Andrew Collins filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, alleging that Noble Drilling violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Collins, an African American resident of Harris County, claims that he was subjected to harassment, threats, intimidation, discrimination and disparate treatment because of his race, which caused him embarrassment and emotional distress.

According to the lawsuit, Noble Drilling denied Collins the privileges, benefits, terms and conditions of employment. The complaint alleges that the company retaliated against Collins by transferring him to a less desirable offshore facility after he reported racial and sexual harassment. Noble Drilling threatened Collins with disciplinary action and wrongfully terminated his employment, the lawsuit claims.

Collins seeks back pay including lost wages and benefits, compensatory damages, attorney fees and costs, as well as other relief to which he may be entitled. A trial by jury has been demanded.

Noble Drilling, based in Sugar Land, Texas, operates about 30 drilling rigs, including 14 jackups and 16 semi-submersibles. In 2015, revenue from Shell Oil accounted from 49 percent of the company’s income. The company announced mass layoffs in January 2016.

Gregory D. Jordan is an employment lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Bradford Thompson brought a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, against Total Petrochemicals and Refining USA Inc. The lawsuit, filed on May 6, claimed violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in 2014 and 2015.

The lawsuit alleged that Thompson has been employed by Total Petrochemicals for more than 19 years and required extensive medical leave in 2014 due to two separate instances of surgery and hospitalization. Thompson claimed that his need for FMLA leave was clearly communicated to his employer. He first suffered a ruptured appendix and later had complications following cataract surgery.

According to his lawsuit, Thompson did not exceed his allotted FMLA leave. After returning to work in March 2015, Thompson claimed that he was put on notice for unsatisfactory work performance and was given a negative work assessment, most of which he was not allowed to see.

Thompson claims that after he argued that he was being criticized on a pretext and that his employer was retaliating against him, he was denied a raise. Thompson claims loss of wages and benefits, emotional distress and damage to future employment prospects. The lawsuit seeks declaratory relief, back and front pay, other damages and attorney’s fees and costs.

Gregory D. Jordan is an employment lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Aetna claims that North Cypress designed an out-of-network strategy that charged unnecessarily high fees to Aetna, and that it improperly offered ownership interests in the hospital in exchange for patient referrals.

The lawsuit argues that the action by North Cypress constitutes tortious interference (intentional, damaging interference in a business relationship) with in-network agreements between Aetna and the hospital’s physician-owners. The company further argues that the hospital’s actions violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Participating Facility Agreement between the hospital and MultiPlan, Inc., an affiliate of Aetna.

According to the lawsuit, North Cypress has also violated Texas statutes regarding unapproved billing practices, unprofessional conduct and inappropriate payment for referrals.

Allegedly, North Cypress’ out-of-network strategy included charging grossly excessive fees, providing illegal kickbacks to doctors for referrals, waiving the financial responsibility of Aetna members, upcoding and improperly using non-specific billing codes, and simply overcharging. According to the suit, these practices resulted in Aetna being overcharged by up to $120 million.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

Gregory D. Jordan is an Austin business attorney and business litigation lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Linda J. Donnie is suing Central United Life, claiming employment discrimination. Donnie filed the lawsuit in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas on October 27.

The lawsuit claims that Donnie was hired as associate manager of the underwriting department of Central United Life. She had 14 years of prior experience. According to the complaint, positions under Donnie were eliminated, leaving her solely responsible for the department. The complaint alleges that after a younger white woman was hired as chief operations officer, Donnie, an African-American, began to have her decisions questioned and overriden. Donnie claims that she was presented in a bad light to the corporation and to customers.

The lawsuit states that after Donnie filed a grievance, she was required to participate in an “improvement plan” and experienced a hostile work environment. She was ultimately dismissed for stated grounds based on an underwriting decision she had made a year earlier. The lawsuit claims age discrimination, racial discrimination, retaliation and harassment. Donnie is seeking damages, front and back pay, reinstatement and an injunction against further discrimination.

Gregory D. Jordan is a business lawyer and business litigation attorney in Austin, TX. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Citgo Petroleum Corporation filed the lawsuit against Daibes Oil and Fred A. Daibes in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, on October 14.

The lawsuit alleges that Citgo and Daibes Oil entered into a marketer-franchise agreement whereby Daibes would purchase motor fuel from Citgo for resale under the Citgo brand name to consumers and retailers. According to the complaint, they entered into the agreement on February 16, 2012.

Also according to the complaint, Daibes Oil has failed to pay more than $359,000 for fuel purchases made in January. Citgo also alleges that in 2013, Fred Daibes signed a guaranty for the agreement, and that he has failed to comply with its terms.

