Arnold & Itkin LLP

06/13/2024

Meet Cristal Becerra, a Senior Legal Assistant, who we are celebrating today for her 10 years of dedicated service. Cristal brings an unwavering commitment and a positive attitude to one of our busiest trial teams. Working closely with Caj Boatright and Roland Christensen, she has contributed significantly to some of largest victories. In addition, her extensive knowledge of legal procedures makes her instrumental in training our junior legal assistants.

"Cristal has always maintained a positive attitude even under high-pressure situations,” said Marta Ponce, a Junior Paralegal who works with Cristal." Cristal has shown to me that she is someone I can rely on, someone I can approach with any question or concern, and a person I can count on No Matter What."

Macarena Palma, one of our Legal Assistants, knows firsthand how dedicated Cristal is to her job. "She is always willing to help others in the firm and always willing to teach other assistants like myself with patience and understanding."

Thank you, Cristal, for being such an essential part of our success! Here's to many more years together!

06/12/2024

Our firm’s analysis of existing data has uncovered a concerning trend regarding plant and refinery explosions in Texas and Louisiana.

Out of 51 explosions and fires over the last decade, nearly 80% were in the last few years.

06/11/2024

Thermal burns, chemical burns, electrical burns—which is the most common on the job?

Some of the most severe burn injuries in the U.S. happen while on the job. While there are many types of burn injuries, one of the things they tend to have in common: the party who is at fault for them.

06/11/2024

Congratulations, Caj Boatright, on 18 years with the Arnold & Itkin team! As the first lawyer to join the firm after it was founded in 2004, Caj has grown with us every step of the way. His work has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for his clients. This includes a massive $209.2 million verdict he won last year for the widow and children of a company man in the drilling industry who tragically died after contracting a deadly virus at work. He has earned a reputation over the years for winning life-changing results, including a $205 million confidential settlement, a $193 million settlement for victims of a pipeline explosion, a $125 million settlement for the widow of a dredge worker, a $110 million settlement for victims of a defective product, and more. We are so proud to have you on the team, Caj!

06/03/2024

Congratulations, Valerie, on your incredible 10-year anniversary with our firm! Valerie has been a cornerstone of our file room team for a decade now, consistently ensuring we have everything needed in a timely, efficient manner. Her unwavering dedication, meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional organizational skills have been instrumental in our success. Valerie's commitment to excellence and her pride in her work shine through every task she undertakes. She has truly set a high standard for everyone around her, and her efforts do not go unnoticed. Thank you, Valerie, for your hard work, loyalty, and countless contributions. We are immensely grateful for all you do, and we look forward to many more successful years together!

06/01/2024

Noah Wexler has spent his entire career helping those who need it the most. His 14 years at Arnold & Itkin have been marked by an unwavering dedication to those facing the toughest challenges. With a focus on cases involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and product defects, among others, Noah has achieved remarkable results, including a $2.25 billion verdict and a $175 million verdict. Recognized on the Lawdragon 500 list and numerous other accolades, Noah's approach combines meticulous preparation with aggressive advocacy. Congratulations on your anniversary, Noah!

05/22/2024

We’re thrilled to announce that Kurt and Tara Arnold were recognized as Humanitarian Heroes at the 2024 KNOWAutism Foundation Gala. The gala, themed “An Enchanted Evening”, honored Kurt and Tara for their exceptional contributions and dedication to supporting the community, particularly their work with The Monarch School and Institute of Houston. KNOWAutism is committed to supporting children with autism by providing assistance in navigating the journey of diagnosis, treatment, intervention, and education. “It has been a pleasure to work with the caring, dedicated team at KNOWAutism,” says Tara Arnold. “Every day, they show how deeply they believe in embracing differences, using them as strengths to help children and their families grow and thrive.”

05/21/2024

In a list of Texas’ 10 largest verdicts of 2023, our firm appeared three separate times—winning a third of the state’s largest verdicts last year and recovering $1.6 billion in three cases alone.
A massive congratulations to our team for their hard work in securing these record-setting awards:
The 2nd highest verdict was won by Jason Itkin and Cory Itkin: an $860 million verdict against real estate developer Greystar for the family of a young woman who tragically lost her life in a crane collapse.
The 3rd highest verdict was won by Kyle Findley, Kala Sellers, and John Grinnan: a $557 million verdict for a woman hit by a train when the operators failed to slow down after spotting her.
The 10th highest verdict was won by Caj Boatright and Roland Christensen: a $209 million verdict for the wife and children of a Terra Energy oil and gas employee who contracted a fatal illness from a work site. Top Verdict

Our firm was the only one to appear three times on a list of Texas’ 10 largest verdicts of 2023.

05/20/2024

We are proud to congratulate Katelin Gines on 2 years with the team! Finding a passion for litigation during law school, she has brought that same commitment to her work at Arnold & Itkin, where she continues to focus on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and product defect cases. We are so grateful for your dedication to our clients, Katelin!

05/17/2024

As container vessels get larger and larger, their ability to navigate safely through narrow channels or in bad weather gets worse. Over the last couple decades, tugboats have become an even more critical part of port infrastructure.

Advanced propellers and enormous engines are just two reasons these vessels move so nimbly.

