NewsWire

BP Shareholders File Lawsuit Over Gulf Oil Spill
Citing the company's history of safety lapses, cost cutting and workplace disasters, shareholders who bought BP stock between Feb. 27, 2008, and May 12, 2010, have filed a class-action lawsuit claiming the company mislead investors prior to BP's Chief Executive Officer admission on May 12, that BP "did not have the technology available" to stop the Deepwater Horizon leak in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit notes BP's assertions that it had the technology to safely conduct its Gulf operations. "We're seeking to represent American, as well as international, investors, who are the majority of the shareholders," says Robert Schachter of Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP. "Our numbers show that 39 percent of BP equity holders reside in the U.S.; the other 61 percent are outside the country." Schachter's firm was lead counsel in the investor lawsuit arising out of the 2006 Prudhoe Bay oil leak. To interview Mr. Schachter, contact Mark Annick at 800-559-4534 or mark@androvett.com.

Deepwater Drilling Moratorium Costly for Workers, Companies
The federal government's recently announced moratorium on deepwater drilling operations will have a tremendous impact on everyone from rig workers to oil companies, says attorney Jason Itkin, co-founder of Houston's Arnold & Itkin LLP. "Thousands of workers are off the job, dozens of rigs will sit idle and companies now are invoking force majeure clauses to get out of drilling contracts, all because of BP's corporate irresponsibility," says Itkin, whose firm represents numerous workers and companies affected by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and ongoing oil spill. "All of these workers and companies affected by the moratorium may have a case against BP simply because the company decided that safety on the Deepwater Horizon wasn't as important as its bottom line." To interview Mr. Itkin, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Wal-Mart Discrimination Lawsuit Rolls On
While the largest gender discrimination lawsuit in history continues, potentially involving more than 1 million current and former Wal-Mart employees, a 15-year-old report shows widespread disparities in pay and promotion by the world's largest retailer. The report was recently leaked to The New York Times by sources who remain critical of Wal-Mart's employment practices. "Wal-Mart is not the only business to find itself in this situation, but continuing to litigate can enhance a perception that management disregards the evidence and importance of addressing employment inequities," says Austin attorney Geoff Weisbart, lead counsel in resolving last year's gender discrimination class action against Dell. "Lip service only makes the problem worse. Companies must make it clear that discrimination is not tolerated, and take the steps that demonstrate that commitment." To interview Mr. Weisbart, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

Summertime Brings Tire Failures
With the Texas summer comes additional travel and stifling road heat, both archenemies of tire safety, says attorney Wesley Todd Ball of Houston's Farrar & Ball LLP. "Before any long trip, perform a detailed inspection of each of your tires, including the spare," says Ball, who recently won a $32.8 million verdict in a tire failure lawsuit. "Look the tire over and run your hands along the tread, checking for foreign objects, separations or bulges, which is evidence of a failure sure to come," says Ball. "And use the top of a penny to inspect for proper tread depth. If part of Lincoln's head is covered, your tread depth is good." Any questionable issues are an immediate cause for concern, and warrant a trip to the local tire shop, he warns. To interview Mr. Ball, contact Alan Bentrup at 800-559-4534 or alan@androvett.com.

Move Over Kids, It's Fido's Turn To Go To Work
First it was daughters, and then sons. And now, come June 25, it's time for Take Your Dog to Work Day. Labor and employment attorney Audrey Mross of Dallas' Munck Carter says bringing Fido along can make the workplace more fun, but there are a number of things to consider, including building management, which by law is required to allow service animals, but may prohibit others. Then there are the logistics, including sanitation, noise and feeding. "On top of that, you need to be prepared for people to go beyond just dogs," Mross says. "If one person brings in a basset hound, someone else might want to match that with his pet boa." Add to that issues of allergies and breeds that scare some people, and things could get interesting. To interview Ms. Mross, contact Mark Annick at 800-559-4534 or mark@androvett.com.