Citgo also alleges that it provided branding materials on the condition that Citgo would be reimbursed if the service stations debranded within a 60-month amortization period, and that Daibes Oil failed to reimburse Citgo under the contract. Citgo also alleges trademark infringement, claiming that Daibes Oil has sold non-branded motor fuel under Citgo’s name.

Citgo is seeking damages, interest, attorney’s fees and costs.

Gregory D. Jordan is an Austin business attorney and business litigation lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

David Yurman Enterprises filed the lawsuit against Sam’s Club on September 4 in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

According to the complaint, Yurman sells its jewelry at boutiques located across the United States and through authorized retailers. Yurman claims that its jewelry is well-known by consumers and the industry for its quality and uniqueness of design.

The complaint alleges that Sam’s Club recently began selling Yurman’s jewelry at discounted prices in stores located in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. However, Yurman claims that Sam’s Club was not approved to carry the jewelry and is not an authorized retailer. Yurman claims that the conduct by Sam’s Club has caused confusion and disappointment among consumers by creating the false impression that the warehouse club is an authorized retailer. According to the lawsuit, unlike authorized retailers, Sam’s Club is not able to offer certain services to consumers.

The lawsuit states that Sam’s Club is making prominent use of the Yurman trademark, packaging and placards, including a purported Yurman certificate of authenticity.

The lawsuit alleges false designation, trademark infringement, tortious interference with contract and unfair competition. Yurman seeks a court order prohibiting Sam’s Club from using Yurman’s trademark, and from acquiring and reselling its jewelry. The lawsuit also seeks unspecified damages, attorney’s fees, costs and other relief.

Gregory D. Jordan is an Austin business attorney and business litigation lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Alicia Thornhill filed the lawsuit October 9 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas. She claims that her employer prevented her from advancing during her eight years of employment, despite less-qualified male employees being promoted to higher positions.

Thornhill claims in the lawsuit that she was hired in May 2005 and is the only woman working in the company’s IT server department. She claims that male employees who were unqualified and inexperienced or who had committed work infractions were promoted ahead of her, even though she had a positive work history.

Thornhill also claims that she has been repeatedly denied the opportunity to receive training that would allow her to advance in her employment. According to the lawsuit, the company granted requests by male employees in the IT department to receive training in various locations across the country, but Thornhill’s requests were not approved or denied outright.

The lawsuit also alleges that Thornhill was held to a different standard of discipline than her male colleagues, who were spared the discipline expected of her.

Thornhill has requested a jury trial.

Gregory D. Jordan is an employment lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Robert Green filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

In the lawsuit, Green says that he is an African-American male who was employed as a fourth grade teacher in the school district. He claims he was told in April 2013 that his contract would not be renewed due to poor job performance. Green states that he was not informed of any issues regarding his job performance beforehand.

Green alleges that in March 2013, a new principal, Toren Woolridge, was hired. Green claims that Woolridge criticized his job performance and accused him of threatening Woolridge, but that Woolridge actually threatened him. Green said he filed claims with the Texas Workforce Commission Civil Rights Division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reporting the incident.

According to further claims in the lawsuit, Green was not given an opportunity to correct any alleged deficiencies in his job performance before his employment was terminated.

Green alleges race discrimination, breach of contract and retaliation. He is seeking an unspecified amount of damages for lost pay, earning potential and benefits.

Gregory D. Jordan is an employment lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.

Cleveland McGuire filed the lawsuit against Mundy Companies Inc. in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

McGuire says in the lawsuit that he is an African-American male who worked as a general foreman in charge of maintenance operations at Mundy’s plant. He claims that he was the only black male supervisor at the plant.

According to the lawsuit, on October 9, 2013, a white female worker became upset over a workplace incident involving a black worker and began shouting racial slurs directed toward McGuire. McGuire claims that he reported the incident to a Mundy superintendent and shift leader, but no action was taken. McGuire states that after he reported the incident, the white female worker made false claims of sexual harassment against him.

McGuire claims that he was wrongfully terminated on October 21, 2013. A white man was hired to fill his position. According to the lawsuit, after McGuire complained to the company, Mundy rehired him in a lower-paying position. However, on November 18, 2013, McGuire filed an Equal Opportunity Commission complaint based on the previous incident. He claims that his employment was then terminated for a second time in retaliation on December 16, 2013.

McGuire claims race discrimination, retaliation and age discrimination. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for lost earnings, lost wages and mental pain and suffering. He has requested a jury trial.

Gregory D. Jordan is an employment lawyer. To learn more, visit http://www.theaustintriallawyer.com or call 512-419-0684.