Andrews Kurth

Andrews & Kurth LLP is a Houston, Texas based law firm founded by Frank Andrews (Texan) and U.S. Congressman Thomas Henry Ball in 1902 and later joined by Melvin Kurth in 1913.

Andrews & Kurth served a pivotal role in representing Texas railroad firms in the early 1900s. They also represented both the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Corporation as part of FDR's New Deal.

Famous clients include Howard Hughes. Andrews & Kurth litigated his inheritance, IRS , and Spruce Goose cases. They also oversaw the public sale of Hughes shares in TWA.

Famous employees include Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker who worked at Andrews & Kurth after receiving his J.D. in 1957 until becoming Undersecretary of Commerce for U.S. President Gerald Ford in 1975.

The firm currently has over 400 attorneys internationally, including offices in London and Beijing. Bob Jewell serves as the firm's managing partner.

Judgments of note

In all cases (r) denotes that representation was assisted by Andrews & Kurth as documented by the court.

"Godbolt v. Hughes Tool Co."(r)(1972)

In "Godbolt v. Hughes Tool Co." the court found that women and Hispanics could not be added under a class action suit brought by an African American for racial discrimination under the Civil Rights Act.

"Industrial Indemnity Exchange(r) v. Southard et al." (1942)

In "Industrial Indemnity Exchange v. Southard et al.", Elbert Vaughan Southard perished hauling lumber for Kurth Lumber Manufacturing Company. The court ruled he was a private contractor because he provided his own truck, and was not entitled to death benefits. Deforestation from the lumber operation is visible in present day aerial photos. [ [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Clarksville,+TX,+USA&ie=UTF8&ll=33.616335,-95.050278&spn=0.119795,0.32135&t=k&z=12&iwloc=addr&om=1 Google Maps ] ]

"Houston Independent School Dist.(r) v. Reader" (1931)

In the eminent domain case of "Houston Independent School Dist. v. Reader" the court was tasked with deciding whether the price of an adjacent tract of land, also subject to eminent domain but at a higher purchase price from the landowner, is admissible in court. Especially when the sale was made under duress:

Mr. Kurth has told you that the witness, Luther Davis, has sold his property to the School Board and Mr. Kurth stresses this in his argument, but Mr. Kurth has failed to tell you that Mr. Davis did not sell his land voluntarily but only after he, said Davis, had received a letter from the Board of Education of said Houston Independent School District advising him that if he didn't sell his said land to the School District that the School Board would condemn his land.

The court awarded the higher land price to Reader, chose not to award interest on the difference, and held that under the new fair market price the school district could proceed with eminent domain.

"Bishop v. Houston Independent School Dist. et al.(r)" (1929)

In "Bishop v. Houston Independent School Dist. et al.", the court ruled that a 13 year old girl could not contest her expulsion from a Texas public school in court without first obtaining a judgment from the state school board, even though under Texas law children between 8 and 14 were compelled by law to attend 100 days of school per year. The case was overturned on appeal.

"Houston Belt & Terminal Ry. Co.(r) v. Rucker" (1914)

The case of "Houston Belt & Terminal Ry. Co. v. Rucker" was one of the first cases to deal with urban railroad crossings and automobiles. The court ruled the driver was at fault for traveling at 15-25 miles per hour.

References

*Mexican Americans, Racial Discrimination, and the Civil Rights Act of 1866; GA Greenfield, DB Kates Jr - California Law Review, 1975
*reflist

External links

* [http://daytex.com/franka.htm David Young's Genealogy Pages]
* [http://www.andrewskurth.com Andrews & Kurth L.L.P.]
* [http://finance.google.com/finance?cid=7373387 Google Finance]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5202/is_2000/ai_n19122897 Findlaw]
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* [http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/service/indexa.html Texas Adjutant General Service Records]
* [http://www.answers.com/topic/andrews-kurth-llp?cat=biz-fin Answers]