Personal Injury and Economic Damage Claims

Lead counsel for the Houston-Galveston area franchisees of a publicly traded automotive maintenance company and its parent company. The franchisees brought claims against the franchisor and its parent arising out of the defendants’ marketing of the franchises. The franchisees’ claims were settled for a substantial confidential amount during mediation.

Lead counsel for the plaintiff in a sexual harassment and sexual retaliation case against a pubicly traded restaurant company. After being sexually harrassed by her supervisor, the plaintiff filed a complaint with company management. The company’s reaction was so adverse that the employee was constructively terminated. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded the plaintiff a substantial judgment for actual damages and punitive damages. The case was settled on appeal for a confidential amount.

Represented the manager of a Venezuelan gas compression facility, who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) while he was on a fishing trip in southern Venezuela. The Plaintiff was held captive for more than a year in the Colombian jungles where he was repeatedly beaten, attacked by animals and forced to bathe in piranha-infested rivers. After his release, for a $1.0 Million ransom, Mr. Kelly represented the manager and his wife in an action against the company which arranged the fishing trip. The case was settled prior to trial for a substantial confidential amount.