Watson Grinding & Watson Valve Pay their Insurance Policy Limits
Best, Rob Kwok
From Rob Kwok:
In my 29+ years of law practice this explosion hits closest to home. Literally, 5 miles from home. We woke up to the sonic boom that set off our house alarm on January 24, 2020 at 4:23am. My phone started ringing around 7am and hasn't stopped ringing since. Many close friends live near the Watson facility. Many of my kids' classmates were affected. In fact, our lead Plaintiffs have 4 kids in school with our 4 kids. We're so glad to serve their family during this explosion that destroyed their home.
A bit about me, I'm board certified in personal injury trial law, and have represented people my entire career. I am AV rated, peer review/judicial review rated - the highest possible rating.
I filed the first wrongful death case in the tragic 2005 BP Amaco Explosion that killed 23 workers. We had incredible results for all of our clients. I actually presented my last BP case to a Galveston County jury - that case settled on the first night of trial, after jury selection.
I also won the record setting jury verdict in the Channelview Explosion in 2014, that killed 1 worker and injured others. The 5-week jury trial record verdict landed us in the Texas Lawyers Hall of Fame.
When not working Explosion cases, my firm is one of the highest volume personal injury trial law firms in Houston. I'm so grateful for our world-class team of 50+ talented professionals. Update: we've added more team members in the past year to staff up for the Watson litigation and have tripled our mass torts division. We are grateful for our explosive growth!
Please know that I take each one of your cases personally. I'm deeply honored to represent 1,000+ of your family members, friends and neighbors. In December, I successfully concluded my appointment as co-chair of the January 24 Claimants Committee, and now we get to finally litigate your cases in state court. In short - I am "All In" on the Watson explosion case.
Together we are rebuilding your neighborhood, one home at a time.
Best, Rob Kwok - rkwok@kwoklaw.com
Dear Clients,
Thank you for attending our recent town hall meeting. Over 400 of you attended in person and got valuable case updates from our team of professionals. We hope to have more news for you in the coming days/weeks as the case heads towards the first trial setting in October 2022. Many times trial settings drive settlements as the parties seek to avoid the risk of trial. Either way, our trial team is ready, having attended over 110 depositions, many as lead questioner.
As we reported in our town hall meeting, we are pleased to report that both Watson entities - Watson Grinding and Watson Valve have agreed to pay their full insurance policy limits into the bankruptcy court, starting the allocation process. As other Defendants consider settlement, we will maintain contact with you about the amount of available funds, your proposed share, and other important information for you to make decisions on your case.
Starting in January 2023, our clients will start taking their cases to trial, in groups of 10. Since there are 2,000 claimants, and trials will only happen 6x's a year, this could take decades to complete. The costs and litigation expenses are huge on both sides! So we will communicate any potential settlements to you consideration.
We will continue to diligiently represent you, our beloved clients, in this significant lawsuit. We know many are still suffering from the explosion from over 2 years ago, indeed we are doing battle with many of your homeowners insurance companies who refuse to pay what is owed. One happy story is the total recovery of over $300k for one homeowner/client - and didn't take any fees from their first party recovery, as promised. We will not forget the lives lost and damage done on January 24, 2020.
We plan to be in depositions through year end 2022. As our trial team prepares for and takes depositions, our office team has completed your Plaintiff Fact Sheets! Thank you for cooperating with our office team led by Attorney Ranny Sawaf to complete your individual fact sheet. As you continue to treat and calculate your damages, please continue e-mailing your documents and photos to watsondocs@kwoklaw.com. We continue to amend and update your fact sheets as you continue your medical treatment and home repairs. Remember, your allocation will be based on a point system, points awarded for level of damages and injuries. So please make sure you get all your points allocated by getting us all your damages evidence.
We expect many more depositions and jury trials over the next few years, including many of you, who will serve as our lead trial cases. Again, our first jury trial is set for October 2022 for the families who lost loved ones in the blast. The next group, Track 2, includes our clients and is set for January 23, 2023.
Our team of 50+ professionals are working hard on your facts sheets and curing any alleged decifiencies in your facts sheets. Our team is also preparing and presenting many of you for depositions. Please continue to cooperate with us - help us help you!
Best, Rob Kwok
Reminders for our clients:
Our legal team has been actively reaching out to each one of you personally, so please cooperate with us to prove up your cases. All losses, property, injury, etc. must be properly documented for Court. As always, e-mail questions and documents/photos 24/7 to watsondocs@kwoklaw.com.
We have many clients experiencing continued ringing in the ears and hearing damage/loss. You need to document your hearing damage for your case. Please contact attorney Adam at advorak@kwoklaw.com.
We also have many clients experiencing continuing explosion related thoughts/feelings, affecting every day life. This includes unwanted upsetting memories, nightmares, flashbacks, emotional/physical distress after exposure to traumatic reminders, irritability, anger/aggression, risky or destructive behavior, hypervigilance, jumpy on edge, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping etc. If this is you, please contact attorney Adam (advorak@kwoklaw.com) or attorney Miguel (mcano@kwoklaw.com)
Any questions? As always, call us 24/7 at 713.773.3380 or email us at 1P@kwoklaw.com. We have been meeting with many of you in person at our offices and at the pool clubhouse (outdoors!) - we are available for you!
As usual, find real-time updates here at www.watsongrindingexplosion.com
Lawsuit filed - 3 TROs Granted
Rob Kwok has already filed and won 3 TRO's in this case.
See Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) - here
See Houston Chronicle Article - here
See ABC news - here
See Fox 26 news story - here
See KPRC Ch2 news story - here
See ABC Watson/Kwok news story - here
See AP news story - here
See KPRC Ch2 walk through news story - here
See KPRC Ch2 TRO vs. City of Houston news story - here
See 1st TRO vs. City - here
See 2nd TRO vs. City - here
See Houston Chronicle Article - here
See Agreed 5-8-20 Lift Stay Order - here
See 06.21.20 Houston Chronicle Article - here
See 07.03.20 Houston Chronicle Article - here
See 12.30.20 Houston Chronicle Article - here
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