05/13/2024

What you need to know if you are a passenger, crew member, or boater.

Ferry safety in the U.S. has a questionable history. Here’s what passengers and crews need to know.

05/08/2024

We're celebrating National Receptionist Day! A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible receptionist team at Arnold & Itkin: Maria Tobias, Becky Trevino, Belen Pequeno, and Eliana Martinez. You're the first friendly faces our clients encounter, and you set the tone for the exceptional service they receive throughout their journey with us. We appreciate all that you do to make every interaction with a positive one.

05/08/2024

Our firm is proud to announce that we recently crossed the threshold of having secured over $20 billion total for our clients. The best results. No matter what.

05/03/2024

Join us in congratulating Andrew Gould on 3 years with ! Andrew leads our appellate practice. Having served as lead counsel in approximately 225 appeals over his career and being recognized as a top appellate lawyer in Texas, his work is instrumental in achieving justice for our clients. We appreciate your expertise and commitment to excellence, Andrew!

05/01/2024

How dangerous is it to be a road worker in the United States?

Roadside construction is vital work, but it comes at a cost.

04/25/2024

We're celebrating a record-setting verdict obtained in the United States District Court Middle District of Louisiana. A huge congratulations to Kyle Findley and his trial team, Kala Sellers and John Grinnan, for securing a $141 million jury verdict!

For 7 years the Defendants have refused to take responsibility for this tragic plant explosion in DeRidder, LA. Initially, the defendants only offered $6 million to compensate our 9 clients for their injuries. After closing arguments they increased the offer to $12 million, but it was rejected because it was too little too late. The clients deserved much more.

Thank you to the Louisiana jury for handing down this life-changing verdict. And, thank you to our clients for trusting us. We are grateful for the opportunity to win the best results for our clients. No Matter What.

04/25/2024

Did you know? Most businesses that interact with the public are not legally required to carry general liability insurance.

When you’re facing millions in lifetime losses due to your injury, regular liability coverage isn’t going to cut it.

04/24/2024

We’re very excited to announce the newest winners of the No Matter What Award. Recipients of the award demonstrate compassion and dedication to clients, coworkers, and our community. Congratulations to Aya Garfaoui, Jessica Karroum, and Esther Carrillo! Thank you for your commitment to and our clients. We’re so proud to have you on the Arnold & Itkin team.

04/23/2024

We’re so proud to celebrate Cory Itkin’s 17th anniversary with the firm. Cory is one of the top trial lawyers in the nation and is known for getting the best results for his clients. During his time with the firm, he has won several eight- and nine-figure verdicts, including a $222 million settlement for a widow who lost her husband in an industrial accident and a $164.5 million settlement. His dedication to his clients and his team is unmatched, and we are so proud to call him one of our own.

04/16/2024

Arnold & Itkin is proud to partner with PALS, the Plaintiffs’ Advocacy & Litigation Society, at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law. PALS is committed to highlighting career opportunities for law students, and building relationships through events, networking and mentorship. We’re proud to support these future graduates, and build a brighter future for the next generation of plaintiffs’ attorneys. https://ow.ly/obKU50Rhea7

Texas Law leads nationwide growth in plaintiff-side student groups.

04/15/2024

During flash floods, pipelines may start "floating" underground or bend and shift. https://ow.ly/Nu5m50RguJa

An in-depth look at flooding and its impact on natural gas pipelines.

04/10/2024

We're overwhelmed with gratitude for our amazing clients at Arnold & Itkin! Thank you for your review, Alexander.

04/09/2024

Loss of propulsion is a serious problem, but how does it even happen? https://ow.ly/eQwh50RbwzP

Bunkering fraud is a growing threat to crew safety, but recent industry practices are trying to stop predatory practices.

04/04/2024

Tiny tugboats maneuver enormous ships with precision, but how does it work? https://ow.ly/MnXC50R8ue6

You can think of tugboats as the utility players of the maritime industry.

04/02/2024

Shipping container accidents can result in significant worker injuries, sometimes leading to life-altering catastrophic events. https://ow.ly/sr7V50R6393

Dive deep into the world of shipping containers and the hazards they face as they travel the planet, by land and by sea.

04/01/2024

Did your company make the list? https://ow.ly/X5fi50R5WEY

Discover which pipeline operators have the most explosions and deaths on their consciences.

04/01/2024

Exposure to hydrogen sulfide can be, and has been, deadly. Understand what it is and where exposure can occur. https://ow.ly/fic850R1qnJ

Learn how companies put people at risk of H2S exposure and what you can do about it.

03/28/2024

Massive cargo ships impact shipping crews, port infrastructure, the environment, and global supply chains. https://ow.ly/r38650R46uc

Ships are moving more cargo than ever, but do the benefits outweigh the risks?

03/27/2024

Older cargo ships have wear and tear, corrosion, and outdated technology, which can compromise the safety of their crews. https://ow.ly/Zi7N50R2OQE

The average age of the world’s cargo vessels is 20 years. How does this affect crew safety?

03/25/2024

Dredging accidents are often serious and life-altering—and almost always preventable. https://ow.ly/NFsE50R1q9x

As dredges work to clear waterways and enable the nation’s offshore industry to function, their crews face significant dangers. Find out more about dredge accidents and what causes them in our recent blog.