NewsWire

Could New Toyota Evidence Help Free Jailed Man?
Attorneys for the Minnesota man convicted for his part in a fatal 2006 crash involving his runaway Toyota Camry are hoping that new evidence will help get their client a new trial. Attorneys Bob Hilliard of Corpus Christi's Hilliard Muńoz Guerra LLP and Brent Schafer of Minneapolis last week filed a petition on behalf of Koua Fong Lee, providing county prosecutors with additional evidence in support of his innocence. "Prosecutors have routinely said that if we show them new evidence they will act on it immediately," says Hilliard. "Here it is, so it is time to act." Among the new evidence are numerous affidavits from individuals that experienced sudden acceleration in the same 1996 Toyota Camry model owned by Lee. To interview Mr. Hilliard regarding dangerous Toyotas, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Houston ‘Pre-Pack' Bankruptcy Completed in Only 42 Days
A Houston-based energy company has confirmed its Chapter 11 reorganization in less than six weeks through the use of a "pre-packaged" bankruptcy plan. Cross Canyon Energy Corp., which holds oil and gas assets in South Texas, worked with attorneys in the Houston and New York offices of Thompson & Knight to negotiate and gain approval from key constituencies prior to filing for reorganization. "Transactions of this type involving publicly traded securities often take several months or more to go through the bankruptcy process, but after a brief hearing, we were able to obtain confirmation in 42 days after filing the case," says bankruptcy attorney Matthew S. Cohen. "Properly managed, pre-packs can be an efficient and cost-effective way to resolve balance sheet issues and help businesses restructure." To interview Mr. Cohen, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

H-1B Latecomers May Leave Empty-Handed
Two years ago, the annual quota of 65,000 H-1B visas was exhausted just a few days after the start of the petition acceptance period. However, the economic downturn slowed filings so much that last fiscal year's quota was not reached until near the end of 2009. Though economic indicators might not have improved sufficiently to create a fierce competition for the upcoming H-1B visa allocation, Dallas immigration attorney Irina Plumlee of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP says it is impossible to predict how quickly the quota will be filled when the 2010 application period opens today. "In previous years, you knew that if you didn't have the application in on April 1, you would not receive a visa," she says. "That's no longer a certainty, but waiting too long to make your bid for an H-1B work permit could leave you without a visa." To interview Ms. Plumlee, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.

Summertime Help for Divorced Parents
Kids' summer schedules - camps, travel and other activities - can be complicated. When their parents are divorced, things can be even more difficult. Divorced parents who need help working out their summer schedules may want to consider hiring a qualified parenting facilitator or parenting coordinator, says Family Law attorney Keith Nelson of Dallas' McCurley Orsinger McCurley Nelson & Downing. Though they wouldn't be a substitute for a divorce lawyer, they can follow the court's orders regarding visitation and help ease tensions between former spouses. "They can help parents work through these issues in a way that focuses on what is best for the child, not necessarily what is best or most convenient for either parent," Nelson says. To interview Mr. Nelson, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.

Financial Service Providers Face New Scrutiny
With financial reform a top priority for the Obama administration, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee has approved a legislative package that seeks to address the perceived regulatory failures that led to the financial crisis. The measure, which passed last week on a 13-10 party line vote, includes proposals to improve consumer protection, end "too big to fail" bailouts and expand federal oversight of the financial sector, including banks, hedge funds and credit rating agencies. "The Dodd bill has far-reaching implications for the daily operations at most banks and thrifts," says Paul Corley of Dallas's Thompson & Knight. "While the Federal Reserve would remain responsible for bank holding companies with assets over $50 billion, many institutions would receive a new primary regulator, such as the FDIC or the Office of Comptroller of the Currency." To interview Mr. Corley, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

Judge Rules for R.R. Street in California Water Contamination Case
A San Francisco trial judge last week issued a take-nothing judgment for R.R. Street & Co. in an environmental contamination lawsuit filed by the City of Modesto, Calif. Attorneys from Houston-based Hicks Thomas LLP represented R.R. Street when Modesto and its redevelopment agency sued over claims that the company improperly distributed a solvent that allegedly contaminated soil and underground water. The chemical, perchloroethylene (PERC), is widely used in the U.S. dry cleaning industry. The judge last week ruled that R.R. Street was not responsible for the cleanup. "R.R. Street has always worked with the highest standards for safety," says Hicks Thomas partner John Thomas, lead counsel for R.R. Street. "We are pleased that the judge carefully reviewed the facts in this case and found no wrongdoing by our client." To interview Mr. Thomas, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Ronquillo Serving as Honorary Chair of Diversity Conference
Covering diversity issues ranging from mentoring to professional development, The 6th Annual Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference will be held April 8-9 in Rockwall. Dallas attorney Marcos G. Ronquillo, Managing Shareholder and Chief Operating Officer of Godwin Ronquillo PC, will serve as Honorary Chair. "As demographics across the country continue to shift, conferences such as this are increasingly important because they allow us the opportunity to learn from one another," says Ronquillo, a recognized leader in legal profession diversity issues. "Achieving true diversity requires you to break free from ‘business as usual.' You have to continue moving forward and learning from what others are doing and saying." Ronquillo will also speak at the related Texas Multicultural Summit during the "Strategizing for Success: Latino Leadership Development" session on April 7. To interview Mr. Ronquillo, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.