Business Interruption Claims Update By Bryan O. Blevins, Jr. The insurance industry responded to the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic with preemptive press statements that property insurance policies would provide no coverage—even before policyholders submitted any claims. Given this knee-jerk reaction, it is unsurprising that the first claims are being denied quickly, and without so much as a pretense of an investigation. Physical Loss or Damage Insurers are taking an “if you can’t see it,...

Business Interruption in a Pandemic World By Bryan O. Blevins, Jr.Equity Partner The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a dramatic economic effect throughout the United States, and on industries as diverse as electronics, auto manufacturing, construction, passenger cruises, shipping, travel, transportation, hospitality and healthcare. Supply chains and manufacturing have been disrupted by facility closures worldwide and ultimately there will not be an industry sector or business that will not be...

President Donald Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on March 18, 2020 in response to Covid-19 infecting Americans. Our attorneys weigh in on the most commonly asked questions regarding the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act under FFCRA. For Employers Q: When is the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act take...

HOUSTON, Texas – Beaumont-based law firm, Provost Umphrey, has filed a series of individual lawsuits in Harris County, Texas against Equinor, a Norwegian based energy company (formerly Statoil) and its related oil and gas entities. The firm is representing over 200 mineral owners that have been underpaid oil and gas royalties by the international energy company. “Equinor disregarded both express and implied provisions of its lease agreements and entered into ‘sham’ transactions with its own gas...

BEAUMONT, Texas – Attorneys and staff at Provost Umphrey Law Firm are proud to have accomplished their 2019 goal of volunteering at 50 local charities in honor of the firm’s 50th anniversary. The Beaumont-based trial law firm has a history of giving back to the community, and Provost Umphrey leaders wanted to recognize the firm’s anniversary by encouraging employees to volunteer at a charity of their choosing on the firm’s time. Art Museum of Southeast Texas “We work every day to serve...

Provost Umphrey filed class action lawsuit for property damage due to TPC explosion Beaumont, TX – On November 27 at 1:00 am, residents of Port Neches and surrounding areas were awakened by two loud explosions and a bright orange flash that filled the sky. It is reported that tanks at Texas Petrochemical Group (TPC) located in Port Neches off TX-Spur 136 exploded releasing butadiene and hydrocarbons. TPC has not released the cause for the explosions and the air quality of the surrounding areas...

BEAUMONT, Texas – Provost Umphrey Law Firm has earned a place in the 2020 Best Law Firms guide by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America, marking the 12th year in a row the firm has received such recognition. Provost Umphrey earned top rankings in the Beaumont metro area for representing plaintiffs in mass torts and class actions, personal injury and product liability litigation. The Nashville office earned recognition for labor and employment litigation. To learn about the...

Article published in Best Lawyers Vaping and e-cigarettes have recently spent a considerable amount of time in the news. Much of this is due to lawsuits taking aim at manufacturers who took a product they knew to be dangerous and targeted young audiences through purposely misleading advertising. That the vaping industry chose to travel down this path is hardly surprising. After all, Big Tobacco had such success using the same playbook — why not try it again?