Category Archives: Personal Injury

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP recently filed a petition to open an investigation into the circumstances that caused the death of Mark Hopkins, a 22-year-old student in College Station, Texas.

On February 8, 2022, officers with the College Station police department executed a search warrant at an off-campus residence occupied by Mark, his girlfriend, and another student. The suit alleges that the warrant was based on an affidavit that falsely claimed there were Venmo transactions between Hopkins and Abraham Escobar, the target of the search warrant who police suspected of being a drug dealer. Escobar was neither an occupant of the home that was the subject of the search warrant, nor was he present at the time of its execution.

The lawsuit alleges that at or around 6:00 a.m., College Station PD used “flash bang” devices to enter the premises. Hopkins and his girlfriend awoke during the commotion and believed burglars had broken into their home. According to Mark’s girlfriend, a witness to the tragic events that morning, they did not hear any knocking or attempt by the raid members to identify themselves as police officers. Fearing for their safety, Mark grabbed his personal shotgun as he instructed his girlfriend to hide in the closet and call 911. After College Station PD forced entry into the couple’s bedroom, Mark’s girlfriend witnessed him fall to the ground after being repeatedly shot at by police officers, according to the lawsuit.

After many months of ignored requests for information by the City of College Station, the Hopkins family retained Aaron W. Perry and Doyle Dennis Avery LLP to uncover the truth of the matter. On October 9, 2023, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP filed a “Rule 202” petition on behalf of the Hopkins family in Brazos County, Texas. The family seeks to gain access to incident reports, investigative documents, and unabridged body camera footage to clarify the circumstances that led to Mark’s untimely end. Additionally, they hope that the investigation will facilitate the transparency necessary to clear Mark Hopkin’s name.

Ignoring safety protocols and basic civil rights can lead to grave consequences. Doyle Dennis Avery LLP strives to hold the individuals involved, as well as the systems that enable those individuals, accountable for their conduct. If you or a family member has been harmed by reckless conduct by police officer or other public official, contact us for a free evaluation of your potential claims.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP recently filed suit against three defendants Rise Communities LLC, GR-M1, LTD., and Meridiana Community Association, INC., in Harris County, Texas.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client seeks to hold Rise Communities accountable for its actions related to failing to maintain its structure. In addition, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client seeks to hold Meridiana Community Association liable for its failure to warn, maintain, and protect against hazards and objects that could cause harm to users of their underpass. Lastly, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client seeks to hold GR-M1, LTD., a parent company for Rise Communities, liable for the direct negligence of its subpart. 

On or about June 3^rd, 2022, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP’s client was riding to work on his electric scooter. While taking his normal route into work, the client utilized the Defendant’s underpass, made specifically for children to bypass above traffic, but was violently thrown from his scooter when he came upon a hidden divot in the underpass. The client suffered a broken jaw and received several stiches in his chin.

Doyle Dennis Avery LPP has significant experience in representing individuals who have been injured due to the negligence of large corporations. For example, in Lunford v. VLive Houston a premises liability dispute, the attorneys at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP was awarded a $52.6 million judgment, including $47+ million in actual damages and $5 million in exemplary damages. If you or someone close to you has suffered an injury due to a company’s negligence, contact the lawyers at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP for an evaluation of your potential claims.  

Houston Police Department officers shot and killed Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas in a botched drug raid in 2019. Following their deaths, the Tuttle and Nicholas families’ (the “Families”) filed a lawsuit against the City of Houston, alleging that the officers used excessive force in executing the search warrant and that the search and seizure were unlawful. The Families asserted both direct claims and claims premised on failure to intervene against the individual officers. Importantly, the Families also asserted claims against Lieutenants Todd and Gonzales, who had a role in supervising the other officers, for excessive force and unlawful search-and-seizure based on direct liability and failure to supervise. The Families argued that they sufficiently stated a claim for supervisor liability against Todd. They then argued that the district court correctly concluded that Todd was not entitled to qualified immunity because the allegations against Todd for supervisor liability overcame qualified immunity.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed in part, reversed in part, and vacated in part. First, the Fifth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of the individual officers’ motions to dismiss the Families’ claims for excessive-force and thus allowed those claims against the individual officers to proceed. The Fifth Circuit declined to address the motions to dismiss the search-and-seizure claims asserted against Sepolio, Salazar, Gallegos, Wood, Pardo, Medina, Reyna, Lovings, and Ashraft.
In addition, the Fifth Circuit held that the district court correctly allowed the Families’ failure-to-supervise claim under 42 U.S.C.S. § 1983 to proceed because the Families alleged multiple specific instances in which the officer fraudulently obtained a search warrant and in which violence occurred, and the officer’s supervisor knew about these infractions, but did nothing to correct them. Regarding Todd, the Fifth Circuit determined that the district court “lacked jurisdiction to enter any judgment respecting Lieutenant Todd.” Thus, the Fifth Circuit vacated the district court’s order. Regarding Gonzales, the Fifth Circuit dismissed the Families’ claims against Gonzales for excessive force and search-and-seizure claims based on direct liability. However, the Fifth Circuit concluded that the facts alleged support the inference that Gonzales failed to supervise Goines, and that a causal link exists between his failure to supervise and the actions that ultimately occurred. Thus, the Fifth Circuit held that the district court was correct in allowing the claims against Gonzales to proceed.
Finally, because federal qualified immunity does not apply to state-law claims, the Fifth Circuit declined to address whether the Families’ state-law wrongful death and survival claims against all defendants should be dismissed.
Read the full opinion here (Tuttle v. Sepolio, No. 22-20279, c/w No. 23-20013, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 12834 (5th Cir. 2023):

