorce proceedings can be complex, especially when they involve disputes over community property, spousal support, and allegations of fraud. The case of Duarte-Hernandez v. Rodriguez, decided by the Court of Appeals of Texas in Austin, provides a compelling example of how Texas courts handle such issues. As a seasoned Dallas divorce attorney, I’ll break down the key elements of this case, offering insights into how it reflects common challenges in Texas divorce law and what it means for individuals navigating similar situations in Dallas. This article is designed to help you understand the legal principles involved and how an experienced attorney can guide you through a divorce. For personalized assistance, visit our divorce services page at https://www.dallasdivorcelawyer.com/practice-areas/. Case Overview: Duarte-Hernandez v. Rodriguez The Duarte-Hernandez v. Rodriguez case centered on…

[The symposium is seeking submissions.] Illustration: Lex Villena; Lev Kropotov Next year is the 100th anniversary of Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty, the Supreme Court decision upholding exclusionary zoning. I think Euclid is one of the worst supreme Court decisions ever, and exclusionary zoning - and the resulting massive housing shortage of which it is the biggest cause - is the biggest property rights issue of our time. In a recent article, In a recent Texas Law Review article, Josh Braver and i argue that exclusionary zoning  violates the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and outline ways in which a combination of litigation and political action can be used to combat them.  See also our much shorter non-academic article  in the Atlantic. Even many who don't agree with that position can recognize now is a good time to reconsider Euclid and its legacy. Thus, I am happy to announce that the Pacific Legal Foundation - a major public interest law…

In this episode of the State Bar of Texas Podcast, host Rocky Dhir welcomes Alicia Freeman of the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program (TLAP) to learn about tools to manage emotional distress—for lawyers and clients. Lawyers often face relentless exposure to stress and trauma, whether navigating emotionally charged areas of the law, handling high-stakes matters, or confronting a host of other pressures inherent to the profession. They discuss how to appropriately engage with clients’ emotional needs, set healthy boundaries, and provide necessary resources. Alicia Freeman is a licensed professional counselor with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a bachelor’s in political science. She is a TLAP clinical professional for the Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program at the State Bar of Texas, the owner of Freeman Counseling and Consulting LLC, and co-host for the My Therapist Needs a Therapist podcast. Listen to the…