News roundup: BP's Gulf Oil Spill releases, premises liability at the Texas Supreme Court, and Elena Kagan's nomination
BP has pledged that it will not seek to prevent lawsuits arising from the Gulf Oil Spill based on controversial releases obtained from victims of the blast. Early reports accused the oil giant of improperly asking workers who survived the incident to swear that they weren't injured and promise they won't sue. Reports say that workers were presented with these agreements immediately after being rescued, under highly distasteful (and potentially actionable) circumstances. Fears | Nachawati represents victims of the Gulf Oil Spill, including those who have signed releases under questionable circumstances and those who have been asked to sign releases. If you have been affected by the Gulf Oil Spill, call us today at 1.866.705.7584 to discuss your situation with our experienced legal staff.
In other Texas legal news, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that ice does not create an unreasonable risk of harm that would expose a landowner to premises liability for a business invitee. In the case at hand, a man was injured when he slipped and fell on accumulated ice in the parking lot of a hospital. He sued the hospital for his injuries. The Court's ruling means that the hospital isn't liable for injuries caused by icy conditions that occur naturally. If the hospital had created the icy condition, or had altered the parking lot in such a manner that a dangerous situation arose, the result would likely have been different and the man could have possibly sued for his injuries.
In national legal news, President Obama has nominated Elena Kagan to be a Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Kagan currently serves as the Solicitor General of the United States, where she argues cases in the Supreme Court on the government's behalf. Prior to that appointment, Ms. Kagan was the Dean of Harvard Law school. She has been nominated to fill the seat being vacated by Justice John Paul Stevens. If confirmed, Ms. Kagan will be President Obama's second appointee to the Supreme Court.
