One year after a massive silo fire at German Pellets’ facility in Port Arthur, Texas, caused local residents to suffer through months of heavy smoke, the facility is set to reopen, and local residents still have not gotten relief. Irvine & Conner has sued German Pellets and its disaster assistance …
Addicks Barker “Upstream” Flooding Lawsuit: Update & Next Meeting 4/23
Litigation Update. Currently, the lead attorneys are working on discovery in the test property cases, including the exchange of documents, site inspections, and eventually depositions. So far, the Government has produced almost a million pages of documents related to this case. We are working hard to learn all we can …
NYTimes Features Upstream Litigation and Consults with Charles Irvine & Co-Counsel
Today, the New York Times published a compelling article illustrating the nature and scope of the flooding risk for upstream property owners, due to the government’s Addicks and Barker dams. We encourage you to view the article online. The article allows readers to view the graphics, and shows (among other …
Charles Irvine Gives CLE to Environmental Justice Attorneys on Texas Contested Case Process
On February 12, 2018, Charles Irvine co-taught a five-hour CLE class to 40 legal aid attorneys from across the state who specialize in environmental justice issues. The CLE focused on the Texas contested case process for protesting permits on environmental grounds and explained how legal aid attorneys can assist people …
Concerned Marine Mammal Scientists & Researchers File Amicus Brief in Support of Lolita, an Orca Living in Close Confinement for More than 45 Years
On behalf of concerned marine mammal scientists and researchers, Kristen Schlemmer of Irvine & Conner PLLC filed an amicus brief (also known as a “friend of the court” brief) in support of a petition for rehearing of the Eleventh Circuit’s January 12, 2018 decision in People for the Ethical Treatment …
Update: Addicks Barker “Upstream” Flooding Lawsuit
In Irvine & Conner’s lawsuit on behalf of “upstream” property owners affected by flooding during Tropical Storm Harvey, the Court ruled that the “Master Amended Complaint for Upstream Cases” that Irvine & Conner’s team filed would be the Master Complaint for all upstream cases. All other complaints and cases have …
Court Sets Schedule in Aquarium Tigers Case
On December 14, the Court held a scheduling conference in Conley v. Houston Aquarium, Inc., which challenges the living conditions of four tigers who have been at the Aquarium since 2004 and who, by the Aquarium’s own admission, have not been outside for more than 13 years. The trial in the case …
I&C Team Appointed to Lead Upstream Cases in Addicks/Barker Flooding Litigation
On November 20, 2017, Chief Judge Susan G. Braden of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims appointed Irvine & Conner and its co-counsel to serve as co-lead counsel for the upstream cases. Charles Irvine of Irvine & Conner PLLC and the firm’s co-counsel Daniel Charest and Larry Vincent of Burns …
Port Arthur Residents Sue Wood Pellets Manufacturer for Fire, Smoke
On October 25, 2017, Irvine & Conner filed a lawsuit against German Pellets of Texas, LLC and Texas Pellets, Inc. on behalf of residents of the West Side neighborhood of Port Arthur, Texas. The lawsuit alleges that an explosion at the companies’ facility in Port Arthur caused a fire to …
Charles Irvine Speaks at Federal Wildlife Law Conference in Austin, Texas
Charles Irvine spoke at the Federal Wildlife Law conference held in Austin Texas on October 16 & 17, 2017. As part of a panel focused on trends and complexities relating to coastal development, Mr. Irvine discussed the protection and management of federal wildlife in areas of coastal and offshore waters. …