Verdicts & Settlements

Jordan Plant Farm, a small business based in Henderson, Texas, found itself entangled in a commercial dispute against a multi-billion dollar energy company following a devastating loss of their crop. Despite the energy giant's initial reluctance to make any settlement offer throughout most of the litigation, the dedicated LPM team worked tirelessly to diligently prepare the case for presentation to the jury. However, right after the close of evidence, rather than having the case go to a jury, the defendant agreed to a remarkable settlement that was a staggering 660 times greater than their initial offer.

3M is a multi-billion dollar company responsible for manufacturing and supplying the United States military with Combat Arms earplugs to protect the service members’ ears from the loud sounds associated with military training and combat. LPM has taken on the representation of thousands of plaintiffs who have suffered injuries due to the earplugs' defects. With the help of LPM, these plaintiffs achieved success in holding 3M accountable for prioritizing profits over the safety of those who served our nation.

• Camarillorazo v. 3M Company et al:
  A jury in Tallahassee, Florida federal court awarded just over $13 million to the U.S. Army sergeant Camarillorazo who suffered hearing damage as a result of using military-issue earplugs made by 3M.
• Wilkerson v. 3M Company et al:
  A jury in Tallahassee, Florida awarded $8 million in compensatory damages to Wilkerson, who argued that using the earplugs while serving in the Army National Guard during training and combat caused him to develop tinnitus and hearing loss.
• Estes v. 3M Company et al: 
  A jury in Pensacola, Florida awarded $2.8M in damages to Estes, who served in the Army from 2008 to 2017 as a tank platoon commander, where he had exposure to loud noises and regularly wore 3M’s earplugs. 

Justin Turner, a 26-year-old father of two small children, tragically lost his life in a devastating accident when the workover rig he was working on collapsed, causing him to fall over 60 feet to the ground below. With dedicated efforts, our attorneys skillfully litigated the case against all six companies involved in the incident, leading to pre-trial settlements with five defendants and a remarkable Harris County, Texas jury verdict exceeding $22,000,000.00 against the sixth defendant.

This landmark case centered around the untimely death of a mother of three young daughters who developed primary pulmonary hypertension as a result of using the Fen-Phen diet drug combination. Our formidable legal team took on one of the country's largest pharmaceutical giants, navigating a web of intricate legal challenges that showcased our prowess as trial attorneys. The case was tried over a six-week period in Beaumont, Texas, culminating in a unanimous jury verdict that captured the nation's attention. All three of LPM’s founding partners played pivotal roles in securing the largest personal single-plaintiff injury award in the nation's history at just over $1,000,000,000.00.

Plaintiff Wellogix, Inc., a Houston-based software developer, entered into several crucial business agreements to promote its cutting-edge products. These products, encompassing computer software and valuable intellectual property essential for managing drilling processes, were unfortunately misappropriated by Accenture. Laminack, Pirtle & Martines skillfully represented Wellogix in a high-stakes theft of trade secrets case. Following an intensive two-week trial in a Harris County federal court, a twelve-member jury rendered a verdict in favor of Wellogix, awarding damages exceeding $94,000,000.00. This verdict was subsequently upheld in both the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court.

Kevin Currey and Dennis Brunson sustained significant, life-changing injuries when the elevator system in the offshore drilling platform they were working on in the Gulf of Mexico experienced a catastrophic failure, resulting in the men falling over 40 feet. Following an extensive discovery process, our firm successfully negotiated a multi-million dollar resolution for each case prior to trial, ensuring compensation for both men’s injuries.

Our law firm's senior partners were among the first in the nation to hold medical device manufacturers responsible for defective products through consolidated litigation. Notably, they played a pivotal role in the early nationally litigated cases involving silicone breast implants, setting a precedent in defective products litigation across the country.

Rick Laminack and Tom Pirtle achieved groundbreaking victories, including securing three of the earliest trial verdicts, awarding over $60,000,000 in damages to women who suffered severe injuries from silicone breast implants. After solidifying their status as leaders in the litigation, Laminack and Pirtle went on to successfully represent tens of thousands of women nationwide and secure hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

A tragic incident unfolded when a 60-year-old husband and devoted father lost his life due to a catastrophic accident at a poorly designed and maintained parking garage. Just ten days into the trial in Harris County, the owners and operators of the garage chose to settle the case with our firm, providing closure and compensation to the grieving widow and daughter.

In a heartbreaking incident, a teenager lost his life due to the tragic electrocution resulting from a poorly installed dock light on a homeowner's property. Laminack, Pirtle & Martines provided invaluable support to the grieving parents throughout the trial in Brazoria County, Texas, enabling them to secure a settlement from the homeowner for the wrongful death of their beloved son.

While employed by the Brazos River Authority, Eddie Martinez was performing routine grass mowing along a canal when an unfortunate accident occurred. He struck an unmarked, underground pipe containing highly flammable propylene gas, resulting in severe burns covering over 70% of his body. Eddie endured a grueling four-month stay in Intensive Care. Thanks to the legal advocacy of Laminack, Pirtle & Martines in the trial in Harris County, Eddie received a substantial settlement covering his medical expenses and providing compensation for the profound impact this life-altering accident had on him.