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca5/23-20013/23-20013-2023-05-24.html

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP has filed a lawsuit on behalf of our clients who sustained serious injuries after a vehicular collision with a car operated by 210 HOSPITALITY, INC. d/b/a Chick-Fil-A Summerwood (“Chick-Fil-A Summerwood”).  The general personal injury lawsuit seeks to collect damages for the injuries caused by the defendant’s negligent actions and omissions. Doyle Dennis Avery LLP will now aggressively pursue the damages owed to our clients as a result of this vehicular collision accident. Our experienced team of trial lawyers is dedicated to fighting for the rights of our clients and securing the justice and compensation they are entitled to receive.

On or about February 9, 2021, our clients were driving when a vehicle operated by a Chick-Fil-A Summerwood driver struck their vehicle. As our clients were turning onto the road, traveling eastbound and had the right of way, the defendant failed to yield, thereby striking the vehicle. Our clients sustained injuries to their backs, necks, shoulders, ankles, and body generally. The negligent actions of Chick-Fil-A Summerwood was the direct cause of the accident and the injuries to our clients. Doyle Dennis Avery LLP will aggressively pursue justice on behalf of our clients, seeking to hold the defendant accountable for their gross negligence and the harm they have caused. Furthermore, we will work tirelessly to secure the full and fair compensation that our clients are entitled to receive.

As a result of the defendants’ negligent actions and/or omissions, the clients are reasonably expected to sustain damages and in reasonable probability will continue to suffer physical pain and mental anguish for past and future medical care, loss of earnings in the past and future, and other legal injuries.  

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is a highly experienced team of trial lawyers who have achieved impressive results for their clients. With decades of collective experience, our attorneys have a proven track record of success. Take a look at our case results, client reviews and firm history to learn more about our reputation for excellence. We are dedicated to providing exceptional legal guidance and communication throughout the lawsuit process. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, we invite you to contact Doyle Dennis Avery LLP for a free case evaluation. Our attorneys and staff are committed to helping clients protect their livelihoods and wellbeing. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us today to discuss your case.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP recently filed suit on behalf of a sexual assault survivor (“John Doe”). The lawsuit was filed against Defendants Bradley Cope, United Rentals, Inc., and Corwell Enterprises Inc. d/b/a WXYZ Lounge. John Doe worked at Aloft Hotel in Corpus Christi. The lawsuit alleges that John Doe was sexually assaulted multiple times because of the defendants’ acts and/or omissions. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the following: 

In 2022, United Rentals instructed its employee, Bradley Cope, to travel from California to Corpus Christi, Texas for a work trip. During this period, United Rentals paid for Cope’s and other United Rentals employees’ lodging at Aloft Corpus Christi (the “Hotel”) for several days.   While staying at the Hotel on a work trip, Cope became belligerently drunk on multiple occasions, according to the lawsuit. On multiple occasions, Cope was unable to hold his head up while drinking at the bar. Over the course of days, Cope’s conduct became so aggressive and outrageous that several hotel guests complained about Bradley Cope to the Hotel staff, including to John Doe.  United Rentals, through its other agents and employees at the hotel, witnessed and saw Mr. Cope’s aggressive conduct prior to the assault. Despite Bradley Cope’s level of intoxication, Defendants United Rentals and WXYZ Lounge failed to take any action. Unfortunately, United Rentals and WXYZ Lounge’s failure to take any action against Bradley Cope resulted in Cope sexually harassing and sexually assaulting John Doe, who was employed at the Hotel as a Front Desk Associate.   