Coleman Case Shows No Estate Too Small for a Will
Despite reports of meager assets, actor Gary Coleman's survivors are already lining up for a fight over his estate. It's a phenomenon that happens with disheartening frequency, says Steve Spitzer, head of the Probate Litigation Section at Cowles & Thompson. Too often people will die without a will or, in the case of Coleman, one that is outdated, simply because they don't think their estate is large enough to warrant one. "Everyone should have a will," says Spitzer. "It is your final opportunity to give voice to your affairs. Either you write one or the State of Texas writes one for you, and that can give rise to a multitude of problems, from the wrong people receiving your possessions to higher administration costs, which especially for small estates can become burdensome." To interview Mr. Spitzer, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.

Interns, Summer Associates Need To Mind Their Attire
Students doing internships this summer need to practice more than just their professional skills. They also need to learn how to dress in the real world, where flip flops and spaghetti straps are reserved for poolside. Kathleen Wu, a partner in the Dallas office of Andrews Kurth and a columnist on workplace issues, says interns may not always have the best role models. "Unfortunately, 'business casual' has become so abused that work attire has become what I call 'aggressively casual,'" says Wu. "But the difference is, those people who are dressing too casually for the office already have jobs, whereas interns are trying out for their jobs. Overly casual dress may not be grounds for being fired, but in a competitive environment, not dressing professionally is a mark in the negative column that prospective employees can certainly do without." To interview Ms. Wu, contact Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or robert@androvett.com.

Clock Ticking on Campaign Finance Reform
New York's Charles Schumer has predicted that the U.S. Senate will pass campaign finance reform within the next month. The Schumer Bill, and its companion legislation in the House, would substantially increase federal election law disclosure requirements and place spending limits on corporations with foreign ownership. "Business and nonprofit organizations are vigorously opposing the legislation, which they view as a violation of their First Amendment rights to free speech affirmed by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision," says David Furlow of Thompson & Knight. "For over a century - since McKinley defeated Bryan by outspending him 10-to-1 - federal law had barred corporations and unions from funding political campaigns. With the mid-term elections only five months away, the implications for Citizens United, any new legislation, and any resulting litigation are enormous." To interview Mr. Furlow, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

Feds Ramping Up Foreign Corruption Investigations
The federal government is aggressively pursuing violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by hiring more prosecutors and employing unconventional techniques like undercover stings and wiretaps. "Given that 2009 was a record year for FCPA enforcement, the administration is signaling that American companies transacting any cross-border business should review and reinforce their anti-corruption policies," says Vivienne Schiffer of Houston's Thompson & Knight. Since 2004, the Justice Department has levied $1.5 billion in fines in more than two dozen FCPA cases, and more than 80 individuals have been charged. "It appears that charging individuals is a deliberate enforcement strategy and corporate punishments are also severe, whether or not the company and its officers even knew of the violations. 'Paper programs' that sit on the shelf without effective implementation are not sufficient." To interview Ms. Schiffer, contact Barry Pound at 800-559-4534 or barry@androvett.com.

Moll Named Editor-in-Chief of Texas Annotated Insurance Code
After three years as a contributing editor, Houston attorney Stephen Moll has been named Editor-in-Chief of the LexisNexis Texas Annotated Insurance Code. The Texas Annotated Insurance Code contains the complete insurance laws of Texas, featuring case annotations and expert commentary. "This publication is an incredibly valuable resource for any insurance lawyer," says Moll, who serves as co-chair of the Policyholder Insurance Coverage Group at Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. "I'm honored to have been named Editor-in-Chief, and I look forward to the challenges and opportunities overseeing a publication of this breadth and depth will present." As Editor-in-Chief, Moll will oversee the work of approximately the 20 experienced insurance lawyers across the state of Texas who serve as contributing editors. To interview Mr. Moll, contact Rhonda Reddick at 800-559-4534 or rhonda@androvett.com.