11.18.24: Onward!
Best, Rob Kwok
From Rob Kwok:
In my 30+ 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 from Church and school live near the Watson facility. Some of my kids' classmates had homes destroyed. In fact, our lead Plaintiffs have 4 kids in school with our 4 kids. We're honored to serve their family during this explosion that destroyed their home. We were grateful to help them win their lawsuit against their homeowners insurance company so they could find a replacement home. And as promised, we handled all first party lawsuits for free, so our clients could use all their insurance money to rebuild their homes.
From the beginning I promised to handle your first party lawsuits without charge so you could use your insurance money to rebuild your homes. We handled 85+ first party lawsuits and have sucessfully won every single one. We also did not take any fees on your honmeowners claims, leaving nearly $4mm in your neighborhoods from Westbranch to historic Carverdale, to rebuild damaged homes, as promised.
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'm a Texas Super Lawyer and serve on the nominating committee for Texas Monthly Magazine. Serving my clients well is my passion and top priority. We continue to offer Personal, Efficient and Agressive legal services at my firm since 1996.
I filed and won the first wrongful death case in the tragic 2005 BP Amaco Explosion that killed 23 workers. We won incredible results for all of our clients. I presented my last BP case to a Galveston County jury - and the case settled for many times the "final offer" 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 Kwok Daniel LLP 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 66+ 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! Update 2: We need more space! On February 10, we moved to larger offices at 2050 W. Sam Houston Pkwy S., Ste 1500, Houston 77042!
Looking back on 2023, we are blessed and grateful for yet another record-setting year of income from our litigation practice. Partner Thomas Daniel continues to manage the firm well so my team may "work without worry" on your January 24 explosion cases. Congrats to all Kwok Daniel team members for setting new all time income records for 2023!
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 serve in leadership in the January 24 MDL in state court.
In October, 2024, we fulfilled our mission and kept our promise to bring your cases to resolution. All Kwok Daniel clients have received a partial settlement already!
We look forward to resolving all claims against all remaining Defendants in 2025. We are honored to help rebuild your neighborhood, one home at a time.
God bless, Rob Kwok
rkwok@kwoklaw.com
Dear Clients,
We have been in Court most Fridays wrapping up Phase 1 of your settlements. We are also preparing your cases for trial against the remaining Defendants, Teledyne and 3M (Phase 2). On Friday, November 8, 2024 we returned to Court for a motion to compel deposition against 3M. The Court granted our motion - we will travel to St. Paul in January to take the deposition of Michael Dai, a 3M employee.
Defendant 3M was the company who employed the technicians who last serviced the gas sensors at Watson. Defendant 3M sold the sensor business to Defendant Teledyne just before the Jauary 24, 2020 explosion. To date, 3M and Teledyne have made no settlement offers to our clients. The MDL Court has set all cases (including yours) against Teledyne Detcon 3M for trial on a tight track schedule in 2025.
The next trial setting is January 8, 2025. We will continue to update you real time on the status of your trials. For now, there is no further action required on your part, we are waiting for our trial settings.
A few reminders:
* Your settlement amounts are confidential. Please do not share your amount with anyone outside your home or tax professional. Some firms have not yet settled or disbursed funds to their clients - please be considerate of them while they patiently wait for their settlements.
* Your settlement amounts are generally tax free. This is not tax advice, please consult with your tax professional to confirm this.
* David Medina, the ad litem along with Marcos Cardenas with our team are available to answer questions about your minors' cases, any time.
Wishing you a blessed Thanksgving and much joy in this holiday season.
Best, Rob
PS: For those of you with minor children, Mr. Medina will stay on the case until your child turns 18, for some of you that's another 13+ years! He along with our trial team will be available to answer your questions along the way. We will review and approve payouts to minors and Mr. Medina will oversee the winding down of the QSF once all minors are fully paid. We have a record of your minor settlement hearing and annuity information with Pacific Life. If you move, please update us with your new address so we may send your minor funds upon their 18th birthday!
As always, 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 07.3.20 Houston Chronicle Article - here
See 12.30.20 Houston Chronicle Article - here
See 10.4.24 KHOU News Story - here
See 10.4.24 Houston Chronicle Article - here
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