The lawsuit further alleges that while Bradley Cope was staying at the Hotel during the work trip, Cope was belligerently drunk and unruly in the Hotel lobby and in the dining area of the Hotel. Indeed, several hotel guests had complained to John Doe and other hotel staff about Bradley Cope. John Doe repeatedly asked Bradley Cope to return to his room. However, Cope refused. Moreover, Cope was also so intoxicated that he was unable to stand up. Although United Rentals’ other employees were present and observed Cope’s extreme level of intoxication, again Defendants took no action. United Rentals did not intervene. Put differently, United Rentals failed to supervise Bradley Cope while Cope was working in Corpus Christi on behalf of United Rentals.    

One night, while John Doe was trying to get Bradley Cope to leave the common areas of the Hotel, Bradley Cope sexually assaulted John Doe again. The lawsuit alleges that Cope sexually assaulted John Doe while in the middle of the hotel lobby and in the dining area. John Doe, a hard-working employee who was on the job and scared of losing his employment and further alarming any of the Hotel guests, again asked Bradley Cope to return to his room. But Bradley Cope again refused to leave. Although Bradley Cope had created a significant disturbance in the Hotel lobby and in the dining area of the Hotel, the Hotel’s other employees, including security personnel, did not intervene. Left with no other options, and in an attempt to protect the Hotel’s other guests, John Doe felt obliged to escort Bradley Cope to his room due to his extremely intoxicated state and apparent inability to physically walk to his room. The lawsuit alleges that when John Doe and Bradley Cope arrived in Bradley Cope’s room, Bradley Cope raped John Doe.

At the time of the occurrence in question, Defendant Corwell Enterprises Inc. d/b/a WXYZ Lounge was a provider of alcohol under the authority of a license or permit issued by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. John Doe has alleged that WXYZ Lounge had a statutory duty to refrain from serving alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons. The lawsuit alleges that WXYZ Lounge violated Texas law by providing, under authority of a license, alcoholic beverages to Bradley Cope, who was WXYZ Lounge’s customer and guest, when it was apparent or should have been apparent to the WXYZ Lounge, that Cope was obviously intoxicated to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others.   WXYZ Lounge was negligent because it sold and served alcoholic beverages to Bradley Cope when they knew or reasonably should have known that he was under the influence of intoxicating alcohol. WXYZ Lounge also failed to provide reasonable education, policies, and/or training to employees, agents, servants, and/or representatives regarding the serving of alcoholic beverages to patrons, including Bradley Cope; provided and/or encouraging policies and/or an atmosphere that caused, created, or contributed to a pattern and/or practice among employees, agents, servants, and/or representatives that unreasonably encouraged the excessive and unsafe serving of alcoholic beverages to patrons, including Bradley Cope.  

The lawsuit states that Defendant Bradley Cope is liable to John Doe for sexual assault and battery under the Texas penal code. Bradley Cope intentionally, knowingly, and/or recklessly caused bodily injury to John Doe when he sexually assaulted John Doe. According to the lawsuit, Defendant Bradley Cope is liable to John Doe for assault and battery because he intentionally, knowingly, and/or recklessly caused bodily injury to John Doe when he assaulted John Doe. 

John Doe has also sued United Rentals, Inc. negligence, negligent per se, and gross negligence for the following reasons: failing to properly train its employees and/or agents, including Bradley Cope; failing to supervise their employees and/or agents, including Bradley Cope; failing to hire qualified and adequately trained employees and/or agents its employees, including Bradley Cope; failing to properly screen and/or background check its employees, including Bradley Cope; failing to create and/or enforce adequate safety policies and procedures for employees; failing to take action to prevent the Incident; and other acts deemed negligent and grossly negligent. Bradley Cope was under the supervision and control of United Rentals. The lawsuit alleges that while Bradley Cope was conducting work on behalf of United Rentals, Cope sexually assaulted John Doe. In all, United Rentals is directly liable for its own negligence, which is separate and distinct from the causes of action against Bradley Cope.

John Doe has been forced to seek medical treatment to repair the damage Defendants’ conduct caused John Doe. John Doe suffered – and continues to suffer – irreparable mental anguish due to Defendants’ acts and omissions.

Doyle Dennis Avery LLP is a nationally-recognized team of trial lawyers. Our firm is proud to hold negligent parties accountable. If you or a loved one have suffered due to a company’s negligence, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP will provide a free evaluation of your legal claims.