Kimberly Mickelson (Olson & Olson Attorney) and Dorothy Palumbo (Galveston City Attorney) presented “Drafting With Clarity” at the Work Session for Drafting Effective Ordinances – The Virtue of Clarity.  Olson & Olson Partner Art Pertile is on the IMLA Board of Directors for 2012-2013, and also hosted a “Wonk” Breakfast, featuring relaxed education and networking opportunities during the conference.

 

IMLA is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that has been an advocate and valuable legal resource for local government attorneys since 1935.

Olson & Olson, LLP invites you to stop by its Rockin’ Booth #837  at the Austin Convention Center for an educational, entertaining, and memorable experience!  See you there!!

Olson & Olson, LLP, has been selected as a Tier 1 Best Law firm by U.S. News and Best Lawyers for 2014, as published in the 20^th Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Litigation – Municipal.

Also selected as Best Lawyers for 2014 are:  Mario Dell’Osso – Municipal Law (since 2011), John Hightower – Municipal Litigation (since 2007), and Ken Wall – Municipal Litigation and Municipal Law (since 2010).

Olson & Olson partner, Arthur Pertile, III, was a featured speaker at the Texas Bar CLE 25^th Annual “Suing and Defending Governmental Entities Course” in Austin on July 18, 2013.  Art gave the local government lawyers’ perspective on representing the difficult client.

Olson & Olson congratulates the City of Dickinson’s City Administrator, Julie Johnston, for being presented with the Paul Harris Award for Rotarian Community Service at the Rotary Club of Dickinson’s weekly noon meeting on June 26, 2013.  Olson & Olson attorneys Loren Smith, Donna Johnson, and Jim Robinson were present at the event.

We are pleased to announce that Eric C. Farrar joined Olson & Olson, LLP on June 17, 2013. Eric is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Prior to joining the Firm, Eric was a Senior Staff Attorney with the Houston First Court of Appeals, focusing on complex civil litigation, where he was responsible for the issuance of opinions in over 300 appeals and original proceedings. Eric is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, served as a Lieutenant, Surface Warfare Officer, and has served on the USS Cushing and USS Reuben James. He is a graduate of Baylor University School of Law.

On June 7, 2013, the Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in the case of City of Bellaire, et al. v. Johnson, — S.W.3d —-, 2013 WL 2450151 (Tex.).  The opinion addressed the issue of whether a city may be held liable for a common law damage claim brought by an employee provided by a leasing agency, or whether the employee is limited to the remedies provided under the Texas Workers Compensation laws.  The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the City of Bellaire holding that the plaintiff, who was injured while working on a City solid waste truck and who was paid by a private staffing agency, was an employee of the City for purpose of applying the Workers Compensation laws applicable to cities.  Based on its holding, the Supreme Court reversed an earlier court of appeals decision and rendered judgment in favor of the City dismissing the employee’s damages claim.  Olson & Olson, LLP, partner, Patricia Hayden represented the City of Bellaire.

Today, Olson & Olson joins our friends with the City of Houston in mourning the loss of four brave souls who perished in a hotel fire on Friday, May 31, 2013. We remember the lives of firefighters Robert Garner, Anne Sullivan, Robert Bebee and Captain Mathew Renauld. Our best wishes and prayers go out to their families and friends. We also commend all of the service men and women who put their own lives at risk for our protection every day.

Robert Garner
Anne Sullivan
Robert Bebee
Captain Mathew Renaud

Look for your Olson & Olson municipal attorneys at the Texas City Attorneys Association Summer Conference in South Padre, June 5 – 7, 2013